1890s ARCHIVE OF THREE [3] ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT DIARIES BY AMERICAN CIVIL WAR VETERAN, RAILROAD BOOSTER, AND PROMINENT MEMBER OF A MICHIGAN COMMUNITY

On offer is a group of three diaries containing a treasure trove of local residents and organizations written by George W. Howe, a veteran of the American Civil War and prominent member of his local community.

The diaries are dated 1894, 1895, and 1897, and measure 5.75 inches by 3.5 inches, 7 inches by 3.25 inches, and 7 inches by 3.25 inches respectively. All diaries are in good condition, contain 365 pages plus memoranda, and are 100 percent complete.

Howe was born in 1844 and, following the Civil War, lived his life in Port Huron, Michigan. He passed away in 1936 at age 91 or 92. Records show that he was married, and his diary makes reference to a girl, May, and a boy, Barlow. Interestingly, Howe's 1894 diary is recorded in a notebook printed for 1889. Inside, he stroked out the date each day and substituted the correct date for 1894, using a small calendar he pasted into the front cover.

There is a record of Howe owning a newspaper prior to the Civil War, but following the war it seems that he was deeply engaged in getting the railroad built between Port Huron and East Saginaw, and up into Michigan's Thumb. He not only created subscription papers for gathering financial support for the proposed railway, he also helped get information posted to the local newspaper and participated in the survey crew between Fort Gratiot and Lexington.

Howe has a number of journal entries detailing loans and mortgages, suggesting that this was part of his business activities. In fact, his diaries are chock full of many many business transactions, ranging from these loans to construction and repair activities and property rentals:

"$70 interest due to M F Charleton to back interest. Mrs. Belle [ ] [ ] of mortgage $1034.13 Nov 13/94 Interest 8%" (May 13, 1894).

"Barlow being at home, AH thinks we can get on without Henry. He is willn to pay R E French bal of $4.00. Leaves bal of $1.23 I gave R E French ck for $4.10 bal leaves $1.13 I gave R E French 20¢ or 50¢ and got [ ] Old balance claimed of $3.80" (September 22, 1894). "Rent of Chalmers House by Rogers: April $1.50 Pd / May $1.50 Pd / June $1.50 Pd / July $1.50 Pd / $4.50 Cr $4.00 / Bal due Aug 1st / 50¢ settled later" (September 11, 1897).

During the American Civil War, Howe served in the 29th Michigan Infantry Regiment. When he mustered out, he held the rank of 1st Sergeant. Following the war, a number of organizations were formed to assist veterans and enable them to maintain contact with each other. Among these was the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) , which would grow to become the largest and most influential of such fraternal organizations. It also rapidly became entwined with partisan politics, effectively becoming associated with the Republican party. Howe was very active in the GAR, and the GAR's successor organization, the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, named their Port Huron branch after him (George W Howe Camp #9).

He attended the 1897 National Encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic in Buffalo and includes some newspaper clippings of the event:

"Took in the Parade of veterans and ex-prisoners of war most have seen tough times battle-scarred . . . I saw corks pulled freely, liquor was being again in order. They had comfortable quarters and berths" (August 24, 1897).

Howe was active in the American Republican Party and included in the 1896 diary is a form recording the votes in the Republican primary election in the Eight Ward, showing the vote results of each candidate. (No mention, however, of how he came into possession of them. )

". . . At Primary from 4:00 to close. Not much show for Bliss" (July 30, 1896).

In addition to the GAR and the Republican Party, Howe was active in several other community organizations such as the Masonic Lodge and a local fishing club. Through these various groups, he had wide contacts in the community. Hundreds of local names are mentioned in his pages. For a local historian, the pages of these diaries are a goldmine of information. The many named contacts would provide any genealogist excellent threads to follow in constructing family relationships.

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