Autobiography: History
Great Works 144
Sarah McNair Vosmeier
The following are first-person narratives (diary entries and
newspaper stories) that were written on this date (or close to
it) in the past. For our discussion, consider what these texts
tell us about the person who wrote them, and also consider how
these people's experiences are similar or different from your
own experiences.
Diaries
Andrew Ferguson, diary, 1854-1855. Ferguson was a Mormon who traveled the overland trail to Salt Lake City in 1855. More information about the diary is available here.
January 8, 1854
8th Sabbath attended Chapele Preached in the evening, felt very
well, the saints apear to have the work of god at hart, but very
poor at preasent owing to the factions all standing
the people contending with their masters, for on advance of on
their days wage, the thick has continued for about 13 weeks and no
appearence of commencment yet, however the people recived me very
kindly and I belive that good will be done here &c
January 9, 1854
9th Remaind here all day &c -
January 10, 1854
10th Teusdy left by train to visit the branches the first was 9
Mills of called Blackburn we had a metting felt very free in
speekig to them
Horatio Nelson Taft, diary, 1861. Taft lived in Washington during the Lincoln administration, and his children played with the Lincoln children at the White House. More information about Taft and his diary is available here.
Friday Jan'y 10th 1862
This has been a warm foggy day, streets very mudy. Nothing new in the City worthy of notice. The Burnside Expedition has left Annapolis for Old Point, its destination not yet publicly known. But it is Expected that it will go up some of the Rivers into Virginia. Success attend the gallant General Burnside. I became acquainted with him when he first came on with the 1st R.I. Regt in June last. I have been in the office all day writing Bounty land Patent Deeds. That is my business most of the time in the Land office. Have spent the evening at home. Always find something to do about the house or for the boys if I am not reading or writing letters or something else. Julia is quite unwell tonight from a bad cold. She is taking hot tea to make [her] perspire, hope it is nothing worse than a cold.
H. Greene, diary, 1887. Greene, a single woman, lived on her family farm in Seneca county, Ohio. More information about the diary is available here.
January, Monday 10. 1887
The sun is shining beautifully this morning. By my plate was
a letter from Mr Jacob, saying he would pay my tax, $1.99 as the
time had about expired.
A newspaper from Mrs. Lowd. This Afternoon we went &
called on Miss Luckz, returning in time for tea, then went to the
P– Theater The Sleighing is very good Six horses are hitched to
the track sweeper.
Tomorrow I want to go to 316 east 15th St to the Palmer
Meeting. She formerly preached at Lakeside. I presume Mrs
Wind would be disappointed that we did not put in an appearance at
the Chinese S-School.
Lillian Schoedler, diary, 1913. Schoedler was an administrative assistant in New York City. More information about the diary is available here.
Friday Jan. 10 [1913]
A busy, busy day. One grand rush at the office, to get ready
for Miss Annings departure for the West to-morrow. Lunch
with Myrtle Shurtzes at Childs! Lu Sellcox failed to show up.
To Coward’s after business for a comfy pair of shoes. My
feet have been making me absolutely miserable. Came home for
a late supper, & am going to bed early. Aunt Jeanne came
in in the evening, but didn’t stay.
Law Partnership
William Hendricks and Jesse D. Bright inform their friends and the
public, that they have entered into a law partnership in the city
of Madison, and will attend to such business as may be placed in
their hands in all the counties of this Circuit; in the Supreme
Court of this State, in the Circuit and District Courts of the
United States, at Indianapolis, and in the adjacent counties of
Kentucky. They will undertake collecting business in any
county throughout the State.
All business placed in their hands will be faithfully attended
to, and one or the other of them will at all times be found in their office one door
above the Clerk's office in the corner room of Lawyer's Block.
To George Neaville, Guardian of Jemima Neaville, James Neaville,
and Thomas Neaville, infant heirs of Thomas Neaville, deceased,
and to all whom it may concern.
Take notice that we, Joseph Kennedy and Eleanor Kennedy, formerly Eleanor Neaville, but now the wife of the said joseph, will apply to the Jefferson Probate court at the next session tereof, to be holden on the second Monday of February next, to appoint Commissioners to assign and set over to the said Eleanor Kennedy the dower to which she was and is entitled as the widow and relict of Thomas Neaville, deceased, of, in and to the following described tract of land, situate, lying and being in the said county of Jefferson and State of Indiana, and being part of the south-east quarter of section numbered fifteen, of range number nine, and town number four in the Jeffersonville district, and bounded as follows, viz: Beginning at the north-west corner of said quarter, thence east with said qr. S. line one hundred and sixty poles; thence north 110 poles; thence west 130 poles; thence north 50 poles to the beginning -- containing seventy acres, of which land he, the said Thomas Neaville, was seized in fee simple, at the time of his death.
Joseph Kennedy
Eleanor Kennedy