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UNIDENTIFIED CIVIL WAR VETERAN : ARCHIVE LOT OF 3 DIARIES 1903, 1907 AND 1912 HANDWRITTEN MANUSCRIPT FROM WAYNE COUNTY NEW YORK AREA

16mo - over 5¾" - 6¾" tall. Group of three handwritten diaries (1903, 1907, 1912) kept by this Civil War veteran who lived and farmed in Wayne County, New York. Bindings and contents in very good condition. approx 6" x 3" 3 volumes 103pp in all written legibly in pencil. At the end of each volume is a detailed ledger of expenses, yielding more details of farming. The author's style is eccentric, semi-literate, and very flavorful. For example: "Went over to the Collins Berring [burying] ground Mr. Wells was agointo put up some Hed Stones for Roswell and Matilda"; &c., &c. Together, the three diaries give a comprehensive picture of life, running a small-but-prosperous farm and orchard in upstate New York (near Lake Ontario) at the turn of the 20th century, as reported by a simple, unemotional but thorough man who does not identify himself. The author is fairly well off, hiring a man or two to help with the field work almost every day, although he works alongside the hired men. He also holds several mortgages on other people's properties. The diaries contain many details about working in the orchard and fields, selling farm produce and livestock, as well as doing maintenance to keep the farm and farmhouse operative. We also observe the changes in his farm chores and home activities as this Civil War veteran gets up in years. Visits to nearby towns are recorded: Rose; North Rose; Clyde; Lyons; Wolcott; Palmyra; State Fair at Syracuse; etc. Binding is cloth/leather.. Manuscript. Book Condition: Good+. Binding: Leatherette

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