Sarah Partridge wrote this diary in 1886 on her family farm in Flushing. She was daughter of Benjamin Partridge who was a farmer and state representative for Bay City. She grew and sold her own celery, keeping careful records of her earnings and spendings. The following entries are as they appeared in the diaries, no changes have been made.

This is a tintype photograph of Sarah Partridge. Date unknown.

Courtesy of Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan

April 1, 1886

I painted a man's face to-day, one that was fishing. I hardly supposed I could do it. I never took any lessons in portrait of any other figure painting. Mr. Stout, who lately bought that house of Pa's up across the road here, moved in to-day with his wife and little girl.

April 6, 1886

It has snowed and blowed a perfect blizzard all afternoon and still sometimes. Snow is real deep and is drifted several feet in some places. A regular winter day. Not much of an April shower to bring a May flower.

Courtesy of Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan

April 26, 1886

Twenty days since I last wrote and I have been wonderfully busy though. I am housekeeper- have been for two weeks ago last friday...I get dreadfully tired so much work all alone. Week before last, G-pa and G-ma were up to the farm, so I went to the house and did her washing and did it with mine, and after she came home I sew the clothes up to her, all ironed. She was surprised and said I deserved threshing. She didn't give me one though. I have the heartache and one side of my back since Saturday and have not washed since.