1909-1911 ARCHIVE OF TWO [2] HANDWRITTEN MANUSCRIPT DIARIES BY A HARDWORKING WOMAN AND HER FAMILY IN RURAL CENTRAL INDIANA

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On offer are two original handwritten manuscript diaries dated January 1st, 1909 through May 23rd, 1911. While the female author is unidentified a casual reading suggests the she i s from central Indiana referring to Jefferson, Mulberry, Stockwell, LaFayette, Indianapolis, Colfax and Attica etc. This diary is over 300 pages in a notebook style diary wherein the author details the hard working life of an Indiana farming family. It appears to be a very large operation being cattle, horses, sheep, cash crops, lumber, beekeeping and all manner of fowl. They seems to be specialists in ducks naming several exotic species. A close reading should deduce the author as there are many clues which a local historian or genealogist will treasure in this great bit of early 20th century Americana. Making soap, summer kitchens, raising bees, county fairs, butter churning, medicine men, peddlers, are just a few of the duties, visits and work day efforts of the writer. Here are some snippets: 1909 "February 24th, Cloudy, colder. Rained in the morning, turning to snow. Wind in W. very windy. Ground freeing in evening. I cleaned lamps. Mother and I cleaned the attic in morning. R. went to F. to make final settlement. I looked after the stock. Helped R. with feeding in evening." "May 27th, Cloudy, sun shone a little. Wind in S.E. Changed to S. and W. then S. Sprinkled a little in evening. We finished ironing. Mother churned. I cleaned stairs and vestibule. Washed bedroom windows and side. Mr. Eaton helping R. clean out raspberries. Then after dinner they put in tile. Mr. Timmon's here in morning. Medicine Man here in morn. I fixed peas. Mother dug. S. sick." "August 23rd, Clear and warm. Wind in S. We washed. I baked 4 loaves of bread and I churned. Mr. Gervis here to look at Romea in morn. Mina sewing. R. burning and breaking rock. Mr. Eaton hauling sand. Mother and Laura went to Mrs. Elliott's to a meeting. R. and Wm took manure spreader to M. to get it fixed. Did not get home till late. Guy Milligan and another man were here with an auto in evening. I gathered tomatoes and I ripped part of my waist up." "September 6th, Cloudy all day. Wind in S. E. and S. Cool. We washed. I helped R. load sheep. R. took them to F. in morn. Carpenters here. R. bought 2 barrels of salt. Mr. Eaton mowing weeds in pond. I received a letter from Mrs. Thornton. Mrs. E. Smith and little girl came in afternoon. Men fixing Lick Run Bridge. Mother and I brought in basket of corn and cooked it to dry. I gathered tomatoes. I scalded ½ of tomatoes to make catsup. R. and Mr. E. loading logs." "October 13th, Cloudy, sun shone some. Rained in evening. Wind in W. and S.W. Very cold in morning. Warmed up some. Ground frozen. Also lots of other things frozen. Called Aunt Sallie, she said Mrs. Allen getting weaker. Mother churned and baked 3 loaves of bread. I cleaned parlor, beat rugs in afternoon. Two life insurance men here in morn. They were nearly frozen. Lee Eaton helping R. dig post holes in morn then they dug part of potatoes. Mr. Dormer here in evening to see about building line fence. Lee cleaning out stable and hauling straw." "November 15th, Cloudy in morn. Cleared off about 10 o'clock. Cold. We all went to Mrs. Allen's funeral at 10 o'clock. Large funeral, lots of flowers. Mr. Eaton and Mr. Smith husking corn below the barn, not here for dinner. R. went to F. from funeral. I cleaned bottles in afternoon and beat carpet. Saw 2 flocks of wild ducks and in morn. No duck eggs." Our diarist rarely fails to mention names of contacts and visitors: Stinson, Bryant, Addie Holliday, Thornton, George Redman, Drew, Harshman, Snellenberger, Bill Timmons, Eaton, George Bailey, Smithers, Bell, Knapp, Hentz, Lewis, Beard, Dr. Gay Bergen and more. 7 ½" x 9 ½". Overall G.; Manuscript; 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall; Pre World War I Era, Rural Life, Pre Suffrage, Post Suffrage, Genealogy, ephemera, Hand Written, Personal, Americana, Memoir, Diary, Diaries, Handwritten, autograph, autographs, signed, letters, document, documents, manuscript, manuscripts, writers, writer, author, Holograph, personal, 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, Show more