January 1, 1917. I went to Statesville and on to meet the children as they came home from Mr. Cartwright's. It was about night when we got home.
Photo taken in the mid-1950's
of John Arch and Grace
Troutman Collins.
Jan 3. I went to Mount Mourne this morning to summon Mr. H. Hartsell as the Iredell Telephone Co. has a claim against him for $14.33, and it was about night when I got home, and tonight I went to Troutman to Junior's meeting.
Jan 5. I helped Grace this morning and tended to the baby. This morning it was cloudy, and about noon it commenced raining. I wnet to Troutman to an oyster supper tonight. We Juniors had a supper tonight. A nice.
Jan 11. I went to Putt Nail's after two loads of straw. Arthur Kennedy went with me. I got Carrie Collins' team, and this evening I killed a hog, the old sow. Arthur helped me, and it was about night when we got through. Grace and Miss Campbell went to Troutman tonight, to a moving picture show, and I kept the children and stayed at home. Have done fine.
Jan 12. This morning I went to summon some witnesses, J.S. Arthur and J.A. Wise and C.E. Daniels, but could not find him.
Jan 16. I have been in the house all day as I am sick, and the ground is covered with sleet and awfully cold.
Jan 17. I have been here all day. Bert Parker and I have been working with a gasoline engine, trying to get it started. Went after Lydie Ervin, and we got it started after noon, and sawed up what wood I had at the woodpile. Tonight I went to Troutman to get some gas and to the Juniors' meeting.
Jan 18. Went down to A.B. Parker to help him saw wood. We sawed all day with the gasoline engine. We broke a piece about the saw frame, and Bert came home with me tonight. We fixed it.
Jan 24. This morning I went to Troutman to J.B. Lippard's and it was about night when I got home. I have been around the house all evening, only I went up to the store to get some leather to fix the children's shoes.
Jan 27. I hauled wood, two loads to the house, and then went to Statesville. Went in the buggy, and Miss Carrie B. Campbell went with me. She is teaching our school this winter.
February 3, 1917. I have been in and around the house all day as it has been awfully cold and windy. Only I hauled two loads of wood, and went over to Papa's after some milk. David Nesbitt died this evening at 5 o'clock pm of pneumonia. He was living at C..., but will be brought to Rocky Mount for burial tomorrow.
Feb 4. Sunday. I went to preaching at Rocky Mt. this morning and come back to Roy Parker's for dinner, and then went back to the church for the burying of David Nesbitt. The funeral was about 2 o'clock. There was a large crowd. My people all stayed home, as it was so cold and windy, and I got home about 4 o'clock.
Feb 5. I went to Statesville, went in the buggy. Was at Troutman until about noon, as I had a summons for Charles A. Parker, and no one knew him, so I went on to town and found out where he lived. Come by his house and summoned him near the Hardshell Church. It was late when I got home. Old Aunt Leah Overcash died this morning.
Feb 6. This morning I went over to Chall Overcash' as his mother died last evening. I stayed there until after the funeral, and then come home and went up to Troutman to get some cow feed. I also paid Brown what I owed him.
Feb 9. This morning I went to cutting wood as Arthur Kennedy come, and then I went over where Lee Ramseur was chopping wood and got him to come and cut for me. After coming back, Arthur Kennedy taken the other one (Reference unclear...--ed), so I went and cut rails till noon, and after noon the Negro school teacher sent for some wood, so I hauled some wood to the school house.
Feb 12. This morning I dug some holes for the garden, and then I went down to the Ostwalt sawmill and traded with E...Parker to haul some logs, and this evening I taken some wagon wheels to get them cut down. I taken them to Tom Brantley.
Feb 19. I have been at home all day, and I went to the schoolhouse after the children, and then over to Papa's to get some milk and the iron last. This is my 35th birthday, and it has been cloudy and rained steady all day.
Feb 21. I have been at the mill all day, fixing up to saw for Papa. Got the mill ready and sawed some this evening. Went to Troutman tonight to the Juniors' meeting, but we did not have any meeting, as Mr. Tipp Ostwalt died this morning.
March 9, 1917. This morning I taken my team and went after a wagon that J.M. Cavin had taken a claim and delivery on from L.W. Westmoreland, and it was about night when I got home. Reuben worked in the newground.
Mar 16. This morning I unloaded a load of corn, and then worked in the garden, and then went on to the newground where Arthur Kennedy and Reuben is. They worked three hours, and this evening I give them $3 each. I went to summons W.E. Campbell and A.L. Kennedy to appear at E.A. Matheson's March 31, 1917.
Mar 17. I have been home this morning, as it is raining steady all morning, but this evening it broke off and I went to East Monbo to summons some witnesses. I also sold beans.
Mar 18. This morning I went up to Troutman on some business and went on to town. Traded for J.H. Troutman's sawmill and fixed the papers up.
Mar 21. Worked at the Joe Troutman sawmill and put in about three-fourths of the day. Alec Robins made 7 hours, Will Menster 7 1/2, and Mr. Troutman and I done the rest of the work.
April 2, 1917. I planted some Irish potatoes and a roasting ear patch, and Reuben plowed the rest of the day. I was cutting some corn and cotton stalks with Mary Sherrill's stalk cutter.
Apr 18. Plowed for Reuben over at G.C. Putnam's. We used all three of the horses and got his cotton finished.
Apr 19. I plowed in the newground that I cleared up last year, and Reuben was over on George Putnam's place cutting and mowing banks. Grace went to Statesville, and the little girls are with me.
Apr 27. Planted corn till noon. Finished in the bottoms, and then planted the newground. Got done till about 11 o'clock. Homer helped me, and this evening I worked on the wire fence till about 3 o'clock. I then went down to Uncle Davis Collins' after some plows he had made for me. Grace and the baby went along. Reuben plowed in the George Putnam land today.
Apr 30. I worked on the wire fence till late this evening. I went out to see if I could find some sweet potatoes and pigs, but I failed to find them. Reuben plowed on the Putnam farm today. Had two mules.
End of 1917
Unfortunately, this is all that is now available of the year 1917. 1918 is as yet unavailable.
On to 1919
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