1870 + 1890-1903 HANDWRITTEN MANUSCRIPT JOURNAL OF LIFE AND TIMES & STAGE - STEAM - TRAIN TRAVELS DIARY

On offer are two diaries originally belonging to Hannah Blackburn of New Waterford, Columbiana Co., Ohio. The earliest diary representing the year 1871 does not have her name in it but the second diary, representing the year 1890-1903 does have her name. The writing is very much the same in both diaries. The 1871 diary has 40 leaves both sides have long handwritten entries so therefore you actually get 80 pages of diary entries. The later diary has 24 leaves (both sides) or 48 pages. The earliest diary is actually more of a day to day journal starts on March 11th, 1871 and ends March of 1872, although she does skip the odd day. The later diary is more of a trip diary where Hannah keeps a log of the various trips she makes between the years of 1890 and 1903. Following are a few excerpts: 1871 "There was a man here from the old country. He is selling photos. Gave us one for his dinner. They are worth 30 cents. He says the Lord Chancellor of England was a Blackburn; he gives the Blackburn's quite a puff. He was here this eve to do some fixing at C. buggy…..There was two strange women at the meeting, one of them came from Kansas…..L.Y. R.H. and the child started for Salem with the carriage and one cow. Laura and father went with them as far as the election. Sarah went to John's in the 4 horse wagon….David and Mag were married. Got along very well. Charlie and Sallie were waiters, they had 34 for dinner. Seth and Mattie, Nathan and Beck were cooks…..Charles started for good old Penna. We put a quilt in the frames. Joseph Bell was buried. Father, mother, John and Sallie went to the funeral. He was buried in the Hicksite graveyard at Carmel. He died 1st day eve……This is father and mothers 47th anniversary. They rode to Mur on horseback when they were married, it being the custom at that time…." In the back of the diary one will find 3 pages of genealogy notes and dates. She mentions her fathers and mothers death. Also that "Fanny" got killed, when she got her teeth taken out, Martha's death, Williams's death and Lydia's death. All of which were before 1893. 1890 "22nd of 8th mo. Charles took me to Waterford, got me a ticket to go to Salem. Paid 45 cents, train came at 8:20. When I got on, had not been on long when a man came to me and asked if I was a drunkard. Said he sold plain goods in Chicago. When we got to Columbiana Gate, Ruggy, Rex and Frank Harrison got on. Were going to Salem…3 or 4 miles from Abel to Horton, next station Sheridan. Ate dinner near a meeting house on our way from Abel's to Thorntown, 16 miles from Thorntown in Boone Co. Crossed the pike that went from Indianapolis city, saw the telephone. Wonderful sight of corn fields. Good corn. 4th day after now going west on a dusty gravel road. A great deal of cane, several mills. Elizaville a country village 12 miles east of Thorntown. Passed a large brick schoolhouse not far off graveyard, new house. Pikes Crossing 6 miles from Thorntown. Came to a sugar camp…." (Then mentions Darlington, Hannah, Dover, Lebanon, Joliet, Eagleton, Westfield). "Abel and Abbie started for Bearly (?) About 36 miles in the open wagon. I was going along but it rained too much. John Harvey from Aroma, the North Eastern part of Hamilton co. went along in his buggy, he is very hard of hearing…." Trip to Indianapolis (not sure of date but I also believe it's the 1890s) "When we got off at Columbus we looked around to see if we knew anyone, could see no one. We went into the waiting room. Thomas started to hunt and Will Henry came to him, he had the carriage and we were soon all snugly tucked in and on our way. They had made arrangements for us to go to Joseph's to supper which we did after a short drive on the pike where we found Joseph and wife, Rachel, Mary, Anna, Little Jessie and a friend of Anna's. We washed off a little and they soon had a good dinner of beef, Irish and sweet potatoes, tomatoes, jelly, butter pickles, looked like watermelon rind, apricots, butter, bread, apples and peach pie, sweet cake (loaf) and coffee……Mary, Warren and I took another ride in the big carriage. Went west to the far side of their place, then south as far as their place. Went west a few rods to see the rebel soldier's grave yard where there are 2260 soldiers buried. It is on part of Camp Charles. Went east quite a distance then too south until we came to the cemetery. Mary had a pass so the man opened the gate and let us see it. It is a very large place. We drove through a part of it. Saw where Rebecca Miles was buried, saw the soldiers graves. They are buried in a circle. When we left there drove to the idiotic asylum went over it some. Did not see many of the inmates as it was vacation. A few boys sewing, making pants &c &c. (more on the asylum)….We were soon tucked in his spring wagon and on the way. Had a very pleasant ride. The roads were good, the moon shining bright. The house was all lighted up when we got here. Henry was standing outside of the yard gate when we drove up, the rest were all soon out. (she then goes on for another pages telling of how they sat down to a wonderful fried chicken dinner and also describes the house and home site in detail)" 1897 Trip "Left Salem 10 min. past 8. Washingtonville at 9. Greenford. Loveland, Canfield, Austintown, Mineral Ridge. Saw a town to the left. A man and woman, 2 children on train. Baby cried very hard. Youngstown. Hubbard Eating dinner, Sharon. Crossed the river or large creek. Road along by the stream quite a ways. Sharpsville. Crossed the stream again. Atlantic did not stop. 2 little girls dressed in pink going to see their grandmother come from Ravera going to Cara where their grandmother lives…..Got to Steamburgh about 4. Thomas met us there with a 2 horse spring wagon. We got to the great house near 5. Lizzie met us at the block, Louisa on the porch. They soon took us to the dining room where we had a good supper (much more on this also)…….20th. Visited the schools in the forenoon. Afternoon took a ride down to the lower reservation about 6 miles. Forded the Allegheny River, went in one Indian house. It looked as fine as the generality of white folks homes. The woman had become of Abel's scholars. …..Crossed Tunessa Creek on the foot log came back on the little bridge…." Both of the diaries are in fair to good condition. She writes in pencil so some of the writing is a bit smudged but all is readable. There is general foxing through-out but all in all two great journals. ; 32mo - over 4" - 5" tall; Hand Written, Personal, Memoir, Travel, Europe, Steamships, Steamer, Handwritten, hand written, autograph, autographs, signed, letters, document, documents, manuscript, manuscripts, writers, writer, author, holograph, personal, Americana, Germany, Romance, Women's Studies, Feminism, Sociology, Train, Steam, Rail, Pre Sufferage, Suffrage