Bibliopoly

W.H. STONEMAN

1848 + 1856 + 1857 ARCHIVE OF HANDWRITTEN MANUSCRIPT DIARIES OF PRE CIVIL WAR LIFE IN PIONEER INDIANA INCLUDING AN EIGHT YEAR VOYAGE TO THE CARIBBEAN TO CURE TUBERCULOSIS

Indianapolis, Indiana IN 1848

Description

48mo - over 3" - 4" tall Manuscript Very interesting early Indiana archive of three [3] diaries being the handwritten diaries and private thoughts of W.H. STONEMAN, Indianapolis, Indiana. The diaries date 1848, 1856 and 1857. Mr. Stoneman is 26 yrs old in 1848 and in bad health with tuberculosis [TB] goes to the Caribbean (Antigua, St. Thomas, St. Martin, Bermuda, Barbados) for the healing climate. He relates his health symptoms, daily life and weather, spiritual strength, and subsequent recovery returning to Indianapolis in 1856. He has used the 1848 book for some later entries, [the latest being 1866 where he gives praise for still being alive], but picks up a new book when he returns to Indianapolis in 1856 and gets a new book (approx. 2 1/2" x 3 1/2") wherein his writings consist of daily life; social, weather, political, spiritual, and health conditions of the times; specific mentions of the slavery question, Buchanan nominated at Democratic convention, Tippecanoe, polygamy discussion, Buchanan election, Masonic Hall lectures, Kansas, and temperance, list of Indiana expressions. 1857, (approx. 2 1/2" x 3 1/2") consists of general daily life as a mercantile store owner relating to social, weather, political, spiritual, finances, fraternal activities, and health conditions of the times; specific mentions: go to Senate, seeing a comet, John Brown, trip east thru Pittsburg, Lancaster, Philadelphia, Boston, Albany, Buffalo, got photographed, trip thru Kokomo, Cumberland, Marshal, New London, Rusioville, Miami, Noblesville, at Metropolitan Institute, Temperance Hall procession of delegates, English language question decided, Indians & negroes affected most, travel thru Franklin, Morgantown, Putnamville, Manhatten, Greencastle, Danville, New Chester, love fest, store open Thanksgiving. Superb pre-Civil War Indiana content that will keep Indiana historians busy for a while. Good+/None