Diary of John Arch Collins
April 15, 1914. This morning I laid the foundations and raised the frame of my blacksmith shop. Ernest helped me some after noon.
May 9, 1914. I went up to Mr. Cartwright's to see the children and went in the buggy. Got there about five o'clock and found all well.
May 10. Sunday. I am at Mrs. Cartwright's. Stayed there all day and night with the children.
May 11. I came home from Mr. Cartwright's, and the children came home with me. We got to Papa's about two o'clock.
May 17. I stayed around home and at Papa's till after noon. Then the children and I went to Rocky Mount to preaching and Sunday school.
May 24. I took the children back up to Mr. Cartwright's this morning-- or part of the way...Blaine met me, and I came back home. It was about four o'clock, and I went over to Papa's and stayed a while, and am at home tonight.
May 31. Sunday. I went to Sunday School this morning, and after dinner at Nesbitt's I came by home, fed the mules, went over to Papa's as they had a singing there this evening. I am at home tonight.
June 8, 1914. About 4 o'clock I went down to Uncle Davis Collins' and took out a warrant for Lee ----, and had him arrested and brought to justice for not working, and he agreed to get to work.
Remains of the Old Perth Presbyterian Church
(as seen from the rear) shortly before
its demolition. A stone marker now stands in its place,
but its cemetary, one of the oldest in Iredell
County, still exists.
July 18, 1914. I went to cousin J.P. Collins' to a Reunion. There was a large crowd, and we sure had a fine time. Reuben went with me, and we went by Perth and came home to a picnic.
August 1, 1914. I went to town as a witness, and was there, and I also got on the jury on the murder case, and we sentenced a verdict of degree in the first.
Aug 9. Sunday. Went to Rock Springs today to Camp Meeting. George McClain went with me. We stayed until three o'clock in the afternoon. Then we came home and went to Rocky Mount to preaching.
Aug 31. Came home from Papa's this morning and the children came with me. We got dinner, and after dinner, Fed Nesbitt came over here. He hauled wood to Troutman for me and made two loads,. Took the children back over to Papa's . I filed a saw late this evening.
September 4, 1914. I and Fed Nesbitt helped Papa pull fodder until noon, and after noon I took the children and went to the riverbank to a picnic.
Sep 6. Sunday. Went to Rocky Mount to preaching, and the children went with me. We came back to Papa's and stayed there all night, and some of the boys and I went to Troutman to preaching, and rode the bicycles.
Sep 7. This morning I have been around home, and Mr. and Mrs. Cartwright came down, and we went to Bessie's grave, and I went as far as Statesville with them, and came back home.
Sep 25. This morning I went over Papa's and fixed my shoes, sewed them up and halfsoled them. This afternoon I came home and worked around the house.
October 9. 1914. Went to Statesville. Went by way of buggy to hear the Governer speak. He spoke before noon. After noon Congressman ??? spoke. There were about 2500 people ate dinner at the barbecue.
October 25, 1914. Sunday. Burt and I went to Rocky Mt. to preaching, and went home with George Rankin for dinner. After noon, I went up to Mr. Jacob Troutman's and spent the afternoon with Grace, and I sure enjoyed myself. (This is the first mention we have of Grace Isabel Troutman Collins, the diarist's second wife --ed.)
Oct 31. I went up to Mr. Cartwright's and Burt Parker went with me. Took the children some shoes. It was about night when we got up there.
November 1, 1914. Sunday. I am at Mr. and Mrs. Cartwright's, and stayed there until after dinner, and then came on home. Burt Parker was with me, and it was after night when we got home.
Nov 8. Sunday. Went to Rocky Mount to Sunday School, and came on to Papa's for dinner. Came by home, and then went up to Mr. Troutman's, and it was in the night when I got home.
December 7, 1914. This morning Ernest and I went to town. Went in my buggy. The County Board paid me for working on the road and for making the fill on the Clarence Cornelius Road. I paid off all the hands. I got $102.14.
Dec 10. This morning I started working on the road with a crowd of six workers, making the fill at Stumpy Branch, and we made a good start.
Dec 12. This morning we killed hogs. I killed one, and Papa killed some more of them, and the neighbors killed one. Katie came home with me and ground my sausage meat, and helped me with the meat.
Dec 14. This morning I took my mules to J.O. Ervin and got him to shoe them.
Dec 24. I went up to Mr. Cartwright's to see the children, and stopped in town and got them some things. It was about four o'clock when I got there and found all well.
Dec 25. This morning we are at Mr. Cartwright's with the children. I stayed all day and night, for it has been so cold.
Dec 26. I am at Mr. Cartwright's and stayed all day and night. It has been awfully cold, and snowed some last night and some this morning.
Dec 27. Came home from Mr. Cartwright's today and stopped in town-- I have to come out of the way with a lady friend. It was gbout dark when I got home. (The "lady friend" is, without a doubt, Grace Isabel Troutman...-ed.)
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