Diary: Caleb E. Iddings, 1897

Ther. 33° Cloudy. Wind. Saturday, Jan. 16,^th 1897

Another extremely dull cloudy day. Willie drove over "Fairfield" (using "Charley" to the phaeton) & back before dinner. Afternoon I went to the mill for flour, and after supper to the store & toll house. Bought a pair of "gum shoes". It looks as though we might have rain tonight, of which we have had so little and need it so much to fill up the wells & springs.

Ther. 33° Cloudy Drizzle & sleet. Wind. S.E. & S.W. Sunday, Jan. 17,^th 1897

Still another dull day. Sleet and drizzling rain but not enough to amount anything in the way of replenishing the wells. I went to meeting and heard an admirable sermon from a woman friend (Way by name) from Penna: it was one of the best I ever heard in our meeting house. She is to preach to the colored people at "Sharp St." this evening. We had a late dinner today. A colored woman "Hopkins" was here about 3-30 p.m. and had a tooth extracted. In the evening we looked over the "World's Fair pictures".

It bids fair to be another damp and chilly night, without much rainfall.

Ther. 34° Clear & Cloudy. Wind.N.W. Monday, Jan 18,^th 1897

The wind changed to N.W. before daylight this morning and blew with considerable violence. We were somewhat alarmed by its roaring, when changed, and were up earlier in consequence of it, but after realizing the quarter from which it came we're better satisfied. Agust Bulwar came for me this morning to go & see his infant grandson, who is quite sick threatened pneumonia & gastrio enteritis. I walked to Ashton& back. Edwd rode to Ashton for milk for the baby. Afternoon Willie & Dora went to St. Luke's church in the surry to meet the new Bishop Satterlee. Mrs. Bryan was here for advice & medicine for her husband.

Ther. 20 Clear. Wind. N.W. Tuesday, Jan 19, 1897

Much colder today. Henry Miller's team brought me a barrel of corn and took away a load of manure. I went to A. F. Fairall's to prescribe for his son "Harry," Fairall coming after me. Mrs. Robison here for advice & medicine for "Hilles." Afternoon, Willie & Edwd went to Scott's in the buggy. They took one of the phaeton wheels & left at F. Clark's shop to leave the tire cut. Edwd Bentley and wife were here. Alice Peirce and Miss Carrie Kummer dined with us.

After supper I went over to see Hilles Robison, who is a seek young man. He has a violent attack of "Grippe." I am feeling far from well myself & am afraid I am about to have another spell of "grippe."

Ther. 21° Cloudy. Wind. N.E. Wednesday, Jan. 20,^th 1897

Cloudy & threatening all day and commenced snowing about 4 o'clock this afternoon & continued either to snow or rain until bed time.

I went to the store & toll house, and also to Ashton before dinner.

Hillles Robison seems much better this morning, but is still quite a sick young man. Edwd is suffering from a severe cold. Indeed we all are more or less "under the weather."

Ther. 25° Clear & Cloudy. Wind N.W. Thursday, Jan. 21,^st 1897

Cleared off during last night after rianing quite hard, taking away all the snow & leaving the ground covered with a thin coat of ice. Edwd took Willie Fanny & the baby to "Fairfield" before dinner, driving "Charley" to the Surry. I felt so miserable with Rheumatism & head ache, that I did not come down stairs to breakfast with the family, but gradually "limbered up" and by dinner-time felt almost as well as usual. Went to the mill and to the P.O. Afternoon I walked down to Ashton and up to the store & P.O.

It was clear & windy all the morning, but has clouded over again, and is much colder tonight.

Ther. 25 Clear & Cloudy. Wind S.W. & S.E. Friday, Jan. 22, 1897

The ground is frozen this morning but soon thawed and was muddy traveling. I went over to Mrs. Robison's to see Hilles again and also "Phil" who is complaining. Also went to the mill & store. Henr Miller sent his team and took the ballance of the manure from the stable. Afternoon Lizzie Scott was here. Towards evening it clouded up & blew strong from S.E. with some showers of rain. I went up to the store again before supper time.

I came around past Fletcher Clark's smith shop in coming from the store this morning.

Ther. 18° Clear. Wind N.W. Saturday, Jan. 23,^d 1897

It blew very hard last night & continued nearly all day, making it feel very cold out of doors. I went to the mill & also to the store & toll house. Went in next door to se Mrs. Robison who is sick with an attack of indigestion & head ache, went over again in the afternoon. Lizzie Scott was here again. She seems to have some errand here almost every day lately.

I have felt the cold more today than at anytime before during this winter owing doubtless to the strong N.W. wind & my "having a cold." After supper I walked up to the store again for some oatmeal & the mail.

Ther. 28 Cloudy. Wind N.W. Sunday, Jan. 24,^th 1897

Raw & chilly all day growing colder towards evening & the wind commenced blowing strong from N.W. again.

Cloudy & looks like more snow. I went to meeting & heard a lecture or sermon from Edwd Farguhar. Called at Mrs. Robison's. They are all seeming much better of their "grippe" troubles.

Ther. 2° Clear. Wind N.W. Monday, Jan. 25,^th 1897

This is the coldest day we have had this winter so far, and the wind blowng makes it feel really colder than it is.

I went to the store & P.O. both before & afternoon, and also to the mill.

Harriet & I pasted muslin & paper over the broken place in the ceiling in our room to keep the cold out, and the heat generated by the stove in, we also caulked the cracks around the windows & doors. I mailed a letter to F. Tyson. After supper, Edwd went with Hilles & Frank Robison over to Mrs. Ellicotts to play whist or euchre.