Alexander Cornell Diaries

The diaries of Alexander Cornell document his daily life as a twenty-something young man in Illinois in 1882 and 1884, as well as daily life when he is in his 60s living in University Place, Nebraska (part of present-day Lincoln, Nebraska) in 1918-1920. Cornell's diaries routine activities including work, visiting with friends and family, weather, and other daily activities. Selected names mentioned in the diaries include: Henry Taylor, Lewis, Mary Chapman, Bartlette, Chipman, Cole, Cookingham, Herman, Dr. Underhill, Kate Stockdale, Zartman, H. Kinney, Albert Foster, Kenny, Newcomb, John Stanton, George Wheeler, John Graham, and others.

Transcription of selected entries provided by the seller:

"1882

"Don't feel much like writing tonight, would rather go to bed. The doctor was here today vaccinated me. Cold tonight and has been cold all day. I have been dumping around today. Have not don anything to amount to anything.....Rained this morning just to make it bad going so a body would have to stay to home and is fogy some tonight. I went up home today and found them well. I had not been home 3 weeks to day. Was the last time. Alice and Mary was as lively as ever. Alice in particular. She acted as if she did not know how to act....Well I went to Grant today for the 4th time this week and that is enough for one week. Well I went and told the play fellows that I did not want any part in their monkey show. The roads are getting quite passable today but I guess it is a going to rain tonight from the looks of things out. I went down with Dick and Frank R. to get a load of wood, etc.....This has been quite a nice day after all. I went up to Marty Bisset's this afternoon and traded him my wagon for his carriage. Went down to see if Will did not want to buy my carriage then I went to see Myra and she was just as pretty as ever but I do not expect that I will see her for some time.....Tis a fine day today. Is clear and warm and not to warm but warm enough to wear a coat. I had a negative taken this morning and hope that I will get some good pictures. Went out to the shaft and the report is that they have struck coal....I have been to the show for a fact. Started out and went to Momence, drove my horse down and then took the train. It soon began to rain after we left Momence but did not last. Has been warm. Tis a fine moonlight eve. Came back better than we did the 4th. Thare was an imesce [immense] crowd at the show. Forepaugh Forepaugh's Circus)....."

1884

"Went up to Lon's and helped John some to get the press riged up. Was cold standing around. Filled up the engine with water and started out but did not press any. Had a party at our house this eve. Had a boss time. Hitched up and gathered them in....Colder and froze up this morn. Dick is up and coming to go to pressing. So I went off, got to Grant and stayed the most of the day. I went and helped get the engine fired up then went to Spry's to supper. Went to Joe's wedding dance and looked on a while and then went and hunted up a bed. The wind is blowing hard and cold....This has been a cold, raw disagreeable day. I went to Grant for a change. Did not want to. Afternoon I went and got a saddle and went to see Addie. Gosh I had a picnic or in other words a good time....This morn does not look very promising for me today but it may take a change and it did so I went and got a saddle and riged up and went to see my Addie, the girl that I love and the one that loves me. It rained a thunder shower just at night. Was fogy in the eve like much.....The weather being cloudy this morn. The sun did not shine so it was not so very hot. I took my Addie and went to visit my folks. Had a very good time. Then we went to Momence in the eve and it rained so I did not get home....Cleared off and a good breeze blowing. I went to town and got the girls and then made for home. I plowed corn in the afternoon and it was hard work and being a lack of sleep the night before..."