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]
Nankin, Wea. Stormy. Sat. June 1, 1901
Was 5:30 when I waked. Some of the folks were up. Baby had an angry crying spell this a.m. I wiped breakfast dishes & did some chores. Put few woolen pieces out to air this p.m. Lay down few minutes, and except for that, have spent the day sewing on Robert's shirt. Gave Julia the black hose supporters I bought in Lansing. She, Cyrus E., Sarah & baby have gone this p.m. to visit Mrs. Harrison. Just as they were about to leave, a shower came up & Robert unwillingly put the horse up, but after the shower was over, they started again. Have had several showers since, but not of long duration. I sewed on shirt, & looked for return of family. When they came at 8:30 I related the children had had baths & gone to bed. Julia had 3 extra ones with her - Aunt Hatt Andrew of Toledo, daughter Aggie, & Everett Cavanagh. Had to borrow a 2 seated buggy to bring them in. Was late when we got to bed. Soaked feet on retiring.
Nankin, Wea. showery, June 2, 1901
Quite wet out this morning and at times quite threatening, but after waiting in vain an hour of so for family worship as it took 5 sittings down to breakfast the family & nearly as many to clear up afterward.
We finally got to church, 20 min. late. (Service in a.m. now)
Sarah, Aggie Andrews, the two children, & I went, R. stopped for his mother. Nearly through reading Scriptures when we arrived, but there were some later. Rev. Wetmore preached as usual, but had forgotten his notes & so had to speak from memory as best he could. In S.S. Mr. W. Lathers sat down & had Mr. W. teach the Bible class.
Subject - Jesus our High Priest in Heaven. Matt. 35, Col. 20. Everett & Aggie had to go to Inkster to take car tonight, so Cyrus & Sarah went too, to Wayne. Cyrus was so unfortunate as to get red pepper in his eyes in the night, and suffered much. No one went to Endeavor Service but Julia, Mrs. Andrews, baby & I had music while others were gone to car.
Nankin & Wayne. Wea. Fair, Mon. June 3rd, 1901
Did some stitching on shirt & took it to Wayne this a.m. Mrs. Andrews, baby, Julia & I drove to Inkster, left the horse, & took the car, after waiting 30 minutes. Found Phila Harrison & little son at Emily's, but her company expected from Plymouth did not come. Cyrus feeling rather better. He walked out around the village several times this p.m. at leaving time we, our buggy load, & Emily went to depot to see them off. Saw Cyrus & Sarah start for Ypsilanti, 15 min. later we took the car for Inkster. Stayed at Mrs. Harrison's till Julia got the horse & came for us. Ride out this a.m. was rather bad for my health & I lay down until nearly dinnertime. This p.m. have sewed on the shirt. Wore my new gray dress for first time. On way home found letter from Flora Skinner at Jennie's, & 1st copy of State Republican date Saturday. Read letter in parlor. Mrs. A. wrote letter to her daughter & Robert had young man here on business.
Nankin, Wea. Fair, Tues. June 4, warm
Picked up few things to be washed, stitched what I had basted on shirt & have made 14 buttonholes & carried it to be starched. Lay down 1/2 hour for my health. After clearing dinner table, tended baby for some time, giving her considerable music. This p.m. have written quite a bit in diary & half a letter to Flora Skinner. Mrs. Andrew & Julia have both lain down this p.m., Julia & baby had naps. Robert helped about the washing. Julia went to Johnnie's this eve. on an errand & Ollie returned with her to get the mail. Jennie got the mail today, I had 5 issues of State Republican.
Nankin, Wea. fair, Wed. June 5, 1901, 90 Ther.
I hastened after breakfast to finish my letter to Flora Skinner & wrote cards to Abbie Everett & Mrs. Cooley of Lansing, telling them of the feather bed, box, & pictures I packed last Thurs. to go to them. Robert, Julia, Mrs. Andrews & Cyrus are going to Ypsilanti this a.m., will start the box & mail for me. My work for the day has been airing blankets, dresses, etc. & clearing out my green chest & closet, repacking, arranging, & running the sweeper over my room. Emily helped me carry the things down and upstairs & I shall pay her for it. I kept at it till about 5 o'clock & was very tired, cleaned myself up and tried to rest. Have tended baby considerable to give Mrs. Southwell a chance to do the work. Ollie came over and sat a while this evening & helped care for her. The folks did not get home till 9 o'clock or later. I was so sleepy I couldn't keep my eyes open while Ollie was here.
Thurs. June 6th
We were all willing to lie abed this morning. Did not get rested enough from yesterday's work to be able to continue in the same kind today as I had expected, so spent much time in planning, cutting out & planning pair of pants for Cyrus. Visited some with Mrs. Andrews, who has been picking up to leave. Julia took her to Inkster this p.m. to take car to Detroit. I have tended baby some, & this p.m. have written a 6 page letter to Sally Christopher for Robert to mail in the morning.
Was warm enough this a.m. for me to sit on the porch and brush and cut out some. Grew cool & misty later.
Nankin, Wea Sun & clouds, very windy. Fri. June 7, 1901
Baby had a very hard cry about 2 or 3 o'clock, & my sleep after that was not so good as before, & some of the folks did not get out so early for having bee disturbed. Robert & Emily have gone to city with load of 3 lb. butter, 66 doz. eggs, & 20 hens. Julia has done good deal of sweeping, baked, & mopped the floor.
I have had carpet & rugs on line to air. Cyrus helped me carry them out, but I brought them all in, & since dinner folded & put away most of them. Too windy to risk the bedding. One of the clothesline posts came down so carpet lay on ground. Julia & I spread tweed carpet on bedroom floor & measured & examined it. She will take it, there is full 20 yds. Have done some writing in diary. This eve. Cyrus & I walked to Jennie's for the mail. Got the first no. (June) of Woman's Work for which I subscribed in May, in Lansing. Henry gave us each a yellow rose. Left mail at Father Lathers' on way home, read little this eve. Nearly 10 when Robert & Emily returned. I had gone up to bed. Much cooler tonight. Robert bought ice cream freezer.
Nankin, Wea. Fair, Sat. June 8, 1901
Family late getting up this a.m. Julia & Mrs. Southwell experimented at soap making this morning. I did some baking. Robert has churned & worked on farm. Clarence has a p.m. off. This p.m. about 2 Julia drove to Inkster to take car to Wayne, had appointment with dentist & some errands to do. I have aired & put away 3 comforters, 2 bed quilts, pieces of plush coat, peony shards, etc., have spent much of day on Cyrus's pants. Sung & tended baby nearly 1 hour at a sitting & half an hour another time. Have written some, read little, mended pair of stockings for self, wiped tea dishes, salted my towel & put on water to heat for a bath. Julia just drove into the yard, nearly 8, brought my last night's paper. Brought me a spool of Sans Silk I sent for, & has delivered a spool of black purse silk she sent for by Robert yesterday. I did not authorize her to send, but have .45 to pay. Heated water & had a good bath at bed time.
June 9th Nankin, Children's Day
Was up betimes & got on clean clothes. After breakfast took short walk in garden & brought in worm's nest from apple tree. Lay down little while, studied S.S. lesson & dressed for church. Robt. drove to Inkster for Rev. Wetmore, he stays here today. I walked to church & later Robert & Julia & baby rode, they had her baptized & she stayed through the whole service, but made some noise occasionally. Mr. W. preached to the children particularly from 11 Tim. 3, 14.
SS Att. 33, coll. .30. I walked home. Julia had ice cream for dinner, but I did not think best to eat any. Had a dish after supper. The S.S. had Children's Day exercises this eve. Mrs. S. stayed with baby, so Julia, Cyrus, & I rode to church. Recitations, music etc. Cyrus recited 23rd Ps. Emily took part in several pieces, but did not do exceedingly well. Almost 10 when we got home.
Nankin, Wea. Fair a.m., cloudy p.m., Mon. June 10, 1901
Was up in good season, after breakfast sewed little on Cyrus's pants. Julia went to Inkster with Rev. Wetmore then on to Wayne to see the dentist. Cyrus & Sarah were at Emily's over Sabbath, Cyrus & Emily went to Ypsilanti this a.m., leaving Sarah to keep house. Robert & children were off good part of a.m. at his brother's getting corn. Have tended baby 2 or 3 times to help Mrs. Southwell, but have spent best part of day writing 6 page letter to Mrs. Howell. Lay down 1/2 hour & finished reading Eben Holden. Have written up diary. Jennie L. was here quite a time this p.m. Julia helped her some about cutting out a calico dress. She & Henry were in again this eve., talked to Robert about S.S. expenses. I cut out the skirt of her dress for her.
Nankin, We. variable, Tues. June 11, quite warm.
Had 2 slight showers before I got up, and 10:00 or 10:30 had another, though not severe, thought skies looked very threatening. We got in what clothes had been put out, but cleared up by noon so clothes had good chance to dry. Julia has had help from Robert & Mrs. S. & I have tended baby some, & helped little besides. She had a long helpful nap this a.m. but had scare this p.m., falling out of the rocker when I went out to hang up wet clothes, so had to cry some. I wiped dishes once, swept sitting room after dinner, put finishing stitches on Cyrus's pants & gave him the toy gun & talked with him about it. Have read some, lay down twice, & ripped some on gray dress skirt in order to fix it. Emily took early start & went with Henry to Wayne to stay a day or two with Sarah E., who keeps house for Emily Sr. Clarence S. has been working for Robert's father some, Robert has been marking ground for corn planting. Walked over to Johnnie's for mail. Have ironed some. Another shower at bed time.
Nankin, Wea. Fair, Wed. June 12, 1901, Hot day.
Quite hot night to sleep. Have done more ironing this a.m. Julia has ironed too, & baked bread etc. I have aired my best shawl & some white wool stockings & unpacked flour chest and cleaned & regulated a place in Julia's closet to put it, got Robert to put it there after he had got through with his noon work, dinner, & nap. Then I sorted & packed it full. Put in three pillows, blue bedroom crockery, rope clothes lines, the boiler, & many household things that will not be needed at present. Put what canned stuff I had left in box in the hall, thinned that out some. Gave Julia a pint of whole cloves & can ginger, bottle red pepper etc. Put a few more things in green chest & took some things from my closet & put in others in flour chest. Cleaned up closet in hall & swept up after myself, was late getting around and cleaning myself up. Tended baby a good while to give Mrs. S. & Julia a good chance to work, held her at the melodeon quite a while tonight, then undressed her and rubber her back. Julia has had hard headache all day & went to bed early. Robert & Clarence moved coolstone tonight but he did not get my window screens put in as he said he would.
Nankin, Wea. Fair a.m., Cloudy p.m., Thurs. June 13, 1901, 90 Ther.
I was so heated and tired last night that I did not get as much enjoyment as usual, was very restless & sometimes warm. Did little housework, & after Robert churned, got him to put up my awning & put in the screens, then I tore up my room, moving & taking out some things & giving it a very thorough sweeping, dusting, etc. Rearranged rugs & aired few things, swept porch & walls in back yard. Got water from well several times & wiped dinner dishes for Julia. Have ironed my gray skirt under a wet cloth, emptied bottom of my commode & rearranged it. Lay down a little while this a.m. for my health's sake & perhaps 10 min. this p.m. after arranging my clothes. Miss. Soc. met here this p.m., subject, "Alaska". Opened by singing hymn to tune "Webb" which I played, we used Carmina Sactorum & read 37th Psalm from the back part. Prayers by Mrs. Parr, Mrs. Coon, & Julia. Julia had a map of Alaska & explained it, gave a very good meeting, but only 7 were here. Mrs. Stewart & I tended baby mostly. Julia had ice cream, very nice & much enjoyed, & fresh strawberries, large, but some were not quite ripe.
Nankin, Wea. sunshine & clouds. Fri. June 14th, 1901. Ther. Hot!
Waked with a badly coated tongue & foul mouth, but the five strawberries I had for breakfast tended to remove the evils.
Julia, Robert, & Cyrus drove to Wayne to have a last visit with Cyrus & Sarah as they start for home tomorrow. Julia carried Emily 2 big quarts of berries. Alice L. was in to get Robert's help about Amy's funeral service. He went to Dearborn to see Rev. Hobart, but he was vacationing with his wife in Ohio. For dinner we had strawberries & some lettuce that Ollie sent over, & mashed potatoes. Baby slept through the meal. I wiped dinner & supper dishes. Have tended baby some. While folks were gone, I worked some on my gray dress skirt, & spent some time getting a business letter written to C. F. Hammond. This eve. walked to Jennie's for the mail, did not stay long as sky was very threatening. Ollie & Fannie came and sat a while, took their mail home. The children picked 3 qts. of berries tonight. Julia feeling quite tired & still has the headache, but tended baby some while on lounge. I had given her a season on the melodeon before that.
Nankin, Breezy p.m., Wea. cloudy, Sat. June 15, 1901
Slept quite well, was dressed and down a little while before breakfast. Wiped dishes twice, & did some other chores. Tended baby several times so that others could work. Julia has baked bread, worked at the soap she is making, & cared for the butter after Robert churned. He has been planting melons. Emily & Cyrus have picked 12 qts. of strawberries & more. Robert will take them to Inkster to sell this eve., when he takes Mrs. Southwell. She is going to Detroit for a few days rest and outing, she has been nearly sick for several days, but has helped about the work every day. Clarence has taken the p.m. off. I have worked good part of p.m. on gray skirt but did not get it quite done. Have done some writing and little reading & this a.m. lay down a little while for my health's sake. Has been damp & breezy all day, air feels like rain. Shower at bed time. No hot water, so did not get a bath.
Nankin, Cloudy with little sunshine.
Slept well, was a little late waking. Did few morning chores, wiped breakfast & dinner dishes & lay down few minutes before dressing for church. Looked over SS lesson somewhat. Robert stayed with the baby, & Julia & I walked to church. The children had gone on before. Very few out, less than 30. Many saving their strength to go to Amy Wirtz's funeral this p.m. at Perrinsville. Rev. Wetmore preached from the Bible on reverencing the Sabbath & sanctuary. No SS held. Robert & Emily & Rev. Wetmore drove to Funeral & Julia stayed at home with baby. She was as well behaved as usual. I played a number of old tunes. Robert had two men here to see him while he was away, but they waited and were her to supper. After chores were done, at nearly 8 o'clock, Robert went down to his father's for a while. Had not returned when I went upstairs. I had bath at bed time. Quite cool & breezy this morning, warmer tonight.
Nankin - Changeable. Mon., June 17th, 1901
We were a little late getting up, but the wash woman came in good season. I put in my best blue calico dress and a sheet. Have wiped dishes, tended baby, swept kitchen, pumped water to help. I spent an hour or so on Cyrus's white waist, repairing the collar so it can be washed. Very little air stirring today for drying the clothes. I helped get them in, & sort & fold them. Robert took the woman home after dinner. Jennie was in for a while. I sewed on my gray skirt, & finished it. The children picked 24 qts. of berries during the day, & this eve. they went with Robert to Inkster & sold 20 qts., 2 for 15¢. They were till nearly 10:00 getting home. I had tired waiting & hone upstairs. Lay down this a.m. as usual.
I have given baby some melodeon music.
Nankin, Wea. variable, Tues. June 18th
Up in better season. Robert has churned & Julia did the rest, baked biscuits for breakfast, & shortcake for dinner. The children picked berries for the table, and 5 qts. besides. Julia had to go to the dentist at Wayne, & Robert had errands there too & Ollie wanted to go, so she took her horse & buggy & the 3 went. The children went to Grandma Lathers's & stayed until they returned. Julia carried 3 qts of berries to Emily. I spent most of morning sewing for Julia, mended a garment & made button holes in 2 shirtwaists & put on button. Helped some about the house & did some ironing for myself. This p.m. got a box of mine & put in hall for lamp to stand on to heat baby's milk at night. Bumped my head badly when going underneath house looking for a box. I spent better part of 2 hours writing a letter to Mrs. J.R. Esselstyn - diary has to wait. Jennie called while folks were away. Have wiped dishes, tended baby, & done various things to help. Lay down few minutes for health's sake.
Played tunes to divert baby.
Nankin, Fair, Wed. June 19th, warm
Had a slight shower during the night, freshened the air. Waked about 4 o'clock. Lay awake, was down some time before breakfast. Offered to help Julia, but she declined, so I read Republican. She has worked, packed butter baked bread & shortcake, this p.m. hulled & canned 25 qt. of berries. I offered to help, but she declined again. I have wiped dishes, tended baby several times, & sewed on white flannel, cutting over & shortening baby's skirts. I worked upstairs an hour or so, sorting & packing away more things, arranging books & wardrobe, aired two comforters and on dress waist, added little more to Mrs. Esselstyn's letter but have not mailed it, lay down few minutes & read some this p.m. Made four starch and put out 3 petticoats for myself, have sprinkled them since supper & wiped most of supper dishes. This eve. tended baby, sewed little, played & sang some hymn tunes. Julia very tired, went to bed early with baby.
Nankin, Wea fair. Thur. June 20th, 1901, ther. 90.
I heard rain during night & roads are quite muddy this a.m. Robert churned this p.m., helped Emily with berries as Cyrus was too contrary to help. They got 13 qt. to sell. Julia has ironed some, done general work, prepared butter, eggs & berries for market. Had Austin & Adelbert Lathers, nephews of Robert's, here to dinner. They reported some of my papers at their father's, Thomas L. I ironed 3 petticoats and a dress, but spent most of afternoon on 3 flannel skirts for baby, did a little stitching on Missionary apron. Wiped breakfast dishes, tended baby several times & gave her instrumental & vocal music. Lay down few minutes this a.m. for health's sake. Have done few chores & read a little. Emily went to Jennie's this morning, & again this eve. on errands. Tried to have Cyrus use my sickle on the grass in the yard this a.m. but did not get much done.
Nankin, Fri. June 21st, Wea fair, 86
Robert was up early & started for city with butter, 43 doz. eggs for himself and many more for Jennie & Alice, had 13 qts of strawberries, but his mother took them to can & when morning work was done I carried her 4 qts more. Took my sickle along and on the way back I cut a good many weeds & clover, was pretty hard on my back, I got badly heated and my face dripped with perspiration. Have aired & put away many rolls of cloth, mittens, leggings, balls of yarn etc. Wiped breakfast & dinner dishes, tended baby considerably, & worked on embroidering the little flannel skirts. Lay down few minutes, & read a little. Everett Cavanagh came about noon, Henry Lathers brought him. Children have picked some berries & done some errands. Julia canned 7 or 8 more qts of berries. Quite warm today, have sat on porch with my sewing most of time & had baby out there. Robert got home about 8. We were tired, & most of us went to bed early.
Nankin. Breezy most of the day. Wea Fair, Sat. June 22nd 1901, 99 ther.
+Waked under rather unfavorable circumstances, rather bewildered, have had bedding airing in my room all day. Got out my oil stove & put in hall so as to be able to heat bath water when I wanted it. Have swept sitting room & porch & wiped dishes twice, this p.m. have hulled 8 qts berries for canning & tended baby some. Lay down a little while, & finished reading a small book "Ships That Pass in the Night". Got 2 Daily Republicans today, read little in them. Have made 10 button holes and embroidered quite a bit on the 2 little flannel skirts. Cut little grass to show Cyrus how. Somehow Julia has canned the berries I hulled, baked bread & 2 or more kinds of cake, & shortcake for dinner. Robert churned & she cared for butter, mopped the kitchen. The children have picked 12 or more qts of berries & have pulled mustard out of the oats. Robert pays them something for it all. Julia sent 8 qts berries to Robert's mother, the rest she wanted for canning. Had a good bath at bed time.
Nankin, Wea Fair Sun. June 23rd 1901, 90 Ther.
A fair, pleasant morning, and after doing the usual duties, I lay down a while for my health. I dressed & went to church, had gone about 1/4 way when I met Everett (returning from Inkster, where he had gone to meet his parents) waited a while for them, was coming back with empty buggy, drove past me & into the yard to turn around, then took me to church. I was a little late but there were others later, hope to not have it happen so again. Robert & the children had come, one or two at a time as they got ready. Rev. Wetmore preached about the book of Revelation written by John. Congregation rather thin. He was speaking of Gov. Pingree, a Mr. Williams who had formerly ministered to this church, and Anna Straight that was, & forgot to take up collection. Wm. Lathers mentioned it, & it was done. SS as usual, about 34 att. coll. 54¢, Rev. Wetmore taught class. I walked home, found the Cavanaghs there. Had gotten ride a little later with a lady. Emily took Will to car in eve. & returning stopped at church. Julia & Emily had gone to service. Robert stayed.
Nankin, Wea. fair, Mon. June 24, 1901, 98 Ther.
Was dressing before 6 & picked up dirty clothes, took down when I went. Emily C. & Everett stayed overnight - she wanted to put up strawberries for herself, but preferred to do the washing. The woman who came to wash picked 31 qt. berries instead, & was paid for it & here to dinner. Robert took her home after dinner and did some errands that required a horse. Julia helped Emily get the washing out, & this p.m. they have worked at fruit out on porch. Emily had 10 qts & 1 pint to take home, but didn't take them today as she went on the cars. Julia had 3 qts. of cherries that she paid the children & Everett for picking, had berries on table 3 times. Declined my services in helping, so I have tended baby & brought in most of the clothes. Folded my clothes, swept sitting room & porch, & sewed some.
This evening took a ride at Julia's invitation to get cooled off. It has been a very hot day. Robert drove 2 miles southwest of here to get a machine belonging to the sugar beet co., but Mr. Miller, the man using it, had 2 hours work yet to do, will have to try again.
Nankin, Tues. June 25, 1901, Was stormy - 98 ther.
Were a little slow getting up this morning. Did some chores, then moved things in my room and gave it good sweeping, also swept part of hall and regulated things. Lay down to rest and cool off. A thunder shower came up with many shrill reports following the flashes. During the latter part of the storm our house was struck. I was lying down & rather drowsy, but felt the shaking of the house & heard bricks fall from the chimney & shingles from the roof. Tin from my stovepipe hole flew into the room, & soot took possession of things generally. Robert ran in from icehouse where he was watching storm to see if any of folks were hurt or house on fire. Climbed into attic and in descending broke top off my wardrobe. Soot badly strewn around parlor & sitting room, Julia & others badly frightened, but not much damage done.
Men, 3 besides Robert, had to stay in from work.
Ollie & Fannie came in a few minutes helped Cyrus & Emily pick 4 qts of berries & carried some home between showers. Mr. Southwell & I loaned them shawls.
Nankin, Wea cloudy. Wed. June 26, 1901, 98 Ther.
We were a little slow getting up this morning. Have done usual chores & part of my plain ironing, what I did not do yesterday.
Have tended baby some & made muslin ruffle & put on bottom of white dress for baby & on some stockings for her. Julia has baked bread & cooked chicken. She drove to Wayne this p.m & had a tooth pulled. She took bushel of cherries to sell. Was 8:30 when she got home. Started late on account of great heat. Mrs. S. & I took care of baby. After children went to bed the rest of us sat on the side porch, most comfortable place, till Julia came. Got her to get me elastocord for my bonnet & hat. Have sewed my gingham apron for Miss. Soc., cloth contributed by Mrs. Parr.
Nankin, Wea Fair, Thur. June 27, 1901 100 Ther.
Mrs. Southwell was up early & has done some washing for herself & Julia put some in for herself and helped about it. I ironed shirtwaist & saque for myself & have wiped breakfast & dinner dishes & brushed up around. Everett Cavanagh and two of his mates have been here most of the day working in the sugar beet fields. Claimed to bring their dinner, but Julia treated them to strawberry shortcake and lemonade & ice cream. They ate on the front porch & Cyrus & Emily with them. After they went back to work I scrubbed the floor where they had scattered berries and lemonade. Robert paid them 50c apiece & took them & Mrs. Southwell to the car. She had to go to Detroit, took nearly a bushel of cherries to her relatives there, and there was more than 1/2 bu to be sent in tomorrow morning. Julia had Robert & the workmen pick part of them & Ollie & Fannie came over & helped her pick this p.m. They also picked a few strawberries. I have mended gloves, shortened belt, put elastic on hat & bonnet, ripped gingham dress & sewed a good bit on skirt. Had letters from Mrs. Howell & Mrs. Cooley & 4 days Republicans, also Ch. Herald. Have tended baby & given her music, mended my shoe.
Nankin, Fair, quite hot, Fri., June 28th 1901, Ther 100. More breeze today.
+Quite hot night. Took good bath at 9:35 last night - could not dry myself, perspired so freely - but my pillow & night clothes were extra wet this morning. Have felt quite blue and lonesome today. Have done the usual chamber work & carried rain water for the pitcher & cleaned and filled the lamps. Filled lamps & swept kitchen - left off my gause wrapper and have mended it considerably and gathered & put belt in gingham dress skirt. Wiped dinner dishes, have tended baby a good deal. Robert met quite a load of helpers from Wayne this morning. Took their dinner in the barn - Julia sent them out a pitcher of milk. Austin is taking them out to Inkster tonight to meet the car. Fanny & Ollie have been over & helped Julia pick cherries this p.m. They took home nearly 1/2 bu.
After supper I pitted as long as I could see to do it well. Sat on porch some time doing nothing, then played few tunes before going to bed. Had heavy thunder storm tonight - some of us left the supper table to close windows.
[Notes: My father was an innovator in farming. He was the first to have a silo, to store the ground corn stalks for cattle feed. It was a large octagonal wooden building and withstood the high winds when the neighbors's flimsier silos blew down. Also the first to drag the corn field, when the roots of the young corn were strong enough. The first to put in a bathroom, aided and advised by the Extension Dept. of M.A.C. at Lansing.]
Nankin - Pleasant breezy day. Wea. fair, Sat. June 29th, 1901
A better night for sleeping than previous one - has been better air, and more stirring since the storm. I have pitted more cherries this morning - the last Julia has, she has put up 8 cans, baked bread, cared for butter, etc.
Robert has had 12 or more boys, Everett & others from Wayne - went to meet them and again started them for home. I have loaned him $10.00 today to pay them & his bills. I have written to "Herald & Presbyter" for the paper another year, & sent by him tonight to get money order to enclose in my letter & send off tomorrow. Rec'd today 3 more Daily Republicans, one June 8th, & July no. of Woman's Work. Have looked some of them over & lain down a bit. Wiped dinner dishes. Ollie & Fannie brought the shawls Mrs. S. & I loaned them when it rained, & they picked strawberries for themselves to use tomorrow.
Robert brought tonight the baby cab Julia has been buying of Rev. Wetmore's daughter. Baby is taking 1st ride now. Took bath at bed time.
Nankin, Sun. June 30, 1901, 96 Ther.
Had series of short showers - 8, 2 of them before I got here and all very refreshing, but road dried very quickly under hot sun so I did not need the rubbers I wore to church. Was a few minutes early this morning, found Mrs. Wetmore there talking with Mrs. Jennie Lathers. Seems Rev. & Mrs. came yesterday morning - bringing baby's cab for Julia, & stopped with Jennie, are going home with Rob Lathers today. All our family were out today, Cyrus & Emily went first, carrying flowers, I next, along, & Julia & Robert wheeling the cab with baby came later.
Rev. W. made remarks concerning coming July 4th, his text, John 4-24. Service rather more interesting than usual.
SS with 38, coll $.53, new quarterlys passed around.
Has been very hot sweaty day, but good breeze most of the time.
Julia went with Jennie to evening service. I went to bed by moonlight before she returned.