Nancy’s handwriting is extremely hard to read, especially names.
Jun 1 – Jim, Cora, Winnie & Walter[58] came via S-H-[59] this a.m. Mrs W & Mr Titus called. I called at Mrs Packards.[60] Joined “B___ Oak Branch”. Letter from Bessie.
Jun 2 – Jims all went to the Burg 7 a.m. Began cleaning my room. Went to Mrs Wagners. Heard Mr T lecture on Aliens[?].
Jun 3 – Claude took up bed room carpet. Had our first mess beet greens. Claude & Lela to Will Pendletons. I to Mrs Orcutts this eve. Letter from H.A.
Jun 4 – Jim and family here early this a.m. Went to S–[61] on noon train. Claude bought screens. Lela & I wall paper.
Jun 5 – Claude, Lela & Edie out in the country making pictures.
Jun 6 – Claude went to Chicago on 1 a.m. train. Jim came from Shelbyville this a.m. to C–[62] this p.m. via South Haven.
Jun 7 – The wall paper came this a.m. Letter from H.A. 25.00.
Jun 8 – Joe Neff sick so had paper hangers from Andrews & Russell. Began this p.m. C____ men took up parlor carpet & rug.
Jun 9 – Papering finished this p.m. I cleaned windows & wood work. Very tired to night.
Jun 10 – Telephone put in dining room to day. Parlor carpet laid this p.m. Hard thunder storm.
Jun 11 – Baked, worked at cleaning and settling.
Jun 12 – Dr & Mrs McKinney here to dinner.
Jun 13 – Went down town this noon with Lela. Paid paper bill & got molding. Man put it up tonight. Rained very hard. Mrs Smith and Harold here.
Jun 14 – I put down the light brussels carpet in my bed room to day. H.A. 25.00.
Jun 15 – Lois here to spend the day. The new bed room suite came this a.m. Price 24.00. Lela home this p.m.
Jun 16 – Worked all over the house to day. Ironed some.
Jun 17 – Cleaned kitchen to day. Mrs McKinney here all day. Lela home this p.m.
Jun 18 – Will Brown came. Lizzie and Ruth[63] went to Mr Ogdens.[64] Girls all home.
Jun 19 – Will, Mother, Lela, I & Zama[65] went to Pas. Had livery 2.50.
Jun 20 – Ruth came back with us last night. Lizzie & Charley[66] came this a.m. All here to dinner. Will, L- & R- go home via South Haven.
Jun 21 – To day finished on cleaning. I went over to Mrs Sawyers & Willsons. McMann girls here this eve. Lela & I saw Fannie Smiths puppies.
Jun 22 – Mrs Kelley helped wash 5 quilts & 3 comfortabers. Mrs Wagner here this p.m. & to supper. Lela went riding with Eda.
Jun 23 – Began putting 2nd coat of paint on house. Dea Willard Mills died 9-30 this a.m., aged [blank].[67]
Jun 24 – Finished my blue “hubbard” Clara cut a year ago.
Jun 25 – Telephoned for Lou to come down was not well enough. Painters finished to night. Mr & Mrs Britten[?] here this eve paid him 40.00. Essie here all night.
Jun 26 – Mr ______ at Peoples Church to day. I did not go.
Jun 27 – Lela home this a.m. not well. I cleaned barn painted ______. Jim & C- picked our first raspberries, enough for supper and a dish for Mrs Huffman.
Jun 28 – Ironing this a.m. 25.00.[68]
Jun 29 – Boys left for Tampa to night.[69] Howard Bronson, Clarence Miller amongst them.
Jun 30 – (no entry)
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[58] Her brother and his family: James & Cora (Meredith) Keith and their children, Winifred and Walter
[59] South Haven
[60] Presumably Cullin Packard’s widow, Mary (Caryl) Packard
[61] Shelbyville, Michigan
[62] Chicago
[63] Her brother-in-law Willis Brown and his wife and daughter, Elizabeth (Ogden) and Ruth Brown
[64] Ruth’s father, Henry Ogden
[65] Her dog
[66] Possibly Lizzie’s brother, Charles Ogden
[67] Michigan death records confirm that Willard Mills died on June 23, 1898 in Galesburg, Michigan and FindAGrave.com reveals he is buried in Galesburg City Cemetery in Galesburg, Michigan. He was 90 years old
[68] Believe this refers to money that Henry sent home
[69] This was during the Spanish-American War
Letters & Diary Entries From the 1860s through the 1890s 