Diary: Caleb E. Iddings, 1897

Ther. 33° Cloudy. Wind. S.W. & S.E. Wednesday, Feb 17,^th 1897

Another dull cloudy day. the ground was slightly frozen early this morning but soon softened & mud was everywhere except on the turnpike which had dried up in some places

Went to the store & P.O. Afternoon I went up to Saml B Wetherald's to call upon Kate Stabler who is to leave for the "West" tomorrow to visit her brother Louis' family. Edwd rode to "Belmont" & home to supper.

Ther. 34° Cloudy. Wind. Variable Thursday, Feb 18,^th 1897

Still cloudy. It partly cleared off for a short time, but soon clouded up again and about dusk commenced snowing & hailing, & continued up to bed time

Mrs Robert Harding and her daughter were here and the former had two teeth extracted. I went to the store & P.O. & to A F Fairall's shop, and for whom I wrote to New York for a bottle of "Paskola". Went to the Mill for flour and to the store again. Jno Ed Hill was at the office for advice & medicine for old Uncle Henson (his father).

Edwd & I went to Henderson's for drinking water, our own being too muddy to use. It is intensely dark tonight.

Ther. 32° Clear. Wind. N.W. Friday, Feb 19,^th 1897

Clear & frosty at last. I went to the store & P.O. before & after noon. Miss Mary Hallowell called at the door to see Edwd.

After an early lunch Edwd drove up to Washington Chichester Jr's. to repair & tune a piano. Lizzie Scott here again. Edwd came home to supper.

Ther. 33° Cloudy & Snow. Wind S.E. Saturday, Feb 20,^th 1897

Cloudy & raw S.E. wind & about noon it commenced snowing & continued either raining, snowing or hailing up to bed time tonight. I walked down to Ashton and back after dinner.

Matilda Tasko was here for advice & medicine for her daughter "Gertie".

After supper Mrs Robison came over & spent the evening.

Ther. 35° Clear. Wind N.W. & S.E. Tuesday, Feb 23,^d 1897

We had quite a thunder gust about 9-30.o'clk last night, the lightning was very bright & several peals of thunder: it continued raining until towards morning, when it cleared off.

This morning is beautifully clear and bright, and mild as a spring day, the birds were singing merrily. it was a strong contrast to the weather we have had so much of for some days past. I went to the store & P.O. & to the toll house. The sun & wind are drying the roads rapidly.

Ther. 29° Clear. Wind. N.W. Wednesday, Feb 24,^th 1897

Another beautiful day, but colder this morning. the ground was frozen. Tom Stabler came & took lunch with us. I walked over to F Downey's and engaged a load of hay. Edwd drove to "Fairfield". Willie came home with him, leaving their "Jagger" at Ashton to have the hind spring mended. Tom Stabler left for home after lunch. We received a Postal card from Charley which gives us much anxiety on Ida's account, she being quite ill, and unless we hear a more favorable account tonight I will go over to see them tomorrow.

Andrew Jackson (colored) was here to consult me after dark. Willie & Edwd drove to Olney for a postal card from Charley.

Ther. 30° Cloudy. Wind. Variable Thursday, Feb 25,^th 1897.

Cloudy & raw this morning. I drove over to "Riverside" to see Bro Charley who has been and is still suffering from a severe cold & an attack of "Grippe", which seems to have spread over the entire country as an epidemic. Almost everyone having more or less of it. Bro C's broncheal tubes are involved & his cough is troublesome & distressing. I am in hopes he will soon be out again, if he is careful. F Downey's team brought us 1125 lbs of nice bright timothy hay.

"Phil" Robison went with me to "Riverside" & home to dinner. Willie came & took tea with us. Edwd went again to Olney hoping to hear from Charley again. Louis Hill called to see me after dark. Willie went back to "Fairfield" after returning from Olney. no letter or postal card from Charley.

Ther. 35° Cloudy & Snow. Wind. N.W. Friday, Feb 26,^th 1897.

Cloudy all day, & towards evening it commenced snowing violently from N.W. & continued up to bed time.

We are feeling very anxious at not hearing from Charley either via Olney or in either of the S.S. mails today, but try to console ourselves with the proverb that "No news is good news".

I went to the P.O. several times. Willie called to know if we had heard from Lincoln. he had been over at "Longwood" near Brookeville on business with Mrs Nesbitt, & was here to supper & went back to "Fairfield facing the snow storm.

Ther. 18° Clear. Wind. N.W. & S.E. Saturday, Feb 27, 1897.

Much colder this morning, but clear. Went to the store & P.O. and to A. F. Fairall's shop or office.

We recd a card from Charley saying Ida was decidedly better, having no fever, some appetite, and has had some natural sleep. Old John & Walter Budd came to clear out the ice house, but the ground was frozen so hard that I thought they had better leave it until it was in better condition.

Ther. 28° Clear. Wind. S.E. Sunday, Feb 28,^th 1897.

Still quite cold. I did not go to meeting this morning, but Edwd went both to meeting & to the Bible Class.

Willie & Fanny came about 11.o'clock and took dinner with us, going back to "Fairfield" about 3-o'clk p.m. I have been feeling very rheumatic & have pain in my back (lumbago.) feel chilly most of the time, even when close to the fire.