1894 CIVIL WAR VET Handwritten Diary ~ Fairfax Franklin Vermont History

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1894 CIVIL WAR VET Handwritten Diary ~ Fairfax Franklin Vermont History:
$85.00

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This wonderful diary was written 124 years ago by HENRY CROCKER, he was living in Fairfax, Franklin County, Vermontat this time.Henry was born in Brewster, Barnstable County, Massachusetts on April 30, 1845. Records show he was living in Smithfield, Providence, Rhode Island in 1850. At the age of 26, he enlisted in the Civil War (enlistment date May 26, 1862). He was in Company H, Rhode Island 9th Infantry. He mustered out on Sept. 2, 1862 at Providence RI.

I have found a 1907 photo of the Chester Post GAR, of which Henry was a member. Along with the photo are biographies of the men in the photo. Henry was the last survivingmember.I will include a 4 page copy of this with the diary.

Census records show that Henry was a preacher living in in Chester, Windsor County, Vermont in 1900. He was a very influential member of the village of Chester.He was President of the Vermont Baptist Historical Society in 1909, and held the office for 20 years. He was the author of the book \"HistoryOf The Baptist of Vermont\". He later associated with his sons at the National Survey, which was a map making firm in Chester, Vermont.

Henry\'s parents were Isaac F. Crocker (1817 - 1878) & Sally Crosby Foster (1820 - 1891). He married three times, his first wife was Addie Bickford. His second wife was Sarah Vincent. And his third wife was Annie Staples. He had three sons, Vincent (1884 - 1887), Henry Foster (1885 - 1967), and Lawton (1890 - 1965).

I did a bit of research and found that Henry married his first wife, Addie on June 16, 1880, and she died on December 4, 1880. They had only been married about 6 months! He married to Sarah Vincent in 1883. One of their children died in 1887, they had a another child born in 1890. Sara died in May 28,1901 at the age of just 56 years old, leaving Henry a widower with two young children to raise. I\'m unsure when he married his third wife, Annie.

I also found his obituary! It reads as follows:

HENRY CROCKER --- As it must to each of us, death came, March 22, 1929, to Henry Crocker of Chester, Vt., after an illness of several days.Henry Crocker was born in Brewster (Cape Cod) Mass., on April 30, 1845, the son of Sally Crosby and Isaac Foster Crocker. His family tree shows direct male descent from Elder William Brewster of the Mayflower, and eight others of the Pilgrim fathers, all of whom came over in the first three Pilgrim ships. His mother was the daughter of a sea captain. This circumstance, together with his childhood among seafaring people on Cape Cod, his frequent visits there in later years, followed by his pastorate in Damariscotta, Maine, a shipbuilding town, and his subsequent friendship with the famous yacht builder, Nat Herrisoff, gave him a love of the sea and a knowledge of its lore quite unusual on the part of an inlander.In 1887 a call was accepted to Fairfax, Vt., and the remainder of his life was spent in the Green Mountain State.During this pastorate he discovered Bentley-the photographer of snow crystals-in Jericho, Vt., and first gave his work publicity through magazine articles and reproductions of his wonderful microphotographs, which later made Bentley known to scientists the world over.Henry Crocker had the heart of a naturalist, with a great love for all that is beautiful in nature. He became affiliated with the Vermont Bird Club in 1926. He was a lover of the birds, knew their habits and could identify practically all local species. While in Fairfax he became interested in the construction of birds\' nests, and gathered a most interesting collection of about 200 specimens, taken after the nesting season was over. During this period a little saw was constantly carried under the buggy seat, and whenever an attractive nest was espied, ministerial dignity was laid aside for tree climbing, boy fashion.Wild flowers were also known to him by name, not only the common kinds, but those rare blooms, seldom found or passed unnoticed. Insects of all kinds were the subject of his most detailed and attentive scrutiny and study. He held a great store of true story incidents involving spiders, ants, wasps and what-not.This is a condensed account of only the outward record. It possesses an aoffering interest but it is more than matched by the inward record left in the hearts of those who knew this man. All along the route are lives enriched and strengthened which will move on as imperishable tributes to his nobility of character.----------------

I haven\'t had the time to read this diary, but I will scan pages from it inlieu of taking excerpts from it.The diary measures approx. 3\" x 6\", and it has 201handwritten entries.It is in good condition with no loose or missing pages. As mentioned, I will include a copy ofa photo of the Chester GAR (Henry is in the photo) along with descriptions of all the men in the photo .... Plus Henry\'s Civil War profile, his Vermont death record, and family genealogy facts (names, birth marriage death dates, etc) of his family & children.

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