1896 ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT DIARY HAND WRITTEN BY A NEW HAMPSHIRE MINISTER, COMMISSION MERCHANT AND AUCTIONEER STILL GOING STRONG AT 77 YEARS OF AGE

On offer is a detailed and quite fascinating diary written in the late 19th Century New England. The diary measures 6 inches by 3 1/2 inches and contains 365 pages. They are 100% complete. The leather-bound volume is in good condition and all pages are intact. The handwriting is legible. Henry Harrison Hartwell was born in Hillborough, NH in 1819 and lived until 1913. He had a varied career but was best known as a well-respected minister in the Methodist Church. He served as a minister for 35 years in and around Allenstown and Suncook, NH. He also served in several public offices, most notably as Justice of the Peace, Tax Collector and Superintendent of Schools. Following a breakdown of health, he went out west to recuperate. Returning in four years, he established an auction and commission merchant business in Allenstown. This diary dates from his time as a merchant. He is seventy seven at the time it was written. It is filled with the details and minutiae of operating a commission business: "... Bought of Mrs. Newdon 1 bedstead - $2.00, 5 Chairs - $1.00, Bought Wm. [ ] 1 bedstead $0.25, Paid Osgood 1 bag meal - $0.80, J.W. Pipen work on windows in block - $1.00, ... " [Jan 13, 1896]. "... Bought of Widow Woman in "Old Pass House" 1 Cook Stove, 1 [ ] Table, 2 bedsteads, 2 mattresses, 2 sheep pelts, 4 new chairs, 2 R chairs, 3 [ ] chairs, 1 toilet table - total $7.05. Wood saw, saw horse, [ ], iron pail - $1.00 Total $8.05" [Apr 17, 1896]. His diary is replete with such entries. It is evident that his business is active; He also mentions tasks around his home such as digging potatoes and picking apples. He notes municipal political events: "This is again the " Town Meeting " day. Good day. Good weather. Good travelling. And the Election has gone better to my liking than last year. FE Blodgett, Wm D { }, and Charles S Cleveland are Selectmen. CS Baker, [ ] and John Hayes are "Road Agents". All Americans" [Mar 10, 1896]. In the 'Miscellaneous' section of his diary, he reflects on the year (1896) just finished and notes: "... we feel many and great have been the blessings of our heavenly father as experienced and enjoyed by us ..." The very next line of the entry states simply "... our youngest son Edward F Hartwell died in Suncook June 15th ... " A copy of the obituary is taped into the diary. This is a treasure trove of detailing commercial information and transactions in rural New England at the end of the 19th century. He records many names from both business transactions and from his daily life in the community which can serve as an excellent cross-referencing tool.; Manuscript; 16mo - over 5¾" - 6¾" tall; KEYWORDS: HISTORY OF, 19TH CENTURY, 1890S, NEW HAMPSHIRE, REV. HENRY H. HARTWELL; SUNCOOK, NH; ALLENSTOWN, NH; RURAL NEW ENGLAND; METHODIST CHURCH, COMMISSION BUSINESS, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, BUSINESS OPERATION IN 19TH CENTURY NEW ENGLAND, AMERICANA, HANDWRITTEN, MANUSCRIPT, DOCUMENT, LETTER, AUTOGRAPH, WRITER, HAND WRITTEN, DOCUMENTS, SIGNED, LETTERS, MANUSCRIPTS, DIARY, DIARIES, JOURNALS, PERSONAL HISTORY, SOCIAL HISTORY, HISTORICAL, HOLOGRAPH, WRITERS, AUTOGRAPHS, PERSONAL, MEMOIR, MEMORIAL, ANTIQUITÉ, CONTRAT, VÉLIN, DOCUMENT, MANUSCRIT, PAPIER ANTIKE, BRIEF, PERGAMENT, DOKUMENT, MANUSKRIPT, PAPIER OGGETTO D'ANTIQUARIATO, ATTO, VELINA, DOCUMENTO, MANOSCRITTO, CARTA ANTIGÜEDAD, HECHO, VITELA, DOCUMENTO, MANUSCRITO, PAPEL