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MELISSA M. GRANNIS : 1880 ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT DIARY HANDWRITTEN BY A SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA MATRON DETAILING A FULL LIFE OF TOILING AND TRAGEDY BUT NOT WITHOUT FULFILLMENT

16mo - over 5¾" - 6¾" tall. On offer is an outstanding record of a family living in rural Minnesota in the late 19th century. This leather-bound diary measures 6 inches by 3 inches and contains 183 pages plus memoranda pages. It is 100% complete. The diary is in very good condition, The handwriting is small but legible. The author of the diary is Mrs. C.L Grannis who lives in Pickwick MN in 1880. Her husband is Cyrus Lansing Grannis. Research has determined that her name is Melissa M Grannis (neé Woods). She was born in 1824 on December 12th (as noted in the diary) in Vermont. She married Cyrus Grannis in Massachusetts. They had one son - Frankie who died in 1858 at age 4 (noted in the diary on January 12). Melissa Grannis passed away in 1904 at age 79. At some point, they moved from Massachusetts to Iowa (where their son died). They moved to Minnesota to the village of Pickwick. This was wilderness country and the living conditions were very hard. Melissa Grannis is 55 years old the year she kept this diary. The entries paint a detailed picture of life in this cold, northern wilderness. Many entries include a short proverb or scripture quote. "Our new cow came today. Two boys drove her from Galesville - were here to dinner - Cordelia rode up, stayed an hour or so, Harry Agnes and Allen came down to show Allen's first suit of boys clothes, which his Grandpa Gould sent him. Karen in a moment. G. brings me this diary for New Years present. I cut off my first Calla Lilly sent to Abba for New years gift. Susie up to call. Allen staid to dinner" [Jan 1]; "Snows, wind blows, all fore noon - Sun shines in P.M. I bake all fore noon, Callie in, I send Nellie [ ] her backs for S.S. - "Without economy some can be rich & with it few can be poor." "The parent who does not teach his child a trade, teaches him to be a thief." [Jan 9]; "Twenty two years since our dear Frank died. ..." [Jan 12]; "Cyrus goes to Winona to take up our old cow. Rather hated to see her go after all, got little over $27.00 for her. Lizzie Hoffman in to see about flowers for a cross for tomorrow. Agnes came down to get pieces for the patch work. Stays until after school closes, some of my class come to recite pieces - grows cold all the time" [Mar 11]; "Pleasant - pure air - They work on the mill today for fear of rain. Seems bad to hear the sound of hammers on God's holy day but, they think it duty to take care of what they have left. S.S. at 10' o'clock 29 scholars present. Ella comes in early. I call there on my way from S.S. Susie gets dinner & supper. Seems good to have help. Mrs. Harlo Rutherford comes in to see if I will let her boy come & pick berries for me. Bessie Davis calls. They go home send Ella a rose by Nettie & Lou" [June 13]. Simple activities could lead to serious injuries and even death: "Mr. Renwick starts home to night. Cool, cloudy & little thought this morning what was to happen & how much we have to be thankful for. G. & I started for W. [Winona] in buggy. When at Minnies house Lorens horse set to kicking and we were thrown from the buggy down in the brush. My wrist was hurt some but how narrow to escape. Is it a warning to us that Gods ways are part finding out how well it is that God hides the future. Mrs Martins, also Mr. George Eagles were very kind to me. I staid at Mr. Martins..." [Aug 16]; "Fall through side walk when in Clayton did not hurt me much..." [Sept 16]. She notes the presence of the Winona Guards. The Winona Guards was one of the first of the handful of organized militia companies which were revived after the Civil War. They were the foundation for the Minnesota National Guard. "Cloudy. Mrs. W children staid to breakfast. The "Winona Guards" came this morning, marched to pipe & drum. A city of tents. Mrs. Whitney came over to take biscuits for their dinner. Mrs. Simpson, & Mrs. Flirst called to bid us good by as they all go this P.M. Ida Howe calls in P.M. Campers leave sorry to see them go, as they are all pleasant. The "Guards" are under military rule... March. Can see them quite plain. Evening C. goes over to see them. …" [Aug 23]. Even in a small village in rural Minnesota, she is well aware of events in the larger world: "Pleasant. Great excitement today as it is "Election Day." Will soon be known who is to be President next March... " [Nov 2]. James Garfield won. This was also her husband Cyrus' 55th birthday. In her cash accounts, she kept a careful record of expenditures and these provide an excellent indication of the daily costs of living. For a historian, this is an excellent primary-source document. It is well written and quite detailed. The cash records she kept would certainly help a social historian researching living circumstances at this time. A genealogist would appreciate the many references to friends and neighbours in this small community. A geographer, especially one focusing on climate would find her comments about temperatures and weather in general quite useful as a point of comparison to today.. Illustr.: /. Manuscript. Book Condition: Good +

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