The following is the diary of my great aunt, Julia D. Greene, formerly of Lansing, who lived with us in the farmhouse on Ford Rd. for fifteen years, approximately from 1899 to 1914. [Transcription by Mary Lillian Lathers, AKA Lillian, b. 1901, d. 1978]

East Nankin, Wea. fair. Fri. Feb 1^st 1901, 12 Ther.

Up at 6. Put water on to heat in my new birthday tea kettle. Did not heat very spry, was barely warm when I had taken salt towel & dressed. After morning chores, swept my room with sweeper & damp broom on oil cloth & planned & cut out outing flannel nightgown, & have basted & stitched quite a bit. Lay down a while & have read quite a bit in "Janice Meredith". Robt. started about 9 to city with eggs, butter, & 50 bu. of sweet corn for seed. Was 9 or later when he returned, very cold & tired & nightly chores not done, Richard L. not having come around as arranged. R. did some chores, but did not milk.

3 doz. of the eggs got broken going.

Miss Montgomery & her niece called this p.m. I did not see them, was in my room. I wiped dishes twice. Sarah & I played cats cradle very much to the edification of the children. Baby has been extremely quiet & Julia has gotten along nicely.

Very cold day. Swept snow from porch this a.m.

East Nankin, Wea. Fair, Sat., Feb. 2, 1901, cold ther.

After 6 when I got up, but have lain awake since 3:30. A beautiful morning, did not need to light my lamp. Watered plants, wiped dishes twice, spent much of a.m. looking over boxes, drawers, etc. in search of silk necktie & catechism but could find neither, then read till dinnertime. Was after 2 when I got to my room & lay down for a little while for health. When I went down to dinner found Everett C. there. Henry L. came this a.m. & helped Robt. load up some corn stalks & now the four children have gone skating. Have sewed some on my nightdress. Was surprised when I went down this p.m. to find that Sarah was going to start from Emily's tonight, wants to visit at Emily's little more. She had a kind letter from Cora this p.m. telling her things were doing well & to stay longer if needed. She & Mrs. Southwell feared it might storm tomorrow, so Robt. took her & Everett to Inkster after supper. I have read a little this eve. Fannie Lathers was in. Took bath at bedtime.

East Nankin. Wea. windy, Sun. Feb 3d 1901

7:30 or later when we breakfasted. Did my morning chores, wiped dishes & looked up S.S. lesson somewhat. Weather unpromising. Toward noon began to snow & this p.m. was windy & blustering. Storm increased, no evening service. Robert, the children & I went to S.S. & church. 15 at S.S., col 26 cents. Alice Lathers not out, I played the organ for SS & church. Mr. Wetmore preached - subject "C. E. Societies". Tex Col. 4:3 - "Endeavoring to keep the unity". Notice of Miss. meeting to be held Thurs. a.m. at Mrs. McGarvey's was read.

Snow quite drifted when we went home. Read little this eve, & tended baby some. Rev. Wetmore stopped with Mrs. Stringer. We had chicken pie for dinner and it was good too!

East Nankin, Wea. cloudy, Wed. Feb. 6^th

Not feeling very well. Had restless night. Have taken more cold, sneezing quite a bit yesterday and today, throat sore & cough tight. Had quite a headache this a.m., but better this p.m. Spent most of a.m. in my room sewing on nightdress. While I was laying down this a.m. Cyrus brought me a letter from Sally [undecipherable]. He came for a load of sawdust to pack ice in (William Lathers [undecipherable])

His wife, Mark, & Grandma Lathers were with him, & Julia had them stay to dinner. Had soup & boiled cabbage, potatoes & meat etc. They had not been gone long before Mrs. Proctor called to see Julia & baby. Stayed 1 1/2 hours or more, pleasant, nice appearing woman. Emily has not been in school today - Cyrus is content to stay in, but as full of talk as ever. Have read this eve., went to bed early, after soaking feet in hot water.

East Nankin, Wea. fair, Tues Feb 5^th 1901 cold ther.

Up about 6:30. Have swept sitting room & brought in snow & melted to fill my tea kettle & wash pitcher & some for Mrs. S. Wiped dishes 3 times, Julia washed them once. Robt. took Emily to school & on his return churned. Mrs. Southwell complaining of lameness in right shoulder but has looked after butter & ironed baby's washing with she did yesterday. Had a call from Dr. Bennet, who wanted to see how Julia & baby were getting on. I paid him for the medicine I got on his previous visit when he couldn't change my money. Have sewn quite a bit on my own work. Lay down a little to rest my bowels. Took 2 of the Dr.'s laxative pellets, this p.m. have been feeling the effect. Have read some & tended baby a little. Robert has been twice to Perrinsville with logs to have sawed into lumber for an ice house. Have taken cold today and tonight, gargled my throat with salt water. Emily came home at recess with headache. Had tomato soup for dinner.

East Nankin, Wea. fair, Thurs. Feb. 7^th 1901, cold ther.

Feel better of my cold & slept better, was after 7 when I got up but was downstairs some time before breakfast as we waited for Robert who had gone to his father's to help some men lead a steer which he had sold to them. Ollie came over with mail, & to see about Miss. meeting just as we were about to have worship. She stayed a little while, asked if we wanted to go to Miss. meeting with them & just before noon Mr. Stewart drove up with his big sleigh to see if we wanted to go, had three ladies with him. Have sewed some, read Herald & Presbyter, lay down few minutes, but have spent great part of the day in writing a letter to Abby Everett. Brushed up my room, wiped dishes. Cyrus came up to my room & asked me to come to the parlor where it was warmer, as the fire had to go out for the stove to be fixed.

East Nankin, Wea. windy, Fri. Feb 8^th 1901, -7 ther.

Did not have my window up last night but drank hot water on going to bed, for my cold, have quite a time coughing and raising phlegm every morning. Was surprised to find it quite cold when I went down. Darned some large holes in Emily's stocking. Have written to Abby & sent receipt for the $2.00. Robt. mailed it when he went to Inkster. He also went to Wayne on the car, says Sarah just left for home yesterday. This p.m. have written a letter to Rev. Caldwell & his wife congratulating them & telling them of our situation, of the new baby etc. Have sewed on my nightgown & tried to teach Emily to knit. Have read some. Has been quite windy & dreary.

I sat us till Robt. came home from the C.E. entertainment at the church & reported it snowing.

I sat up until his return on account of baby, I thought Mrs. Southwell needed to go to bed, & I drank hot water on retiring.

East Nankin, Wea. snowy, Sat. Feb. 9^th 1901

Snowed good deal & was rather windy all night. It was after 7 when Robt. got up to make the fire. Have done morning chores, finished nightdress, & mended pair of stockings for self. This p.m. mended old coat of Robert's. He took load of sawdust to Inkster this p.m., mailed my letter to Mrs. Caldwell & brought me one from Mrs. J. R. Esselstyn. Also my Lansing paper. He took Cyrus & Emily to William's, where they spent the afternoon making Valentines & returned with their father at night. The extra snow made walking impractical. Julia & Mrs. S. have spent the day churning, sweeping, doing everything to red up the house, as the expect Rev. Wetmore tomorrow to stop here, and the Cavanaghs are coming too. I have wiped dishes twice, mended my waist, & read this eve., tended baby some, and played cats cradle with Cyrus. Had good bath at bed time and drank hot water.

East Nankin, Wea. fair, Sun. Feb. 10^th 1901, Cold ther.

About 8 o'clock when we got up. Helped some with morning chores & then went to my room for the a.m.

Robert went to Inkster for Mr. Wetmore & the Cavanaghs as was planned yesterday, but came back with only Rev. Wetmore.

Mrs. Southwell had a good dinner of chicken pie etc. but she was too tired & used up to go to church & I did not feel like going out with my cough & cold, so Robt. & the children represented the family. He said there were 26 at S.S.

It has been a beautiful bright day, the most pleasant Sabbath in some weeks. Robert & Mr. Wetmore went to evening service. I have coughed harder & more constantly than ever & this eve. Julia made some lemonade for me, which I took hot & went to bed early.

East Nankin, Wea. Snow. Mon. Feb. 11, 1901, Cold ther.

Snowed. Rev. W. spent the night with us, Robt. slow in getting out cutter first time this season to take Rev. W. to car. Got back about 11, he was to draw wood before dinner, but he sat and read a little and fixed the fire etc. The Rev. Hobart & his wife & child drove up for visit, but Robt. had to go & get the wood so we could have a fire. He did not get it unloaded till night, neither did he get to Perrinsville for his lumber. The Hobarts & Lathers both seemed to enjoy visiting together very much. The little girl & Cyrus played together nicely some of the time, some of the time they quarreled. I suggested that Julia play the instrument & they have some singing & they did so & all enjoyed it, I was too hoarse to help any. Soon after they left Julia had a chill & went to bed with hard headache. I tried to help about the house, read some, carried hot water bag & dring to Mrs. S. after she retired. She washed some. Robert took large washing to Mrs. We. this morning.

East Nankin, Wea. fair, Tues. Feb. 12^th 190, 10 ther.

Snowed some yesterday & last night, wind blew it around somewhat. Julia's headache better, but she did not get up till some time after breakfast. I combed Emily's hair, & sewed on buttons for Cyrus & Robert & sewed rips & patched, wiped dishes 3 times yesterday & 3 today. Continued my search for the J. C. Everett note & made an endorsement on it of the $2.00 Abby sent me last month.

Had Julia cut out an apron for Emily & have sewed on it this p.m. She has cared for baby & ironed a little. Mrs. S. has baked bread & cookies & done general housework. R. has gone to Perrinsville for the 2^nd time today. Brought load of lumber for his ice house. I swept up the room, have done some writing & tatted & read some. Took hot water, & went to bed early.

Nankin, Wea Snow, Wed. Feb. 13^th 190. Cold Ther.

All were quite late getting up this a.m. Gave my room a good going over with sweeper & while resting ate an apple Julia gave me. Cyrus came up to visit me & was quite interested in the amt of dirt I got. I visited with him & read some Biblical accounts of Samson's great strength & deeds. He was quite edified, talked about it a good deal downstairs. Have written business letter to Mrs. Rose Cooley, sewed on Emily's print apron, played cats cradle with Cyrus several times, tended baby some, played several tunes & tried to have Cyrus sing with me, wiped dishes etc. Mrs. Williams brought the washing & I loaned Mrs. Southwell 30 cts. to help pay her. Julia has ironed some. Robt. drove to Inkster this a.m. & this p.m. with Richard's help has cut some lumber for sills for the ice house.

Mr. Parr came in to see the baby & bring the groceries, and I got hoarhound candy from him. Very bad and cold out yet. John T. Page died today in Detroit. Nellie's home.

Nankin, Wea. Sunshine. Thur. Feb. 14^th, -4 Ther.

A beautiful morning, but I have lain awake nearly all night, so nervous I could not control my thoughts, and the disagreeable part has to be reviewed in spite of all my attempts to the contrary. Have helped little about housework, finished Emily's apron, mended pair of pants for Cyrus, tended baby a little. Robert has churned, worked at his ice house. Mrs. S. has prepared butter for market & ironed a little. Baby has not been very well today & has had to have an extra share of Julia's attention, evidently had a little colic. Ollie was in this p.m. for a little while & came again this eve. with 6 doz. eggs for Robt. to take to the city. I had dressed & got out my wraps to go to their house with a bit of mail when she came, so I did not go. Cyrus was to have gone with me. I have played cats cradle for his diversion several times.

Nankin, Wea. bright, Fri, Feb. 15, 1901, 0 Ther.

Up earlier than usual. Robt. & Mrs. S. only ones at breakfast table when I went down, but was 8:30 or later when he started for city. Emily rode with him to school. I put water on to heat & with very slow fire as soon as I could heat it I washed my red flannels & pair of stockings. Water in cistern so hard I used considerable borax with soap. Julia washed few pieces of white flannel for the baby, but had snow water. She wasn't feeling at all well, neither was Mrs. Southwell, but both are round.

John T. Page's remains brought from Det. where he died on Wed. & buried today in Mt. Hope. Services conducted by Knights Templar.

Nankin, Wea. Fair, Sat. Feb. 16^th 1901, cold ther.

Were up in good season. Julia was an hour or two later getting up than the rest of us. Have given sitting room good sweeping, shaken the carpet rugs, filled & cleaned lamps. Ironed my blue waist and wiped dishes twice, tended fire & baby & this p.m. changed clothing & walked over to Johnnie's, carried a book of theirs I had been reading, took my knitting work & sat a while, heel in a sock for Robert, he had driven to Inkster 3 times today; once to get ice, this eve. to take Mrs. S. & her son to Detroit, she does not feel able to work & will rest for a while. Robt. has worked on his ice house & had 3 or 4 to help him, drawing sawdust & ice. Julia has ironed some for the baby, baked cake, steamed brown bread, mopped the kitchen & done general work. The children have spent part of p.m. at Jennie's & drove to Inkster this a.m. & been out of doors besides. The Boltz boys here for dinner.

Cyrus got some snow for me to melt for my wash pitcher. Had a good bath at bed time.

Nankin - Wea. stormy, Sun. Feb. 17^th, mild ther.

Julia was getting breakfast when I went down & I helped do the morning work. Spent some time reading S.S. lesson, dressed for church before lunch. Julia did not cook a dinner. Robert concluded not to go to church, as he had a toothache, but thought the girls would ride from Johnny's & I could go with them. I waited with things on for some time, then started out, it had begun to snow and blow. I walked most to Grandma Lathers's before they overtook me, they had driven to Miss Montgomery's for Miss Harper, but I rode the rest of the way to the church.

Mrs. J. Lathers reported Sun. School attendance 25, coll. 20. Alice Lathers was late, so I played the first two tunes in S.S. Rev. Wetmore preached, text John 15, 17, he also presided at S.S. in Robert's place.

Snow continued all p.m., Robert came for the children & me, I played few tunes tonight & read a little.

Nankin, Wea. Fair, Mon. Feb. 18^th, 1901, Windy & colder.

Slept well until nearly 3 o'clock, have lain awake since then. Helped some about breakfast & dinner work, skimmed 4 pans of milk, swept sitting room, kitchen & shed & snow from front porch. This p.m. hung out a lot of diapers that Julia had washed, Cyrus put them through the wringer. Have tended fires & baby some & knit on heels to Robert's old socks.

Robert has had help today about his ice house & drawing ice to fill it. 2 Boltz boys here to supper. Tended baby considerable this evening & have read a little. Lay on the lounge a while this eve. as I was tired & my room was cool, has thawed some outdoors today. Have done my usual writing & room work. Gave candy to the children & others. My cold is somewhat better.

Nankin, Wea. variable, Tues. Fe. 19^th 1901, Wind & colder

Slept quite well & we all got a little earlier start than yesterday. I filled & cleaned lamps, shook the rugs, & gave sitting room a good sweeping. Helped some in kitchen & otherwise. Robert churned this a.m. & Julia has looked after the butter, had buttermilk biscuits for dinner. She is now ironing the diapers. Robert & Charlie Houck have just come with loads of ice, the last they will need to fill the ice house.

Julia has written a letter to her mother & I have written a business card to Mr. Esselstyn.

Have knit quite a bit on the stocking heel, wiped dishes, played cats cradle, & read a little.

Nankin, Wea. stormy & blustering, Wed. Feb. 20^th

Got up feeling terribly blue & discouraged, but went to the sure source of comfort & after a while felt better & more cheerfull. Swept sitting room, filled lamps, stirred up loaf of brown bread. Julia has baked white bread & cherry pie & done the general housework. I wiped dishes 3 times & have tended baby considerable.

Have knit little & got the heel sewed in to one pair of socks & darned & patched besides. Grace Stewart & Junia Lathers were her wile we were at dinner to borrow Julia's quilt frames. I could not find them, they were used last June & carried from there with an unfinished quilt on them, she does not know where. This p.m. Cyrus & I went to see Aunt Jennie, had not seen her for some time, feared she might be sick. Stopped at Grandma's on way to return book Julia had borrowed, & sat few minutes to rest. Found Aunt Jennie sweeping & Henry studying. She finished up her work & we visited some. She had Henry practice his piece he is to play tomorrow night at church. I played several pieces, rode home with Robert on woodrack when he came from Inkster. Stormy & quite cold going out. Read little, & have taken more cold. Soaked feet at bedtime.

Nankin, Wea. fair, Thur. Feb. 21, 1901, 8 ther.

We were up in better season. Emily wiped the breakfast dishes, I dusted a bit, swept up the sitting room & filled lamps. Julia has washed baby flannels & dresses & I hung up those that were to go outdoors. Robert has with help butchered two pigs & Cyrus has been playing football with the bladders that Robert has inflated & tied up for him. Cyrus is going to carry some liver over to Johnny's, I intended going with him, but changed my mind. Held the baby quite a while after dinner. Patched an old pair of socks for Robert. Have played cats cradle with Cyrus, wiped dishes, read some, & darned a little. This evening Robert hitched up Jerry and all but Julia & the baby went to church to an entertainment given by the school on the corner. Ollie cam over & went with us. The entertainment was a patriotic one, consequently the Washington name came in quite frequently. The children did quite nicely considering the time they had to practice. The night was quite cold.

Nankin, Weather variable, Fri. Feb. 22^nd 1901, 12 ther.

6:30 before Robert made the fire, but Julia gets the meals up quicker than Mrs. Southwell, so we got around. I patched Cyrus's mittens, brushed up around sitting room, & tended baby while Julia cut up the fat & got the lard to frying. I offered to help with it, but she preferred I should keep my hands clean to tend the baby, etc. This p.m. Ollie came to help Julia & brought the meat grinder. Julia had sent the children over with some fresh meat. I made bags for sausage & sewed one up for straining lard. I went to bottom of my flour chest to get some sage & pepper for the sausage but it had lost strength, so she thought it best not to use it. Ollie stayed till 5, then thought she must go & help Fannie about the night chores, as she is not well. Julia sent her a can of grape shrub. Julia has ironed the fine things washed yesterday. Jennie was up for a little while about 5 o'clock, brought mail Robert also brought some later, nothing but papers for me. Have read a little, made bed. We had a windy snowstorm in the p.m. No school today. The children helped in the kitchen.

Nankin, Sat. Feb. 23^rd, 1901, -2 Ther.

Little late getting up again, quite cold in kitchen. Brushed up sitting room, swept snow off porch, made the beds, etc. Carried fresh pork to Miss Montgomery & borrowed a sieve for Julia to sift sage. She & Robert have worked a good part of the day at the sausage, lard, & meat generally. Robert carried a ham & piece of sausage to his father & the children have been to Jenny's & Johnny's with meat & sausage. Ollie told Emily she might have a pie, if she came for it, so she came 2^nd time. They are spending the p.m. at Jennie's. I wiped dishes, have fried a batch of cakes & tended baby somewhat & read a while when I needed to rest. Julia mopped kitchen.

Baby has been quite good most of the time. I have skimmed milk, did not read much this eve. So cold in kitchen that Robert moved dining table in before eve. I took good bath at bed time.

Nankin, Wea. stormy, Sun. Feb. 24^th, 1901, 8 ther.

Up in good season. The children took baths before breakfast that Julia wasn't able to see to last night. Julia stirred up pancakes for breakfast, Emily baked them. I brushed up room, skimmed milk & wiped supper dishes, tended baby considerably.

Robert, the children & I went to S.S., was past time for school to begin, but had to wait for others to arrive before opening. Had no secretary's report as Fanny L. wasn't able to come & Robert neglected to appoint any one.

Rev. Wetmore preached as usual. Text - Luke 22, 28 & John 8, 2. "Judas also knew the place". He spent some time before the sermon in telling of his attendance at Presbytery meeting, also the Y.M.C.A. in Ann Arbor. Rather thin attendance. After children had gone to bed & had their concert in bed, Julia & Robert sang several pieces. I was too hoarse after singing to the baby 15 min. that I could not sing with them much.

I played the piano this a.m. & Robert sang with me.

Nankin, Occasional snow, Mon. Feb. 25^th, 1901, Warmer Ther.

Up & dressed before 7, have brushed up my room a little, carried my largest run down & shook it, also those below stairs. Swept sitting room & porch, wiped dishes once. Julia has done quite a bit of washing for baby, & I hung out the things. Robert went to Inkster with a load of wood this p.m. & churned on his return.

He and Julia have done further work on the pork business, Julia baked spareribs & apple dumplings for dinner. Cyrus has been to visit the school this p.m. He said "The teacher told me "what did I want?"" He was quite pleased, wants to go again every day.

Grace Stewart came home with the children to get clamps for the quilting frames. This p.m. I have brushed up my plaid flannel waist & made the collar narrower, have done several bits of mending & tended baby considerable. Have had light snow some times today & some wind. Have written & read some, tatted some, & read aloud some articles to Julia while she tended baby.

Nankin, Wea. Snow & wind, Tue. Feb. 26, 1901, 18 ther.

Pleasant morning, have dressed before 7, have brought in the clothes that were too frozen last night & folded them, swept sitting room. This p.m. have patched & darned Julia's best tablecloth & sprinkled it & taken few stitches for myself. Chopped some meat, pig heart & tongue. Julia has baked bread, worked over butter, ironed some, had nice johnny cake for dinner.

Robert drove to Inkster this p.m. with large load of wood & Cyrus went with him, returned in time to bring Emily from school. She brought me a letter from Mrs. Cooley and the Republican.

Has grown colder this p.m., have had several flurries of snow & quite windy. Have tended fires & taken up ashes & tended the baby.

Nankin, Sunshine, wind colder, Wed. Feb. 27^th, 1901

Waked about 2:00, & except for a slight doze about 5 o'clock had no further sleep. Cleaned up sitting room, made Julia's bed, cleared table & wiped dinner dishes, then Ollie came & offered to help Julia wash. The clothes had to be picked up and snow brought in & melted, so it was after dinner before they got much of a start as we did not know she was coming. I was not feeling as well as usual & could not help in the kitchen, but have minded the baby & mended some. Julia had a nice suet pudding for dinner. Robert has been to Inkster twice with loads of wood, the mail brought me a long letter from Mrs. D. Howel, telling me of the Lansing neighbors & friends. I enjoyed it greatly. Had to lay down a while this p.m., but helped Ollie about hanging out the clothes, she went home about 5:00 o'clock. Julia gave her some fresh meat. I washed out several pieces of my own this morning, ready for boiling. Have read a little & crocheted some. Snowed slightly once or twice. Colder tonight.

Nankin, Wea. Fair, Thurs. Feb. 28^th, 1901, -4 Ther.

Was up and nearly dressed when clock struck seven. Wore my new outing flannel nightdress for the first time - slept better than last night. Straightened up sitting room & did usual morning chores. Spent and hour or two in my room looking over accounts & for my oldest account book, but did not find it. Robert has churned & been to Inkster with wood. We heard at Jennie Lathers's of the death of a relative of Miss Montgomery's & Julia fearing that they had not heard of it wished me to go and tell the girls. I changed my clothes and went this p.m. Sat a little while, Carried Fanny an orange, she looks bad, but still keeps around. Alice Lathers came in for a while, but did not stay long. On my return, brought in the clothes that were put out last night, sprinkled & folded them, have minded the baby some while Julia was at work. Have done some raveling & crocheting on a hood for the baby & mended a little for Julia.

Colder tonight.