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ISAAC S. PEAR : 1862 HANDWRITTEN ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT CIVIL WAR ERA DIARY OF AN OBSERVANT MANUFACTURER OF COTS AND BEDS FOR THE UNION SIDE, WHO WOULD ONE DAY BECOME A NOTED MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATOR

8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. On offer is the 1862 diary of Isaac S. Pear, owner of a Massachusetts factory and business manufacturing spring and cot beds and specialties in folding furniture. Pear speaks often of his day-to-day activities and his business, which he writes have been negatively affected by the ongoing and bloody Civil War. The entries range from short, concise entries of the weather to longer ones directly related to his business activities at the time. There are also reports of the Civil War battles won and lost and the general feeling of the people around him, usually a mixture of exhaustion and anxiety. He obviously keeps tabs on the war, especially as it reflects the effect on regiments and people from Massachusetts, and his entries reflect this often. It seems about the middle of the year, Pear’s factory begins making cots and beds for the Union Army. A call goes out in August for men to volunteer for the Union. For a few weeks, Pear closes his store and factory at 2pm, “in aid of recruiting.” He mentions that stores that did not close early were shut down by a mob. There also seems to be a dour attitude about the situation, as Pear often reports the amount who have died in the war and the despondent look of the soldiers who return. The situation does not look good at all through Pear’s eyes. He also mentions people he knew by name who have died in the war. The ‘Memoranda’ and ‘Cash Accounts’ section of the diary contain a number of pages of detailed lists of items bought and paid for, money received from clients at the store, and money paid out to employees, many of whom seem to be family. The book is approximately 380 pages of which there is writing in 300 or so. The cover is soft black leather with a wrap around portion meant to slide into a little loop, however the loop no longer exists. It says ‘Diary 1862’ on the front. It shows a good bit of wear throughout. The pages show some discoloration and wear, especially near the front and back, but nothing that affects legibility. Pear wrote in pencil throughout the book, and there is some smudging on certain pages that can affect legibility, however these entries can be read with a bit of effort, made easier under direct light. His handwriting is easy to read and legible throughout. The book is in overall good condition. Sample entries: “Friday February 7, 1862. Quite and warm all day. The snow thawed considerably. News of the taking of “Fort Henry” on the Tennessee River read to-day. People feel elated. This evening took tea at Mrs. Williams.”; “February 8. Comes in pleasant but colder than yesterday. A little trade at store though still poor. The war affects business very much and all are anxious for a short but honorable termination.”; “March 19. Pleasant all day. The taking of Newberne, N.C. continued. The 21st, 23rd, 24th, 25th Mass. Reg’ts were in the action. Our cas. About ninety killed and 400 wounded.”; “June 19. Warm and pleasant all day. Busy at factory making spring cots for Army use.”; “August 5. Talk of a draft to fill the quota for 600,000 more men for the army. Cities and towns offering bounties for volunteers for $100 to $200.”; “August 10. Visited Camp Cameron today...A large number of troops there under the new call of 300,000 by President Lincoln.”; “September 3. All account go to show that the Rebels have an overwhelming Army and are determined to get into Washington and Maryland or die in the attempt.”; “December 13. John E. Noone was killed at the Battle of Fredericksburg this day aged 27 years.” (Background: In 1852 Mr. Pear went to California. He traded in San Francisco three years, and worked in the mines one year, and then returned to Cambridge in 1857. The same year, he entered his present business as manufacturer of spring and cot beds and specialties in folding furniture, his factory being situated on Brattle street, Boston. In the presidential campaign of 1856, Mr. Pear cast his vote in California for the free soil candidate, John C. Fremont. In 1860, he voted the Bell and Everett ticket, in 18564 for Lincoln, and has been a republican ever since. Mr. Pear was a member of the common council with William E. Russell, and in the board of aldermen the next two years. In 1887-88 he was a member of the legislature, serving upon the committee on elections and giving valuable aid upon the committee on water supply, in the taking of land around Fresh pond. He worked for the Australian ballot, which was then secured. During his legislative career, he was an intimate of the late Chester F. Sanger, who occupied the adjoining seat in the house. Mr. Pear has been on the Republican City committee for the past dozen years. He is to-day a director in the Cambridge Mutual Fire Insurance company, and also in the Colombian Cooperative bank. He is also an esteemed member of the California Pioneers of New England.). Manuscript. Book Condition: Good

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