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JEREMIAH GOULD [?] : 1849 - 1854 ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT DIARY HANDWRITTEN BY A KEEN EYED, INTROSPECTIVE INDIANA SURVEYOR DETAILING HIS LIFE AND FAMILY HARDSHIPS OF TRAGIC ILLNESS WHO STILL SEES THE WONDERS OF THE WORLD WHILE VISITING THE NEW YORK CRYSTAL PALACE EXPOSITION

12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall. Offered is a super, original manuscript diary dated August, 1849 through to a final tragic entry in April, 1854. The diary was handwritten by an Indiana surveyor, farmer, politician and engineer who worked throughout Indiana, Ohio and Illinois. [While the 64 page book lacks any identifying signatures or inscription a tucked in scrap of what appears to be original poetry dated 1840 bears the name of Jeremiah Gould. The final 1854 entry is signed in a different hand with the initials V.G. likely the son Vernon which we believe adds credence to Jeremiah's authorship though more research should be done.] The diary is a fascinating and a superb telling of the author's personal life and times as he writes not just of what has happened but also his thoughts about the family's future. We learn that it is a hard life given his family suffered many attacks of fever and disease and a super portrait of pre Civil War America and there is so much to it: he and fellow surveyors find an old Indian Battle ground while on a survey; political commentary about the Whig Party, Daniel Webster including his own ambitions in local politics as he is elected to office. His children he writes about many times - Vernon, Marietta, and Robert. For example one of his sons Vernon leaves to study medicine. The town of Rochester is a focus of commentary often along with Mishawaka, Wolf Creek and Marshall County, and the Yellow River. In fact there is a great entry about crossing the river by horse. He writes about surveying his own land under an act of Congress of Sept 25th. The author was a part time teacher, rancher, and elected county surveyor in August 1851, surveying for a Solomon Pontius. He mentions in great detail his cattle, sheep and trying to raise crops. He also describes the political climate of the day and his own philosophical thoughts. Here is a snippet: Fri April 23 Went to Richland to attend court for Mother. I never saw so many ignorant a set of men nor so disorderly a court as I saw today the justice was entirely incompetent to fill his office. I am satisfied that magistrates ought not to be elected to office. For in a great majority of cases incompetent persons will be elected over worthy and competent men, while there is no one responsible for this impromptu choice. Today I had conversations with A.F. Smith related to political affairs we concluded to call a meeting of the Whig's of the county on the 22nd of March. This close's the year 1852- a year in which I have had many bright prospects and as many disappointments but on the whole out situation is somewhat improved I have paid off some debts, made some valuable improvements upon my family and in the year to come we have all been blest with health. Sept 21 I left home for the east. Arrived in South Bend in the evening took carriage 40 minutes past 11 arrived Monroe in the morning. Took passage on board steamboat about 10 min and arrived in Cleveland about 4 pm and in the morning of the 23rd arrived in Buffalo. Gould also travels for his pleasure and edification particularly when he travels east and does a super job on two and a half pages of describing his trip to The World's Fair September 1853. This was the Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations a World's Fair held in 1853 in what is now Bryant Park in New York City, in the wake of the highly successful 1851 Great Exhibition in London. The New York Fair also had a Crystal Palace. He also went directly to the Mechanics Fair in Boston on September 30th and he writes a couple of short paragraphs. The tragedy contained in this diary is dramatic and saddening to read. Shortly after the author attends the World's Fair his wife suddenly gets ill and then dies of this illness. Within a year the Author perishes as well from "Typhus". In the Winter of 1851 I wrote to M.D. Smith of Ohio for a flock of sheep June 1st 1851 Vernon left home to study medicine under the instruction of Dr. Brokett July 5th I purchased 500 sheep of Smith. In the fall Vernon took a school over the river for three months. In December I commenced surveying my lands for Culua under an Act of Congress of Sept 25th. In Jan I was appointed Deputy county surveyor with the understating that I should have all the business of the county. I continued to to the County surveying until the August election. My sheep became diseased and we had a great deal of trouble with them and of the 500. I had little but 100 at shearing, and all the wool was insufficient to pay the first installment of the purchase money a great disappointment. Wednesday 25th 1852 Finished the road and went across the woods to Montgomery's and thence to Barnes on the way there we passed by the remains of some shanties erected on the Indian Payment ground on the North side of Chippewa rock erected in 1836. In the afternoon surveyed a road from Barnes's to Warsaw Road. After the survey was finished as we were sitting upon a log near the Chippewa rock south of Martins Mr Montgomery picked out a bullet from a log about 4 inches from the outside of the log which had overgrown by 37 layers of wood. This circumstance gave rise from which I learned that about 50 years ago the Chippewa's and Pottawatomie had a battle at this place. Previous to that time the Chippewa occupied this county and had a town on the creek. The old town of Aubbunaublu township was also a Chippewa town. January 1st, 1854 Eighteen hundred fifty three is passed away and what has it left me? I have been totally successful in temporal affairs. Have diminished my debts have extended my acquaintances have visited the home of my youth and have been flattered with visions of future success but I have lost my nearest friend my family is broken up my plans for the future have been frustrated and sorrow has sent an arrow into my heart deeper that before." The 8 x 6.5 inch journal is basically disbound, covers hanging by string, loose pages but the text is complete and legible. Overall Fair+.. Manuscript. Book Condition: Fair+

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