Diary: Caleb E. Iddings, 1899

43° Cloudy & Rain S.W. Wind Ther. Wed. Jan. 4th, 1899.

It rained early this morning and was cloudy most of the day. The temperature has moderated so much that the ice & snow melted, making the traveling disagreeable. I went to the store & P.O. & to Fairalls office. Harriet seems rather better today but her temperature was 103 2/5 at 11 o'clock last night. I gave her a capsule gr. IV. Sulph Codin gr 1/4) which acted "like a charm". Relieving pain in head, back & limbs, & bringing down her temperature to nearly normal, causing profuse perspiration and quiet sleep. She has also taken nourishment very well for her Edwds cough is very severe and his appetite not as good as I could wish. I am thankful Dora keeps up, and that I am able to be about. Willie telephoned this morning to enquire after the sick & afternoon came and took tea with us. Sister Lizzie called at the gate to enquire after H & E. I wrote & mailed postal to Charles by the 2 p.m. mail.

55° Cloudy & Rain Variable Wind Ter. Thurs. Jan. 5, 1899

Willie telephoned from Brighton to enquire how Harriet and Edward were this morning and again towards evening. This has been an extremely dull disagreeable day, both over hand and under foot. I went to the store and P.O. before lunchtime. Wrote & mailed postal cards to Charley. "Ned" Alcorn was here Afternoon & also "Old John" Mrs Robinson called afternoon to enquire after our sick. Friend Lydia Thomas died this morning at 7 o' clk. She was Edward Thomas' widow and sister of the late Albin Gilpin.

32° Rain & Sleet N.E.&.E Ther. Fri.Jan. 6th. 1899 Wind

Commenced raining again after midnight last, & has continued all this forenoon. Harriet is, I hope, doing as well as can be expected considering the depressing weather. She rested quite well last night, and took some nourishment this morning for breakfast. Edwd coughed less last night, & really seems better. I went in next door to test our telephone bells & found them all right again. Friend Lydia Thomas was buried this afternoon at 2 o' clk at the "Friends burying ground near the meeting house: it seems rather hurried to bury so soon after death (about 31 hours) she having died at 7 o' clock yesterday morning. It has rained all day today, and was cold enough to form sleet this morning. I wrote postal card to Charley, & Edward one to his aunt Ellie Wood, which were mailed at 2 p.m. Willie telephoned to us about 5 o' clk p.m. Ed Scott called & left a bundle for his sister.

Clear N.W. Ther. Sat. Jan. 7, 1899 Wind

Clear & cold, the ground covered with a light coat of snow, which disappeared when the sun shone out. Willie brought my horse & buggy home & Fanny came in his carriage to take him back. I gave W the money $ (2.60) and he paid our insurance tax at the same time he paid the "Fairfield" tax. W & F went back before lunchtime. I recd a letter from F. Tyson. Went to mill for horse feed. After lunch I walked down to Ashton & back. My dear wife really seems better today, and more like herself. I hope she will not be "too smart" and want to get about again before she is strong enough. Edwd is also better. Lizzie Scott was here to see Dora this afternoon. After dark I went to the store & P.O. It is freezing hard this evening, and the roads (except the turnpike) are extremely rough. heavy wagons having cut them up whilst they were soft.

19° Clear & Cloudy NW&SE Ther. Sun. Jan. 8,1899 Wind

Ground frozen hard this morning. I did not go to meeting, not feeling at all well, & having so many little matters to attend to. Harriet felt so much better that she insisted upon getting up & being dressed, and after a time she came down stairs and staid until after supper: it being the first time she has been at the table with us for nearly a week. It will be a week tomorrow since she "gave up" & went to bed. Willie came for a short time, late in the afternoon, & went back to "Fairfield" before supper. I wrote to Frederic Tyson in reply to a letter recd from him yesterday. Walked up to the P.O. & mailed the letter before bed time.

32 Cloudy S.E. Ther. Mon. Jan 9, 1899 Wind

Cloudy & threatning snow or rain all day but did neither. The ground was frozen this morning but thawed enough to make the walking disagreeable before noon, I went to the P O and store. Sister Lizzie and Walter called a few minutes. Harriet came down stairs before lunch time, & again to supper. She seems to be steadily improving and if she is only not "too smart" and keeps quiet long enough to regain her strength she will do well enough. She recd a letter from Charley today. We were beginning to feel quite anxious about them, as we had not heard from them for some time. After supper Agust. Bulwar was here to consult me about his little grandson. "Dick" Matthews was also here for advice etc for his daughter. Mrs Robison was in to see Dora

14 Cloudy. SW & NW. Ther. Tues. Jan 10, 1899 Wind

Quite cold today. I walked over to see Kate Matthew's little girl, calling at the store & P.O as I came home. It has looked and felt like snow all day, but it seemed to clear off towards sun set and clouded up again before bed time. Afternoon Willie Fanny & the baby came to spend the night with us Lizzie Scott & Mrs Robison were here to see Dora

10 Clear & Cloudy NW. & S.E. Ther. Wed. Jan. 11, 1899 Wind

Cold this morning, and indeed all day. I went to Fairall's and had one of my boots mended. Henry Miller sent us a load of straw, and atook away a load of manure. Ed, Easton helped unload & put it away. Willie Fanny & baby went back to "Fairfield" before lunchtime I recd a letter from H. A. Parker. Harriet came down stairs to lunch & seems to be improving slowly. Edwd is also "on the mend" I went to the store for coal oil etc. It is still cold this evening, but calm, so that is is not so difficult to keep the house warm as when the wind blows.

Ther 21° Wind N.E. Thurs. Jan 12, 1899

Ground covered with snow (but lighter) Cloudy & threatning all day. We all seem to be suffering with headache. Mine turned out to be regular sick headache toward night, and I went to bed quite sick.

Ther 30° Sleet & Rain. Wind N.E. Fri. Jan. 13, 1899

This has been an extremely disagreeable day from morning to night just cold enough to freeze the drizzling rain as it fell, making out of doors employment of any kind very disagreeable, few persons were out, except upon urgent business. it is unfortunate for the dancing party at Brighton Grange Hall to night, in which Willie & Fanny are interested. I went to the store & P.O. I am feeling much better today but weak, & "sore all over" went in next door for papers