Diary: Caleb E. Iddings, 1889

Cloudy & Rain Ther. 60° WED. APRIL 17^th 1889 N. E Wind

R. E R came home with Henderson & Scofield's team from near Washington about 10-30 last p.m. & after getting his breakfast here early this a.m. left in the Stage (without any of us having the least idea of his going) for Laurel and Baltimore. I drove up to "Marden about noon & called (at Request of W^m Oldfield) to see Mrs Jno Oldfield Charley left (taking Louis Scofield & a friend of his with them) for Laurel and Baltimore. on the heat of R E Retzer who it seems has gone off in in a mysterious way without any Settlement with the firm. Charley has gone with Louis hoping to be able to find him.

Cloudy Ther. 68° THURSDAY 18^th Variable Wind

Cloudy & drizzle until afternoon when it partly cleared off. I went up to "Marden" after dinner. I also went over to see Miss Mary Fowler, who is still quite poorly. Charley came home from Baltimore about 5 o'clock p.m after a fruitless search for R.E.R. who as not to be found.

Clear Ther. 68° FRIL APRIL 19,^th 1889 Variable Wind

Charley worked in the lot all day. I trimmed at the hedge went in to see Missy Mary Fowler twice & towards evening Leanna (who lives at Mary T Tyson's) sent her husband (who lives on Jos Moore Jr's place back of "Sharp St Meeting house" after me & I drove up there "(Phil" Robison going with me) and prescribed for the woman. After dark Martha Tyson called to see me about her sister Alice Mahlon Kirk Jr: bringing her. Louis Stabler called on his way to the"Templar Lodge" for medicine for Robt Stabler's daughter Alice.

Foggy & Clearing Ther. 70 SATURDAY 20 Variable Wind

Very foggy until about 9 a.m. when it cleared off with the sun very hot I drove to Marden to see Miss Alice Tyson again & from there to Ashton. Edward going with me. Afternoon Charley went to Brighton & about 3 o'clk I started to go to Mary Bond's but having Edward with me and a thunder gust was coming up I turned back. Charley got home before the worst of the storm came up. Eli Bidwell brought us 450 brick for the foundation of the office.

Clearing Ther. 69° SUN. APRRIL 21,_st 1889 Variable Wind

Charley & I drove down to see Caroline Bond (at Mary Bond's) after breakfast. the first thing in the morning being to get "Old Fritz" rolled over & up on to his feet. Alice & Fanny Peirce came & Dora & cousin Ellie Chaudlee walked whilst the other two girls rode in E Peirces carriage to Mechanicsville church Charley drove to meet them on their return. Afternoon I drove to Ashton taking Mr Toliston Fowler down for some medicine for his sister (Miss Mary) after supper Charley & Dora went to Brighton church.

Clear Ther. 65° MONDAY 22^d N W Wind

Much cooler. Jas Grady came and commenced the foundation for our office I went in next door to see Miss M Fowler Mrs. S Ellicott was here for advice etc for herself. Charley hauled sand, lime, stone etc for Grady & he & Edwd helped him handle stone & break it Grady got his dinner here. Afternoon D^r Jerry Nichols called at the gate. I went in next door several times & consider Miss Mary very ill . Beatrix and Martha Tyson called to see me about Alice Jim Marshall also called to see me about his wife.

Clear & Cloudy Ther. 64. TUES. APRIL 23, 1889 S E Wind

Quite cool. I was in next door several times to see Miss Mary who is still very ill but I hope somewhat better. Charley worked in the lot; he & his mother set out over 100 "Sharpless" Straw berry plants that I got from Hettie Stabler. Charley set ornery Little Sam Budd to white washing the fences. After dinner I drove over to Cincinnati & called at Levi Hills to see Martha Bellows also went down to see Lydia Budd who was from home again. Mr. Tillitson Fowler went with me. Charley drove down to the River to see "Dick Crone's" people.

Cloudy & Clearing Ther. 49 WEDNESDAY 24 Wind S.W.

Dick Crone or Johnston was here to see C. Sam Budd white washed at the fences again. Afternoon C went with Frank Snowden & Saml Wetherald to the Falls of the Potomac. C taking his horse & my set of double harness, using Frank Snowden's "Germantown" wagon. they expect to return tomorrow morning. After dinner I drove to Jim Marshall's. Phil Robison going with me. Bro C called here on his way over to "Joe" Stabler's: who had offered to give him a horse, which he was going after.

Rain Rain Ther. 65 THURS. APRIL 25,^th 1889 S E Wind

Commenced raining about sunrise & continued at intervals all day. I felt quite Rheumatic. went in next door both morning & afternoon. Elizabeth Combach was here for advice & medicine quite early this morning and sent for me to come & see her at Jos Moore Jrs in the afternoon through a pouring rain Charley came home about 4 p.m After supper he & Dora went to a Lecture at the Lyceum through the rain.

Still Rain Rain Ther. 66 FRIDAY 26^th Wind

This was a Rainy day if ever I saw one, pouring all day. there was as little passing along the road as could be. I went in next door to see Miss Mary who is improving: her brother (Mr J Tolston Fowler from Balto) watching & nursing her most faithfully.

More Rain Ther. SAT. APRIL 27,^th 1889 Variable. Wind

[no entry]

Cloudy Ther. 66 SUNDAY 28^th Variable Wind

I was very sick & miserable all last night and suffered greatly with pain in my limbs. am still very unwell.

Clear & Cloudy Ther. 60° MON. APRIL 29, 1889 Variable Wind

Slept none last night and am feeling wretchedly & suffering from stiffness & soreness in my limbs the weather continues changable with a damp Raw feel: several threatning looking clouds passed around, and over us. with some wind and thunder. Mr Tolston Fowler left for Baltimore in the stage this morning, and I fear his sister (Miss Mary) will not do so well, as he has been a faithful nurse and she is not yet well enough established in convalescence to bear any change in nursing. Black boy "Sam Budd" here white washing the stable. After supper Charley & "Ned" Gilpin drove a miserable false mare to Cs buggy to a party at "Glenwood" in Howard Co:

{Afternoon went in to see Miss M not quite so well}

Cloudy & Drizzle Ther. 57° TUESDAY 30 Wind

Cloudy & occasional "drizzle" of rain. Louis Scofield called to see Charley. who returned from "Glenwood" dancing party where he went last night with Ed Gilpin. Reaching here about 11 o'clock a.m. Charley was sick and had "chills". last night at the party & staid all night at D^r Wolf's. he went to bed as soon as he got home. Luther Muncaster dined here. Afternoon Lydia Budd & Remus Hill called to see me on business.

Clear & Cloudy & Rain Ther. 60° WED. MAY 1^st 1889 Changable Wind

I slept pretty well last night but was "up & down" watching Charley & listening to an abominable dog over on Mrs. R's porch where he "up set" a tin safe (6 ft high) & spent the ballance of the night in trying to scratch or gnaw through into the inside. Ellie Ch and Lee came over with Bro: R on his way to meeting. She consulted me in regard to her "sore side". I drove to Marden to see Miss Alice Tyson. It commenced Raining before I got home. Hillier & Frank went with me. Afternoon I drove down to see. Chas. G Porter. John Grimes was here to see me before I was up. I went over to see Miss Mary both morning & evening.

Cloudy & Clear Ther. 60° THURSDAY 2^d S. E. Wind

I felt very Rheumatic and painful. in the morning Charley drove to see several persons in hopes of collecting some money for us, but was not successful except in obtaining promises that may materialize . Afternoon he took Dora & drove over to Riverside leaving her at Martha Lea's. until his return, when they both took tea at "Homewood" reaching home about 8-45 p.m. Some man (colored who works for Robt Stabler) brought his wife to have a tooth extracted.

Cloudy _ Ther. 50 FRI. MAY 3, 1889 N. W Wind

It is quite cool today, there must have been hail not far off yesterday. I felt unusually Rheumatic, and painful in my bones this a.m. Mrs Geo Matt Beull was here & paid me $3.00 "on account" . After dinner Edwd & I walked down to Ashton & back. I went over to see Miss Mary Fowler again. Charley worked at making a pigeon box or "Dove Cote". for Edwards pigeons.

Clear Ther. 62° SATURDAY 4^th N.W. Wind

The first clear day all day. C finished the "dove cote" & towards night we "raised it" Mrs Jack Johnson was here for advice & medicine. An agent for a "feather bed renovater" called, whilst we were at dinner. I went in next door afternoon to see Miss M Fowler again.

Clear Ther. 65° SUN. MAY 5, 1889 N. W Wind

Beautiful Spring day. Bro R called and left Fanny Peirce & little Fanny, the former remained until afternoon. Charley went to meeting. Afternoon Charley went with me to Riverside where we remained until after assisting at the burial of Harry & Helen Lea's infant daughter which Harry brought on from Lawrence, it having died about Christmas last. Mary Kumner came on with him. Gus Stabler met them at Laurel with the Stage. I went over to see Miss Mary Fowler again, who "sat up" twice to day. for the first since her illness.

Clear Ther. 68° MONDAY 6 N. W Wind

Jno Abel & his son Jimmy came & worked all day at the office making wonderful progress I think. Charley helped them all he could. I drove down to the bone Mill to see Caroline Bond again: before dinner. Went in next door to see Miss Mary again