1920-27 Handwritten Diaries Scrapbook Welsh Family Machias ME His & Her Writing

When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

1920-27 Handwritten Diaries Scrapbook Welsh Family Machias ME His & Her Writing:
$102.50

WELCOMETO SALLY’S DIARIES:

Inthis lot there are two handwrittendiaries in large ledger style journals andthen one is a scrapbookand all of the have to do with the Charles Osborn Welch family ofMachias Maine. Charles was born on May 18th,1888 in Machiasport Maine. His occupation was an Engineer at BoothFisheries Sardine Company in Machiasport Maine. He married Ida A.Crocker (b. 1896) on January 3rd,1914. They had one daughter, Marietta P. born on October 27th,1914. The genealogy web site said he had a second wife, Lizetta MerleRenshaw, whom he married in 1953.

Thefirst diary begins on June 12th,1920 and ends April 5th,1923. The second diary begins May 6th,1923 ends May 28th,1927. Between the two diaries there are 249 pages of entries; notdays, but full pages. The ledgers are large too measuring about 71/2” x 12”. Thefirst diary has steady every day entries and then the second diary issteady until November 30th,1924 and then the entries stop butpick back up again onMarch 4th,1927. Not sure what happened to the 2+ years betweenthat time.

Asfar as the scrapbook it seems to be devoted mainly to their daughterMarietta. There are quite a few early photos from her younger years(starting at 6 months) into her college years plus several pieces ofephemera. There is also a lock of hair that I’m assuming isMarietta’s. I would say there are about 115 pieces in thisscrapbook. Many of them are newspaper clipping and again, quite a fewphotos.

Asfar as the diaries are concerned, both Charles and Ida write in thediaries and you can see clearly when that happens because the writingchanges. She writes when he is away for work. In fact she only writeson the first 24 pages of the first diary, the rest, including most ofthe second diary too, is written by Charles. She does write here andthere in the second diary. There is way too much for me to read but Idid read up to June of 1921 of the first diary to gather a fewquotes, as follows…..

1920

“July14th,(HER). This day begins fine. Wind W. indications of a very hot day.Marietta stayed home from school. Mary, Annie and children and AuntMellissa were down. Went down to Alice’s after supper and got Billto mail some letters. Heard his girl was home. Finished the squaresfor my quilt. Mildred and Lillie were in for short calls. Windbreezed up S. Day ends very foggy, also got letter from Charlie fromQuebec.”

(Hereis the letter she’s talking about which was found between thepages.)

“QubecJuly 13-20

DearWife, I got here fine and about got to cook. Got the cook that LeeRobbins used to have and guess he is a good one. I got a good bedsprig and mattress but quite small quarters. Guess we leave here inthe morning. Going to tow up there as it is only a short way from St.Andrews. I think I shall like it here all right. Cargo is loaded anddischarged crew. Don’t handle any of it. This will be a shortletter as I am cleaning the side and wanted to get it out today soyou would hear we will only be loading ½ days. So you better writesoon. Expect to be loaded Sat. Am not sure I feel lonesome but trynot to think too much about it as I know that I must do something.How I miss Marrietta. Bless her but must forget it for now take careof yourselves and have all the good times you can. Will send moneysoon as I get some. This so short but better than none. Love to bothand xxxx. Charlie.”

“August24th,(HER) This day begun full wind. N. W. Changed to S. E. about twoo’clock. Woke up at four o’clock sick. Managed to do ironing andthe chores then went to bed and stayed for a long time. Marietta gotdinner down to G.’s. Fish came but was not feeling like work. Theday ends fine and clear. Wind S. E.”

“October27th,(HER) This day began foggy wind S. E. I baked cookies and helped makeIrene a coat. Rose was here to dinner. I finished cleaning upstairs.This was Marietta’s birthday. She got a card from Mary and thenbook from dad and I have sent for her a set of dishes. Wrote toCharlie tonight, also started pumpkin preserve. This day ends cloudywith strong S. W. winds.”

“November1st,(HER) This day began stormy, wind N. E. Snowed a little for the firsttime this year. Had all kinds of trouble getting the things Iordered. Got E. small at last but he forgot the meal. Very blue anddiscouraged trying to get along alone. Order come to $32.82. Day endsfine but colder. Wind N.”

“December16th,(HIM) This day began fine with light air N. Carried Everett over theriver in the morning. Carried cranberries over to cook. Abbie S.Walker at dock this P.M. New schooner Machias towed down today. Cutsome wood. Day ends fine and mod. N. winds.”

1921

“January11th,(HIM) This day began overcast and mod. N. wind heavy undertow downriver. Finished cutting wood at noon, 12 cord. Schooner JohnBracewell tied up at new factory wharf. Al and family called inevening. Day ends fine. Overhead partly overcast. Very warm. Light N.E. Wind.”

“March2nd,(HIM) This day began fine and very warm with light variable winds inthe P.M. Went to the sawing bee at Frank and James. Crowd of men: W.J. Blackwood, Jim Holmes, Everett Roberts, Warren Foss, John Holmes,Fred Libbey, Carroll and Ben Crocker, Bert Libbey, Austin Randell,Wilber Coggens, Ben and Frank, Albert Huntley, Bill and Arthur Libbeyand myself. Seventeen in all. Finished 6 ½ cords of wood. Women,Ida, Florence and Florence Rose, Eva Lily, Alice, Carrie, Mildred,Mary, Hattie and family. Clara London, besides the children had afine supper and everybody enjoyed it. 49 in all. Broke up at 9o’clock. Day ends overcast. Wind S. W.”

“March30th,(HIM). This day began fine with cold raw N. E. wind. Went in the bayclamming and had a hell of a pull home. Awful tired. Got 3 ½ hoursHad ice cream in the eve. Day ends fair brisk S. W. winds.”

“April25th,(HIM) This day began overcast with N. E. wind. Went over the river inthe P.M. Very dead over there. Annie P. Chase left the dock thisnoon. David Shaw died this morning. Awful cold days and disagreeableday ends cloudy N. E. wind.”

“June9th, (HIM) This day began fine with mod. S. W. wind. I went to Machias in themorning with John Jasper. Took train for E. Machias. Paid for cow andwalked home. Very hot fire in P.M. by the poor house. Not muchdamage. Bill and Alice called in eve. Picked mess goose grass greensand set hen. Day ends fine. Cool W. S. W. wind.”

Againway too much to read and quote from. June of 1921 (when I stoppedreading) of the first diary finds you only on page 59. Then as Iquickly glanced through the rest of the first and the second diary Ifound that in October of 1922 Ida has an appendicitis attack and hasto leave to get operated on. Here is one of those entries which Ifound rather interesting….

“October14th,1922, (HIM) This day began fine with brisk S. W. wind. The worst dayI ever had I think. Carried Ida to the 9:30 train for Calais and I amawful lonely and nervous. Poor Marietta tried her best to keep thetears back and done pretty well and I had all I could do all day.Pulled beans after coming home and then got ready for the night. Imiss Ida awful and don’t expect much sleep tonight. I hope God iswith us all even if I am awful wicked.”

Thesecond diary begins with an explosion at the docks. Seems “Hick’s”boat burned up. All in all a great group that deserves furtherresearch.

Aswith many diaries there are several names mentions, some of whichare: (Long list of names above on March 2nd,1921 too) H. Wood and James Wood, Henry Munson, Libby, Albert Huntly,Charlie Williams, Ed Holmes, Dr. Johnson, Frank Renshaw, and more.

Thediaries are in fair shape because the covers are very worn, torn andstained. The cover is pulling away from the first diary but the pageslook good. The pages and binding in the second diary look good also.The scrapbook is in good shape as is the ephemera. Much of theephemera is loose. The scrapbook itself measures about 10” x 12”.