Collections : [University of Michigan William L. Clements Library]

This diary was kept by a farmer, likely in Saratoga County, New York, from 1852 to 1855, detailing his agricultural work, accounts with laborers, and local news. The diarist recorded weather as well as his work planting, harvesting, and tending to various crops, orchards, and livestock. The writer noted the local hired laborers who worked for him, and several times he used disparaging remarks about their Irish heritage. The writer also wrote about local events, including church affairs, social events like marriages and deaths, correspondence with family and friends, and notable occurrences like fires, fairs, and attending a séance. The writer identified as a Whig and recorded political events like election days, the death of Daniel Webster, the inauguration of Franklin Pierce, a lecture by Horace Greeley, and the Crimean War. The writer also took a trip to New York and the State Fair at Saratoga Springs, and included ongoing comments about the travels and jobs undertaken by his son, Augustus.

This diary was kept by a farmer, likely in Saratoga County, New York, from 1852 to 1855, detailing his agricultural work, accounts with laborers, and local news. The diarist recorded weather as well as his work planting, harvesting, and tending to various crops, orchards, and livestock. The writer noted the local hired laborers who worked for him, and several times he used disparaging remarks about their Irish heritage. The writer also wrote about local events, including church affairs, social events like marriages and deaths, correspondence with family and friends, and notable occurrences like fires, fairs, and attending a séance (December 14, 1853). The writer identified as a Whig and recorded political events like election days, the death of Daniel Webster, the inauguration of Franklin Pierce, a lecture by Horace Greeley (December 27, 1852), and the Crimean War (December 31, 1853). The writer also took a trip to New York and the State Fair at Saratoga Springs, and included ongoing comments about the travels and jobs undertaken by his son, Augustus.

Marginal notes for expenses like items purchased and wages owed to hired laborers appear throughout the volume. The last several pages were used for recording accounts with individuals, including male and female workers and transactions relating to agricultural products and livestock.

Several newspaper clippings are pasted into the volume, including "Advice to Parents," marriage notices, recipes, and instructions for whitewashing and fencing.

Stephen Sparks maintained this ledger between 1816 and 1860, documenting his family's financial activities as they related to shoemaking and farming in Leicester, Vermont. Sparks was making and mending shoes and boots, was also active with agricultural crops, livestock, and lumber.

Stephen Sparks maintained this ledger between 1816 and 1860, documenting his family's financial activities as they related to shoemaking and farming in Leicester, Vermont. Sparks was making and mending shoes and boots, and was active with agricultural crops, livestock, and lumber.

Evidence of broader family involvement in the financial affairs is also apparent, as Stephen Sparks' brother Harvey Sparks acted as an agent for him, and an 1861 promissory note made out to George Sparks, Stephen's son, is laid into the volume. Several pages are dedicated to purchases of "Articles Found for Mother," including items such as snuff, flour, molasses and sugars, cloth, candles, butter and lard, tea, spices, rum and brandy, and medical care.