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UNIDENTIFIED : 1911 ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT DIARY HANDWRITTEN BY AN ENTREPENEURIAL TOBACCO FARMER AND MEDICINE SHOW WAGON OWNER

16mo - over 5¾" - 6¾" tall. On offer is a super, original, unique 1911 manuscript diary handwritten Indiana tobacco farmer. Beside the details of his life pertaining to his main occupation we learn that he runs a very interesting sideline being him owning and operating a "Medicine Wagon". He lives in Spencer County Indiana, near Lamar and he points out he plants 4,000 plants. He also mentions going to Lincoln City, Chrisney, Kennedy Station, Newtonville, Tell City and Grandview. In all there are about 130 handwritten pages. Eighty nine of those pages are diary entries and 40 of the pages have customer names and what they purchased from the Medicine Wagon. Here are some snippets: 1911 "Clear and cool. Wind from North West. We all went fishing. Did not catch any fish. Clear tonight. I went to IOOF lodge tonight…..Clear and warm. We all went to Church this morning. Vernin and Clyde went to Newtonville. Drove Cricket. Second time she was drove. The rest of the family went to Meek's Church. Clarence Hagan preached…..Clear and warm. Boys plowed this morning. I worked in prospect hole. Floyd helped me. Vernin, Clyde and Floyd went fishing this afternoon to stay all night. I plowed potatoes in afternoon. Went to lodge IOOF at night…..Pretty cloudy and pleasant. Boys planted corn for late harvesting. Plowed tobacco, rolled peas and planted corn. I went to M. E. Bullock's after medicine wagon. Eat dinner with William Learner's family. Rained little in afternoon late…..Pretty cloudy and warm. Boys planed corn and tobacco in forenoon. Rained in afternoon. I come home from M. E. Bullock's today. Eat dinner with William Learner's family. Get home about 6:30 o'clock. Left medicine wagon at Chrisney to have repaired…..Partly cloudy and pleasant. Clyde plowed tobacco in morning and Vernin and I made log pile in field where we want to plow for grass. Lola and I went to funeral in afternoon. Ade Brady's baby. Rained little but not enough to do any good…….Clear and cold but did not do much. I worked some on medicine wagon. Went over to William Schroder's. Have some additional insurance put on list. Went to Chrisney in afternoon. Got flour and have Julia shod. Got me pair shoes and some shirts and underwear…." Near the end of the diary the writing changes and it looks like one of the sons is writing now for their father because he talks about his "pa Canvising all day". Also says "pa sold medicine all day." The back pages deal with medicine sold. Some of the different medicines include; Head Ache Tablets, Poultry Powder, Cough Syrup, Tonic Laxative, Liniment, Cold Tablets, Medicated Ointment, Cold Cream, Chill Tonic, Worm Powder, Talcum, White Rose, Shampoo Jelly, Hair Tonic and more. I've scanned an example of one of those pages. Many names are mentioned: Henry Haaffs, William Schroder, J. T. Leonard, Ira Harding, Kenny Anderson, Wetherill, Grant Rice, M. E. Bullock, George Rumpell, Ed Parker, William Link, Bert Pierson, John Krieg, Frank Shoemaker, Snyder, Ira Conner, James R. Harris, Hiram Harris, Fred Southwood, Susan Conner, Elizabeth Terrill, Ed Moore, Bob Green, Maggie Helmich, Charles Martin, Andrew Wetzel, John W. Vogel, John Spinner, Jason Varner, Silas Richardson, George Tableman, Mary Romine, John H. Meier, Charles Hopkins, J. W. Phillips and more. The diary was written in a booklet that measures about 4" x 7". It must have gotten close to a candle flame or fire place as the top right hand corner has been burnt but it does not affect the writing. Binding looks good. Overall G.. Book Condition: Very Good

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