My Grandfather kept diaries most of his life. This is from his 1900 journal when he was 14 and living in Sycamore, Illinois. I post a month each Monday.
Monday, Oct 1, 1900
It has been a nice day.
I bought me a pair of suspenders today.
Tuesday, Oct 2, 1900
It was cloudy this morning and it rained this afternoon.
Wednesday, Oct 3, 1900
It has been a very nice day.
Thursday, Oct 4, 1900
It has been a nice day today.
Friday, Oct 5, 1900
It has been a nice day and warmer than usual.
Saturday, Oct 6, 1900
It has been cloudy most of the day and has rained a little.
I went up town this afternoon and saw Roosevelt, the Republican candidate for vice president, go through on the train.
Sunday, Oct 7, 1900
It has been colder than usual today and the wind has been blowing hard.
I went to Sunday school today.
Monday, Oct 8, 1900
It has been a nice day today.
I got me a new pair of shoes this morning.
Tuesday, Oct 9, 1900
It has been a nice day.
I walked to school this morning and home tonight. I helped drive some steers that papa had bought home this morning.
Wednesday, Oct 10, 1900
It has been a nice day.
I did not go to school today because I acted as pall-bearer to a boy in DeKalb that used to be in my Sunday school class. His name is Carl Gustafsson.
Thursday, Oct 11, 1900
It has been a nice day today.
I walked home from school tonight.
Friday, Oct 12, 1900
It has been a nice day.
I walked home after school.
I have been picking popcorn for a time after school.
Saturday, Oct 13, 1900
It has been a nice day today.
I helped drive some cattle to the Coolidge farm this morning.
I have picked popcorn all the afternoon.
Sunday, Oct 14, 1900
It has been a nice day.
I went to Sunday school. I went out to the Wood farm this afternoon.
Aunt Mary and Uncle Will came out last night.
Monday, Oct 15, 1900
It has been a nice day.
I walked to school this morning and home tonight.
Tuesday, Oct 16, 1900
It has been cold[er] than usual today.
There has been a Republican rally in town and we did not have school this afternoon. I went up town tonight after supper.
Wednesday, Oct 17, 1900
It has been a nice day today.
Thursday, Oct 18, 1900
It has been a nice day.
Friday, Oct 19, 1900
It has been a nice day today.
I whipped a carpet some this morning.
Saturday, Oct 20, 1900
It has been a nice day today.
I went to a football game this afternoon. The Sycamore boys played the DeKalb boys. It came out a tie, 0 to 0.
There was a Democrat rally in town today.
Sunday, Oct 21, 1900
It has been a nice day but has been blowing hard all day.
I went to Sunday school today.
Monday, Oct 22, 1900
It rained a little this morning and has been cloudy most of the day.
Tuesday, Oct 23, 1900
It has been cloudy or raining all day.
Wednesday, Oct 24, 1900
It has been a nice day today.
I raked leaves for a little while tonight.
Thursday, Oct 25, 1900
It has been a nice day today.
I raked leaves tonight and had a bonfire.
Friday, Oct 26, 1900
It has been a nice day today.
There was no school today.
I went hunting this afternoon with Charles Kellum but we did not get anything. I lost a jack-knife this afternoon.
Saturday, Oct 27, 1900
It has been a nice day today.
I went out in the woods this forenoon after thorn-apples. I went up town this afternoon.
Sunday, Oct 28, 1900
It has been cloudy all day and sprinkled a little.
I went to Sunday school.
Monday, Oct 29, 1900
It has been raining almost all day.
Tuesday, Oct 30, 1900
It has been cloudy almost all day.
I bought 175 tobacco tags today and I am going to send off for a ball and a knife.
Wednesday, Oct 31, 1900
It has been raining almost all day.
I sent some tobacco tags to get a ball today.
