Robeson County, NC - Frank McNair Wooten Diary

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Diary written by my Grandfather, Frank McNair Wooten. Frank McNair 
Wooten was born in Halifax Co., NC and died in Camden, Kershaw Co., 
SC but grew up in Robeson Co., NC.  The diary only covers a short 
period of time and at the time this diary was written my Grandfather 
was only 11 years old. If children of present would read this-they 
could learn how easy they have it now and how little they have to do 
around the house. 
 
[Submitter's Note: I have typed this just as it was supplied to me. 
I changed none of the punctuation or spelling of any of his words. 
This was written by my Grandfather-Frank McNair Wooten.] 
 

Diary of Frank McNair Wooten
Mattoon, North Carolina
Age: 11 years old
Laurinburg, N.C.
October 21, 1888 
 
Dear Uncle: 
 
I take pleasure in writing you a few lines to let you know that we 
are well. I am going to school now at home and cousin Carrie Monroe 
is teaching. 
 
Pa has been out canvassing the last two weeks and Mr. McGirt has been 
attending to his business at home. I made thirty dollars on my 
watermelons this year. We had a family frolic last night and we children 
tried to dance. 
 
Mr. William Cellars died last Wednesday evening and was buried Thursday 
evening. Mr. Johnny Blake was married to Miss Ever Burns last Thursday 
night in the church at Maxton. 
 
Write soon,
Your Nephew
F. McN. Wooten 
 
March 9th, 1888
Hunter Mcarn and Dan McDougle came over to play croquet this evening 
with Cousin Carrie. Mr. Daniel McDougle and Cousin Carrie played against 
Mr. McArn and Lizzie. Cousin Carrie and her partner came out victorious 
as usual for every time Cousin Carrie plays, she come out victorious. 
The second game Cousin Carrie played with Mr. McArn. (Part of diary 
missing here) 
 
On very well on both sides at the first play but Mr. Dan didn’t get 
through the centre wicket at the second play and every time he got in 
position, Mr. McArn would knock him out. They kept Mr. McDougle dead 
for nearly half an hour. I never was tickled so much as I was that 
evening. Every time Mr. Dan would go to strike a ball, Mr. McArn would 
say, “Dan, you can’t do that, you are dead”, and Mr. Dan would say 
“yes, that is a fact, I can’t do anything but go in position” and every 
time he would get in position Mr. McArn would go and put him out. Mr. 
McArn made a mislick after awhile and Mr. Dan got through his wicket. 
Cousin Carrie and her partner came out victorious again and just as 
soon as Mr. McArn got out he put his hat on the end of his mallet and 
crowed, and he says, “Dan, why don’t you laugh? Mr. McDougle said, 
“I don’t see anything to laugh at.” 
 
March 10, 1888
Pa came home this morning from Raleigh and we were certainly glad to 
see him as he came home to stay. We went to Sunday school this morning 
and recited our lessons well. Lizzie, Birdie, and myself walked while 
Cousin Carrie and Mr. Dan McGirt rode. Cousin Carrie said that while 
she and Mr. McGirt were riding along, Mr. McGirt said, “Miss Monroe, 
why didn’t you go to the party at our house the other night?” Cousin 
Carrie said she told him because her Uncle did not approve of young 
folks running around at night. (The Uncle she spoke of was my father). 
Mr. McGirt said, “Oh, is that all, I thought it was because I asked 
you to go with me.” Cousin Carrie said the next time he says anything 
about her going with him she is going to say, “haven’t I got a right 
to go with anybody I choose to?” Cousin Liz and myself went to preaching 
at Cetre Church this evening and we got there about three o’clock and 
left about twenty minutes past five. Our staying so long was owing to 
Dr. Hill’s long sermon. He preached about or over an hour. As we were 
going along to church there were three buggies ahead of us, and just 
as we got within a mile of the church, we had to cross a bridge across 
a large ditch. Upon the side of the road was a sign saying: “This bridge 
is dangerous.” Mr. McGirt got down and examined it and said we could 
cross it on one side so we all got across safe and sound. Mr. McGirt 
rode in the front, his name was John McGirt. 
 
March 11, 1888
This morning I got up at 10 minutes to five o’clock. I made a fire in 
our room and in Cousin Carrie’s room and one in the dining room. Then I 
went out and fed up everything and came back and got my bucket and milked 
a cow. We then ate breakfast and after dining, I milked another cow and 
after I got through with everything else, I went to school. The 
schoolhouse is in our yard and I got in school at eight o’clock. I and 
all of us recited our verses. (We always got a verse from the Bible and 
recited them just after we got school.) We then said our Geography and 
next came my grammar, arithmetic, science, and spelling. We then wrote 
and had Calisthenics. We then turned out at 12 o’clock. My schoolteacher’s 
name is Carrie Monroe. She came from Goldsboro and lived with her brother, 
Mr. Willie Monroe. He is a lawyer. I like her very much. I plowed part of 
the evening and helped to haul water on the compost pile. The way we put 
it on was to take a stick and drive it down and pull it up again and then 
we poured the water in these holes. I went to bed early that night. 
 
March 12, 1888
I got up at five o’clock this morning, attended to my usual duties. Pa 
and Ma went to Maxton this morning, and Pa told me to raise the storeroom. 
I said I wouldn’t raise it very high. After they left, we had school in 
Ma’s room and I thought I’d cut up a little, so when it was time for me 
to get my grammar, I got my arithmetic and I couldn’t get my grammar, it 
was too long. I worried Cousin Carrie and worried her and I ought to have 
been ashamed of myself. After dinner I rode my colt some and then I turned 
him in the rye. I cleaned out the store as I was told, and then I went down 
in the field to see if I could get to kill a dove with my gun. I killed a 
hawk with two shots and shot at a dove but missed him. By the time I got to 
the house Pa and Ma had come and Mr. Dan McGirt had called to see him and 
when I got there he was playing croquet with Cousin Carrie and Lizzie. Pa 
got two pair of andirons and brought lots of flower roots from Grandma’s. 
Uncle Lawrence was better. We put the flower roots in the pit. 
 
March 13, 1888
I got up pretty early this morning and attended to my duties and went to 
school as usual. After school, before dinner, Ma told me to fill up the pit 
to the first shelf, as it was full of water to the shelf. I did so before 
dinner. After dinner, Pa told me to help set out the flowers and so I did. 
I attended to my evening duties and sat up till after nine o’clock composing 
a composition with a title on “What Constitutes a True Gentleman”. I also 
had a nice time because Cousin Carrie was there. I always do have a nice 
time with her. I love her better than anybody or girl I mean on earth. I 
went to bed a little after nine o’clock. 
 
March 14th, 1888
I got up this morning at five o’clock a few minutes later than usual. After 
I got up I found that it had been raining last night and is raining yet. I 
was to go to Maxton this morning after some peas for Pa but it rained so I 
couldn’t go. After dinner I went to Laurinburg after the mail. 
 
Just as I got to the creek on the other side of our house and was going 
across old Beck (for that was the name of the mule I was driving) stopped 
and commenced to back. She liked to backed me in the creek. I liked to 
fainted but I managed to strike her a blow with the whip and she went 
across. I got the mail and the kerosene that I was sent for. I got pretty 
wet coming back, but never got wet going. After I got home and was warming 
myself by the fire, Mr. B.F. Little, a Life Insurance agent drove up to 
the gate and came in. He had been here several times before. He stayed here 
all night. I went to bed at nine o’clock. 
 
March 15, 1888 
I rose at 15 minutes to five this morning. I made five fires too and 
carried water in Mr. Little’s room. Mr. Little left around nine o’clock 
and I went to school. Pa went to Laurinburg this morning and got back 
about one o’clock. He got a new book for the store and a smaller one for 
himself to charge things on. He let me have one of his old ones that was 
not used up much. Pa told me to keep the account on the new book neat and 
I mean to do so. I made a large mallet and started a chicken trough but 
never finished it for lack of time. Pa went to the mill this evening and 
when he left here he told me to mix the feed if he did not get back in 
time. I shot a dove this evening but missed him. I call the doves Dutch 
and I am at war with them. 
 
Saturday, 16th:
I rose early this morning and attended to everything. Pa gave me five 
dollars, $5.00, this morning as I was going to Maxton. I arrived in town 
about 10 o’clock. I got 3 bushels of peas, 5 cotton hoes, 1 pair shoes 
and stockings for myself, 1 pair shoes for Ernest, powder and shot. I 
brought out a box of chain that took two men to lift it for Mr. Gus McGirt. 
As I was going along John McKinnon overtook me and I had a pleasant chat 
with him. He said he killed about 35 squirrels this year and he said that 
there was a man below him that was going to plant ten acres in watermelons. 
I got home a little after two o’clock. When I got home Cousin Carrie and 
Lizzie had gone to Mr. Flower’s on a visit and to ask some of them to the 
quilting. I finished the chicken trough this evening. It was pretty warm 
this evening and we younger children pulled off our shoes and had a nice 
time running about. 
 
I killed a Dutchman this evening. After Cousin Carrie and Lizzie got back 
they said that Mr. Flowers said somebody broke in their and Mr. Jim McLean’s 
potatoes and stole a few. I put a block on my dog to keep him from sucking 
eggs. Tom McNeil got back from Laurinburg and brought a rocking chair and 
extension table. I attended to everything assigned to me a little after 
sundown. I went to bed about 8 o’clock tonight. So this day is closed. 
 
March 17th, Sunday:
I rose at half past five and fed up. I then got ready for Sunday school 
after breakfast. We rode to the schoolhouse this morning. I took up 
collection as usual for you must know that Karl McLean and I were appointed 
to collect the money. I had to do all every Sunday because Karl was scared 
somebody would laugh at him. We heard that there would be preaching at the 
schoolhouse this evening. Mr. McIntosh was to carry Cousin Carrie to Centre 
this evening so she did not go. We arrive at the schoolhouse pretty early. 
Jonah Russell was there. He is a Republican and some of the boys said where 
did Jonah come from? Mr. Ealic Shaw said that the whale threw him up on 
the shore. 
 
Mr. Phillips preached and we had a very large crowd. His test was “It is 
impossible but offences will come but woe unto him through whom they come 
it were better that a millstone were hanged about his neck and he was cast 
in the Sea”. I liked his sermon better than any I have heard in a long 
time. We got home two hours by sun. Cousin Carrie and Mr. George McIntosh 
rolled up about dark. We went to bed early. 
 
Monday 18th: 
I rose 10 minutes to five. Attended to everything and went to school. After 
school, I cleaned out from under the raspberries and looked under the 
storehouse for eggs but got none. I had to burst up the floor to get under. 
Pa told me to burn off the watermelon patch this evening while he went to 
burn off some in the new ground. I burnt mine after a while and Pa left his 
to burn after setting it afire. After a while we saw a pretty large smoke, 
down towards the new ground and Pa sent me down there to see what caused 
it. When I got there the fire had crossed the fence and was burning on 
this side. I got some wet dirt and brushed it out. I then went to the next 
place and the fire was burning the fence like anything. I pulled it down 
on both sides of the fire, although there was a great many briars that tore 
up my legs pretty bad. This day closed. 
 
March, Tuesday 19th:
The clock was stopped when I rose and I didn’t know what time it was. But 
I got up and made my fires and fed everything. After breakfast Pa told me 
to go around the pasture fence and see if any of it was down. I went down 
through the swamp and way round by Peters field but never found any down. 
When I got home I had a bad headache. I got home about 9 o’clock. 
 
After school I put on some clean clothes and went over to Mr. McArns’s to 
tell Mrs. McArn to come to the quilting Thursday. It was Cousin Carrie’s 
quilt. Mr. McArn said that he didn’t know whether she could come or not. 
I had my gun along, and Mr. McArn was out in the field hunting birds. We 
did have a nice time hunting birds but they were so wild that we couldn’t
get up with them. Mr. McArn killed one and I killed none. I got home after 
four and when I got home Ma and Lizzie were cooking pies. I forgot to say 
that I got above Birdie in the spelling class today. I had to milk Lizzie’s 
cow this evening. I went to bed after eight o’clock and so this eventful 
day closed. 
 
March 20th, Wednesday:
I rose at ten minutes to five. Tom was sick this morning but is better now. 
We went to breakfast and Tom didn’t eat much. He went to bed after he 
got worse. 
 
I went in the school and got behind the Library intending to scare the 
rest when they came in but I couldn’t do it for they knew my voice. After 
school Pa told Lewis to bridle my colt. After he was bridled I rode him 
some. We then put him up and I did some little jobs around the farm. I 
killed the old gobbler for tomorrow is the day we are going to have the 
quilting. I made a desk to go in my room. Lewis said he would make me a 
pair of Martingales tonight if I would give him the rings after I got 
back from the mill for I had to go to the mill after the meal. After I 
got back I burnt out two rings from some harness and gave them to Lewis. 
 
March 21, Thursday:
I rose early this morning as I had a right smart to do today. I fed up 
and after breakfast I jumped up and ran out to the crib to get my 
martingales as Lewis was to bring them up this morning. I found them 
and then I fixed up a back band. I caught the colt for me and he rode 
splendid this morning. 
 
The Quilters came early or not ver early either. We planted corn today 
and I dropped a while. I threaded needles for the guilters this evening. 
We had a kind of a party tonight. We played a lot of games:viz, Shakers 
dance, Weild the thimble, ( I dropped the thimble several times), and 
some others. We went to bed at 10 minutes past one o’clock. So this 
eventful day ended. 
 
March 22, Friday:
I rose at five o’clock this morning and got through with everything. 
We finished planting corn at dinner. I rode my colt this evening. I took 
him out the gate and when he got out he just ran so fast that he threw 
me over his head. I had a very bad headache this evening and went to 
bed early. 
 
March 24, Sunday:
I stayed home today owing to the affects of my getting thrown. Mr. McLean 
came over and took Cousin Carrie to church. 
 
March 30, Saturday: 
I planted 2 rows of my watermelons and Pa planted 3 of his. 
 
March 31, Sunday:
I went to preaching at Montpelia. Cousin Carrie, Lizzie, and myself went. 
I had a nice time going. Mr. Hunter took Cousin Carrie home from church. 
 
April the 1, Monday:
We planted or set out 6 rows of cabbage today. 
 
April 3rd: 
Mr. Hunter brought Miss Ora Thomas over to play croquet this evening. I 
didn’t play and I didn’t think she was very pretty. 
 
August 14th:
Old Rose’s calf was born today.  


Comments:
This is my grandfather

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