Diary: Caleb E. Iddings, 1895

Ther: 37 Cloudy Wind S.W. Mon. Jan. 7, 1895

I went to Riverside on horseback returning. I went to a meeting of the Sandy Spring Mutual Insurance Co. at the Lyceum: important business was enacted & changes made in its organization which I fear will injure the Co. Bro C called. Willie came & took supper here & went back to Peirces.

Ther: 35 Cloudy Rain & Snow Wea. Tuesday 8

This has been an extremely disagreeable today. I went up to the mill & got a bag of corn for the horse. Dora went up to S Wetherald's & was there all day. Old John called to see me after dinner. Towards night I went to the store. It is snowing fast at bedtime, but it too warm to make sleighing unless it should grow colder.

Ther. 28 C lear & Cloudy Wind N.W. Wed. Jan. 9, 1895

Colder this morning snow 6 in deep & mud under it, making traveling bad. I rode to Riverside on horse back home to dinner called at Ashton. Dora went to help Mrs Wetherall again after breakfast. I felt stiff & rheumatic this morning. Recd letters from T H Borden & Ernest L Iddings. It commenced snowing fast about 3.o'clock p.m. & continued up to bed time. If it should continue long enough and clear off cold, it would make good sleighing again.

Ther: 35 Rain, Rain Wind N.E. Thursday 10

This has been an extremely disagreeable stormy day, wind blowing strong & raining at intervals very hard. Dora went up to the insurance office & helped fold the "statements" to send out to every member insured. I went up to the mill and to Henderson's house for some coal. I also went to the store (one bucket full which was returned)

Ther: 38^o Clearing Wind Variable Fri. Jan. 11, 1895

It cleared off during last night but is still soft, & the roads are muddy & sloppy. Dora went up to the Insurance office again, and they finished before dinner today. I rode up to see Jim Powell & over to Riverside. Afternoon Mrs Spofford was here for advice etc. also Louisa Bowen. Jim Scott brought us 1 1/2 bushels of corn from F. Clark's. Lizzie Scott was here to see Dora. I went to the store & called in at Mrs Robison's.

Ther: 30^o Cloudy Wind Variable Saturday 12

Heavy white frost this morning. I walked down to Ashton twice. Afternoon Edwd rode down to the bone mill. Willie & Fanny came to spend the night with us. Mrs Robison came in after supper. It commenced raining in the evening.

Ther: 4 Clear & Cloudy Wind Variable Sun. Jan. 13, 1895

The coldest day so far this winter. The thermeter fell 36 degrees from 9.o'clk last night until this a.m. at 8.o'clk. Willie & Fanny went to Fairfield after dinner & I rode over to Riverside on horse back, and suffered with the cold more than any time before this winter. I went to meeting this morning. Edwd Farquhar gave us a short sermon. Bro R is more "poorly" within the past day or two.

Ther: 11 Clear Wind S.W. Monday 14^th

Ground frozen hard as flint this morning. Jim Powell came & after getting his breakfast, took "Frank" horse & with "Bell" to Mary Gilpin's wagon went for a load of coal to Silver Spring. I walked up to Brighton & dined at E. Peirce's. Willie brought me home. Edward fixed the telephone again after School. Jim Powell got back at 7.o'clock p.m.

Ther: 21 Clear & Cloudy Wind S.W. Tues. Jan. 15, 1895

Jim Powell came & helped unload the coal & took back what we had borrowed of Fletcher Clark & took the wagon home. The chimney at the East end of our house took fire & burned furiously for more than an hour, but fortunately did no mischief except to scare us. I drove over to Riverside to see Bro R. & extracted a tooth for Ida Green. Afternoon E Gilpin's team brought us a cord of oak wood. Willie & Fanny came to spend a few days.

Ther: 37 Rain Wind N.E. Wednesday 16^th

It commenced raining last night & continued all day to day. Edward was not well enough to go to school to day. Willie went to the School house to attend to the fires for him this morning. toward evening E was well enough to go and attend to them himself. I went to the mill for a bag of corn for the horse. The wind changed to N.W. about sun set & it was much colder.

Ther: 33^o Clear Wind N.W. Thurs. Jan. 17^th, 1895

Willie sawed the wood that E Gilpin brought & he & I put it in the cellar. I drove over to Riverside Willie with me. The wind blew quite strong from N.W. which made it cold driving. Afternoon I went to the mill for flour. Fanny walked down to Bloomfield & made a call. The roads are in fine condition for driving being frozen underneath but just soft enough on the surface to smooth down rough places.

Ther: 35^o Clear & Cloudy Wind S.E. Friday 18^th

Rode over to Riverside in the morning to see Bro R & drove over again towards evening to stay all night with him. Edwd Bentley also went to sit up with him.

Ther: 40 Clear & Cloudy Wind Sat. Jan 19^th, 1895

I sat up with bro. R until after midnight when E Bentley took my place but I was called up several times during the night. Fred I returned from Philad^a & I came home about noon. After noon I was called to see John Bowen & went down with the colored preacher ("Lewis") Willie having taken my horse to go to Brighton. He brought Alice Peirce home with him. After supper Miss Mary Fowler & Hilles Robison came in and we played "Logomaky" until bed time.

Ther: 20^o Clear Wind SW & SE Sunday 20^th

I went to meeting but was called away to prescribe for Chas T Hill's little boy. Afternoon W^m I Parker & Hallie Bentley called. I drove over to Riverside Willie with me. Bro Richard seems to be failing very rapidly. I went to Henderson's for the papers. It looks and feels like more snow.

Ther: 26 Cloudy Wind SE Mon. Jan 21, 1895

I drove to Riverside, Willie going with me as far as Geo Stabler's he walked from there to E Peirce's & brought their horse & carriage back with him which Alice & Fanny drove home. I came home before dinner. John Bowen was here also a "Scott" woman brought Chas T Hills little girl for advice & medicine. It rained several times during the day & is still drizzling at bed time.

Ther: 37^o Clear & Cloudy N.W. Tuesday 22

Willie, Phil & Frank cleaned out the ice house & W commenced cutting the hedge. Afternoon I drove over to Riverside & found Bro R failing rapidly. Chas T Hill brought us a 1/2 ton of nut coal from Washington. Michael Thompson died last night at Ashton. Hannah Letcher washed for H. ...... Carter, wife of Carter who works for Fredk Stabler was here for advice & medicine for herself. her mother came with her.

Ther. 26 Clear Wind N.W. Wed. Jan. 23, 1895

I drove over to see Sarah Hammond, and thence to Riverside to see Bro R. Alice Peirce brought Fanny over & afternoon she went home, leaving F here. I drove to Riverside again towards evening to stay all night with Bro R.

Ther. 22 Clear Wind N.W. Thursday 24

I sat up with Bro R from 10.o'clk p.m. until 2.30 this a.m. when Fred relieved me. After breakfast I came home bringing Thos Lea with me from Riverside to his home. Afternoon I went to the mill and got check cashed (Chas Hallowell's $4.50) Eleanora Bell ironed 1/2 day for Harriet.

Ther. 11^o Cloudy Wind Fri. Jan 25^th, 1895

Was called by telephone to Riverside to see Bro R at 4.o'clk this morning and remained with him all day as he was evidentlly in a dying condition. It commenced snowing & sleeting about dusk & continued up to bedtime.

Ther. 30^o Cloudy & Sleeting Wind S.E. Saturday 26^th

Brother Richard passed away from this life at exactly mid night last. I was watching him alone & called Bro. Charles in time to witness his last drawn breath which occurred just as the clock was striking twelve. I drove home after breakfast and ordered his coffin etc. and telegraphed to distant relatives. Alice Peirce came over after dinner. Mrs Robison came in and sat awhile to enquire about Bro. R's demise.