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University of Michigan William L. Clements Library

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Edward B. Hartshorn journal, 1858-1873

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Summary

Creator:
Hartshorn, Edward B., ca. 1829-1866
Abstract:
This volume contains the journal of Edward B. Hartshorn from January 1858 to September 1863, anonymous writings regarding a possible trip to locations in the Mediterranean and Europe (including Palestine, Syria, Greece, Constantinople, London, France, and Rome), financial accounts for 1872 to 1873, arithmetic exercises, and a short poem on death.
Extent:
1 volume
Language:
English
Authors:
Collection processed and finding aid created by Sara Quashnie, November 2018

Background

Scope and Content:

This volume contains the journal of Edward B. Hartshorn from January 1858 to September 1863, anonymous writings regarding a possible trip to locations in the Mediterranean and Europe (including Palestine, Syria, Greece, Constantinople, London, France, and Rome), financial accounts for 1872 to 1873, arithmetic exercises, and a short poem on death.

Edward B. Hartshorn's began his journal while teaching in Pana, Illinois. He discussed daily life, including remarks on people with whom he socialized and gifts he received for teaching. He described his work at the school and Sunday school where he taught, including organized singing. He hoped to purchase his own house and land, and remarked on his homesickness. He attended a meeting of the Illinois Teachers' Association where officers were elected and a constitution drafted. Hartshorn was also a member of the Golden Rule Society and the Temperance Society. His cousins David and Thomas came to visit, with Thomas staying for the year. He also discussed his vegetarian diet, his hopes to found a manual labor school, and census-taking.

Hartshorn moved back home to Amherst, New Hampshire in November 1859. There, he joined with siblings in buying the family farm from their father. He discussed plans to start a school and his devout religious beliefs. A cousin "ruin[ed] the prospects" of "sister Annie." After some content on the early days of Hillside Manual Labor School, the journal skips from May 1860 to September 1862. By this point, Edward's health was poor and many of his friends "distrust" him. He stated that he had trouble recruiting students willing to participate in manual labor and many persons believed the school would fail. On August 23, 1862, he married Ann Elizabeth Baltzley and he noted that she did not agree with all aspects of his mode of living. He hoped to convince her otherwise. At the end of December 1862, Hartshorn traveled to Reed's Ferry, New Hampshire, where an agreement was made to combine schools and utilize the Reed's Ferry facilities. Following continued poor health, Hartshorn left the school in the first part of 1863 and then pursued farming. His sister Hannah stayed at the school after the move to Reed's Ferry. According to the diary, she became difficult and viewed Hartshorn and his wife as enemies. Subsequently, the Hartshorn couple moved away and, in September 1863, arrived in Ohio.

Several pages after the end of the Hartshorn's journal begins a section of travel entries by an anonymous author. The notes are brief snippets regarding locations in and around Jerusalem in 1869, expanding into Palestine and various biblical sites. The trip then proceeded to Syria, the Mediterranean, Greece, Constantinople, and into Europe (London, France, and Rome).

The anonymous travel accounts is followed by 1872-1873 accounts, including regular household expenses such as stamps, sewing supplies, rent, payments to "Arnold," and Christmas presents. Additional payments were to church and charity.

The final two pages of the book contain "Arithmetic examples" and a short poem musing on death.

Biographical / Historical:

Edward Beecher Hartshorn was born ca. 1829 on August 23, to Timothy (1793-1868) and Betsey Gay (1802-1849) Hartshorn of Amherst, New Hampshire. He worked as a schoolteacher in Cecil County, Maryland, and Pana, Illinois, before returning to found the Hillside Manual Labor School for Ladies and Gentlemen in Amherst with his sister, Hannah Jane Hartshorn (d. 1869). While in Pana, Hartshorn served as principal of Pana Academy, secretary of the Christian County Teachers' Association, and as a Ruling Elder of the First Presbyterian Church. As co-founder of the Hillside School, Hartshorn promoted a Christian, vegetarian way of life amongst the students and staff, as well as the merits of manual labor. On August 23, 1862, he married Ann Elizabeth Baltzley (1838-1929), a fellow teacher at Hillside. In late 1863, following family troubles and the school's move to Reed's Ferry, the Hartshorns moved to Washington, D.C., where Edward worked as a clerk in the Quartermaster's Department. By 1865, Hartshorn, in partnership with his brother, Newton Timothy Hartshorn (1842-1922), sold crayon portraits modeled from photographs. They also taught their technique and marketed Edward's "improved Delineator" created for the purpose. Hannah Hartshorn would also advertise instruction in this method at the Hillside School. In 1866, Edward and Hannah Hartshorn became business partners again, this time as "hygienic physicians." On September 8, 1866, Hartshorn died from consumption in Manchester, New Hampshire.

Acquisition Information:
2016. M-6040.21 .
Arrangement:

The collection is a single bound volume.

Rules or Conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Contents

Using These Materials

Info for Visitors

How to Request

Ordering Reproductions

Download PDF Finding Aid
RESTRICTIONS:

The collection is open for research.

USE & PERMISSIONS:

Copyright status is unknown

PREFERRED CITATION:

Edward B. Hartshorn Journal, William L. Clements Library, The University of Michigan

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Collection

Edward B. Hartshorn journal, 1858-1873
Total components 1
Last indexed 2025-02-09