The Journal of Charles Rawn
April 1, 1860 to September 30, 1860 (Book 26)

Edited by Kim Hostetter

This master’s thesis will examine a six month period from the 26th volume of the journal of Charles C. Rawn, attorney in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, from April 1 to September 30, 1860. From this record of everyday life there is a glimpse of how the mid-to-upper class lived in Harrisburg in the mid-nineteenth century, through Rawn’s daily activities, circles of friends, acquaintances and colleagues, and his opinions in various situations. In viewing some of these activities, the model was used of Michael Zuckerman’s research on the William Byrd diary.1

Charles Cotesworth Rawn was 57 years old at the outset of this section of his journal, and would turn 58 on July 30, 1860. His wife, Frances Peacock Clendenin Rawn was 45 years old at the time, and they had been married for 27 years. In Boyd’s Harrisburg Directory for the year 1860 the Rawns were listed as living at 7 Market Square in Harrisburg, with Rawn’s law office at the same address. The couple had three surviving children at that time: Charles C. Rawn, Jr., who was 22 years old and a student at Princeton, John Calvin Rawn who was aged 14, and Frances Clendenin Rawn, known as "Fanny", who was 11 years old. Also living in the Rawn household was Rawn’s unmarried sister Juliana, who was 59 years of age.2 There is also reference on September 4th in this section of the memoir about the Rawns having a dog named Jack.

Charles Rawn was born in Washington, D. C. on July 30, 1802, the son of David Rawn and Elizabeth Cheyney.3 When Rawn was seven years old his father passed away and his mother moved the family to Delaware County in Pennsylvania. After graduating from the West Chester Academy, Rawn moved to Harrisburg in 1826 to study law with Francis R. Shunk, who was later Governor of Pennsylvania and who was Rawn’s cousin.4

Frances P. Clendenin was born on February 16, 1815 and was educated at Harrisburg. She married Charles Rawn on May 25, 1833, and the couple had seven children, only three of whom survived to adulthood. The eldest surviving child, Charles C. Rawn, was born on December 16, 1837 and lived until October 6, 1887. A graduate of Princeton, Charles enlisted in the army during the Civil War and continued a military career afterward, achieving the rank of Major, and was cited for bravery at The Battle of Little Big Horn.5

John Calvin Rawn was born on July 4, 1846, and was educated at the Harrisburg Academy, where he excelled at sports. After attending Princeton like his older brother, John Calvin became an engineer in charge of railroad and other construction projects. He married and became manager of the Roanoke Gas and Water Company. Frances Clendenin Rawn was born in Harrisburg on April 18, 1849, and attended school at the Ivy Hall Seminary in Brighton, New Jersey. She married and had three children. In her later years her brother John Calvin lived with her until her death in 1920, and he then went to live with Fanny’s niece until his death on October 3, 1926.6

The daily entries in Rawn’s memoirs are consistently formatted, with the date listed first, followed by the day of the week, with Sunday indicated as the first day, Monday as 2, Tuesday as 3, and so on. He typically first comments on the daily weather, then often details money spent on that particular day. Rawn is meticulous in his record keeping, seeming to account for every penny spent. On Market days every purchase is listed with the amount paid for that item, and the total calculated for the day’s expenditures. He also kept records on clients he saw on that particular day, fees collected, and court cases with which he was involved. Rawn made note of meetings he attended, political functions, as well as social functions. He faithfully attended church and often recorded the text upon which the sermon was based upon, and his opinion of the minister and the sermon. Rawn also carefully recorded his daily walks, marking the times of day he walked and the approximate distances traveled, as well as mentioning any companions who may have accompanied him. He also noted the time he went to bed each night.

Rawn did not take his walk every single day, sometimes unable to due to ill health, business concerns, or inclement weather. When Rawn did record his mileage for the day, he sometimes estimated, often citing having gone "3 ½ to 5 miles." Taking the highest estimate into account, for the month of April, 1860, Rawn logged a total of 77 miles, an average of 2.56 miles per day. The following month he totaled 91.5 miles, and in June he walked 89.5 miles, an average of almost 3 miles per day for those two months. In July his mileage declined slightly, to 81 miles and an average of 2.61 miles per day, and in August it was down to 76 miles and 2.45 miles per day. In September Rawn walked only 60.5 miles that month, for an average of just over 2 miles per day. For the period of these six months, Rawn averaged walking 2.59 miles daily.

Rawn’s walks seemed to not only be for exercise, but had a social aspect to them as well. He often cites a companion or two on his walks, or mentions people he happened upon while walking, and who accompanied him on part of his walk. Sometimes his walking companion was his son John Calvin, and occasionally his son Charles, when he was home from Princeton for the summer. Rawn’s daughter Fanny was mentioned a few times as accompanying him, but only on rare occasions does Mrs. Rawn join him. Friends who are more frequently cited as joining him on walks are a Mr. Connor, who was a clerk at the Auditor General’s office, and also Mrs. David A. S. Eyster, wife of the sheriff, who generally was accompanied by her mother, Mrs. Blessing. Rawn’s walks often took him out on the Ridge Road, to Harrisburg Park, and near the water basin and the Pennsylvania Railroad Round House.

A regular habit for the Rawn household was to attend Market on every Wednesday and Saturday. On most days Mrs. Rawn did the shopping, but occasionally Rawn mentions going himself. Purchases at the Market were consistent throughout the six months in some cases, and in others reflected the availability of seasonal fruits and vegetables. Items that were bought on a weekly basis included butter, eggs, and the Pennsylvania Dutch delicacy of smear case (schmierkase). Meats such as beef, veal, and mutton were purchased at Market from the butcher John Casey, who was also mentioned in the diary several times as a friend of Rawn’s. Another item purchased frequently appears to be "twist bread", although the handwriting is difficult to discern.

In April and May the Rawns were buying herring and halibut at Market, as well as potatoes, rutabagas, and dried apples, showing that produce available at that time would have been that which could have been kept over the winter months. The Rawns were able to buy onions starting in May. The month of June brought about the availability of other foods Mrs. Rawn was able to find at Market, such as strawberries, salad (lettuce), asparagus, cabbage, rhubarb, peas, beets, and at the end of the month, cherries. In July they were buying raspberries, blackberries, tomatoes, beans, cucumbers, squash, and by the end of the month corn was available as well. At the end of August and into September the Rawns were also able to obtain sweet potatoes, melons, and apples.

Rawn makes diligent note of other food purchases as well, although it is unclear if he himself bought the items, or if Mrs. Rawn did the shopping. Occasionally he will make note of sending John Calvin to pick up something at a store. Local businesses mentioned as being patronized by the Rawns included Robinson’s Store, Boas and Forster’s, Roumfort’s Bakery, and stores operated by Bell, Lutz, and Reel. Items purchased in stores by the Rawns included brown and white sugar, coffee, tea, crackers, segars (cigars), soap, and candles. Occasionally Rawn mentions buying licorice and pretzels. He also bought flour, milk, and ice from individual sellers.

Rawn was careful to account for every penny spent on food and to make note of any extra Market money that Mrs. Rawn would "keep for her own use", even if the amount was as little as three cents. On July 4th the family was to attend a picnic, and Mrs. Rawn did the usual Market shopping that morning. In his diary Rawn complained about the uselessness of buying food he felt would go to waste. He noted on that day Mrs. Rawn had bought 2 lbs. butter, ½ lb. potatoes, cheese, cherries, beets, smear case, beans, peas, twist bread, 4 lbs. of veal, and calf’s pluck. He wrote that he considered this "a very indiscreet marketing for this day", noting that the entire family, except for his sister Juliana and his hired woman, would be away, and "hence the chances are in favour of waste, spoliation and deterioration." He added that "some people cannot help this way of doing things when other folks pay the piper."

In other entries Rawn eludes to choices his wife had made with which he apparently did not agree. On August 1st he complains about having to pay forty cents to his neighbor, Emma Hummel, for some "very poor" cider vinegar that was "got by my wife." A little over a week later, on the 9th , Rawn states that his wife went with Mr. and Mrs. Josiah Espy to a picnic at the Paxton Church, and adds "everyone to his liking."

Rawn rarely mentions his wife in this section of the diary, except to note when she went to Market, or helped out at the church, or when they attended church, a social function, or visited a friend together. As was typical during the mid-nineteenth century, he always refers to her as "Mrs. Rawn" rather than Frances. Perhaps it was his sense of Victorian restraint that prevented him from writing of his wife with notes of fondness. If so, his sense of restraint certainly had lapsed on July 12th, when he wrote of helping the Rev. Mr. Cattell to move into a new house on Front Street. Rev. Cattell had just been appointed the new pastor at the Presbyterian Church where the Rawns worshiped, and a number of church members were helping the Reverend and his wife to settle into their new house. Also present was Mrs. Cattell’s half sister, Mrs. W. Kean, who seems to have captured Rawn’s great admiration. He wrote that she "appears to be a thorough going, practical, sensible young woman and with all rather comely." He continued by praising her easy going manner and "practical demeanor in the midst of strangers as though she had known us all for years," which "settled my opinion of her at once." Rawn further noted that "It did not take me five minutes to put her down in my judgement No. 1 and a body that would make a loveable and first rate wife." He then catches himself by adding "Whew! What if she knew I had so written of her." It may have been worse had Mrs. Rawn known what he had so written about her.

Rawn does not seem to have written with much affection about his children either, although he does seem to have been indulgent of his sons’ hunting trips. He makes note of receiving letters from Charles when he was away at Princeton, and was generous with giving him money when his son was home that summer from college. Charles and John Calvin both would go on hunting trips with their friends, and Rawn would give them money for ammunition and other supplies, and travel expenses. On one occasion, on September 21st, Rawn took along John Calvin and John’s friend, Lyman Gilbert, to Dauphin for a combination business trip and "gaming excursion." Charles and John Calvin are also mentioned at times as helping their father do work at some of his real estate holdings. Fanny is not mentioned very often, except for the occasional time when she would accompany her father on a walk. She is more often mentioned in passing as going somewhere with her mother. When the family attended a picnic on August 2nd at the "Old Derry Presbyterian Church", Rawn mentions that Fanny "was at me" for sometime for a carriage ride, so he hired a carriage to take them to the picnic. Neither Fanny’s birthday on April 18th or John Calvin’s on July 4th are made mention of in the diary. (Nor does Rawn note his own birthday on July 30) The only time in this section of the diary that any of Rawn’s children are complimented by their father is on April 12th, at the examination for Seiler’s school, where Rawn noted that "John Calvin did admirably."

If Rawn showed restraint in complimenting and speaking positively of his family, he could be very explicit when speaking of or to someone who angered him. While taking his daily walk on June 26, he was confronted on the street by a man named Wenrich, who was the supervisor of the North Ward. They had a "wordy encounter" in which Wenrich "attacked" Rawn about filling up the street at his State Street property where there had been a problem with a hydrant. Rawn said "I soon however shut him up . . . it was not my business but his to keep the street in order."

Rawn apparently did not like two of the men who were also on his church’s Board of Trustees, Donald Cameron and Henry McCormick. At a committee meeting on July 16, Rawn complains that "I considered some manifestation of temper, disputation, and dogmatism on part of Donald Cameron especially and Henry McCormick as rather vindictive and intended for severity or insult." There were also occasions where he became angered in business dealings, such as when his ice deliveries stopped. Apparently he had not been paying his ice bill because the ice man still owed him money for legal services. When he stopped receiving his ice, Rawn declared "They shall have my bills." Rawn also had no use for Masons, as he noted on August 7th as he was in attendance at the laying of the cornerstone for the new Court House. In the course of various addresses, one man’s speech consisted of "masonic flummeries" which Rawn termed "ridiculous" and "more astonishing and awe inspiring perhaps to themselves [Masons] than everybody else."

Rawn also did not hesitate to give his opinion when he didn’t like something, such as noting that the new front windows in the newly built Presbyterian Church were too flamboyant for his tastes. At a piano recital given by two teenage nieces of George Small, Rawn noted that while they played "the most difficult operatic pieces, waltzes &c together on the piano at the same time, I cannot appreciate it as music, which I understand to be a concord of sweet sounds, a melody that moves the heart, but this scientific playing . . . should have another name or a quasi preceding the word music, making it to read ‘as of music’." Of the County Fair held in September, and at which Rawn exhibited some of the grapes he had grown, he said it was "a most miserable and ridiculous failure," complaining that the fair had too many curiosities and not enough displays in keeping with an agricultural fair. He dubbed it "the most ridiculous pretense that could well be attempted and admission money taken for."

Rawn did have a lighter side, and although he may not have been the socialite he was in his younger days, he still enjoyed entertainment and outings. He enjoyed attending the strawberry festival at his church, where the family was treated to strawberries and ice cream. He and his wife attended some school exercises, and he praised the efforts of the young students. At John Calvin’s school on April 12 he said that the scholars performed well and gave credit to Mr. Seiler for "a remarkably fine, intelligent and healthy set of young chaps, generally 14 and 15 years old." On July 12 the Rawn family attended a singing concert of the South Ward Common Schools, where 50 to 60 girls and 30 boys performed, all aged between 9 and 15 years. Rawn noted the performances were "highly creditable", and that the girls looked so nice, dressed "neatly and handsomely" in white dresses with wreaths and bouquets of flowers.

A highlight for Rawn during this time must have been the Farmer’s Picnic he and his family attended on August 2nd, at "The Old Derry Presbyterian Church." He wrote in great detail of the day and the carriage ride out to the site. Rawn was impressed by the old church itself, which was somewhat of a relic at that time, "a dilapidated frame building" which Rawn judged to be 141 years old, according to some tombstones in the church. In addition to describing the church and parsonage, Rawn was awed by the creek and nearby spring, which was the "largest and clearest I ever saw," and there the family enjoyed their picnic lunch of ham, mutton, bread, crackers, cheese, and blackberry preserves with cold spring water. Rawn estimated that there were 2,000 to 4,000 people at the picnic, and noted that they met many acquaintances there. A band played a concert, while a small orchestra played for couples who wished to dance, and there were various games, plays, singing, an auction, and "all imaginable modes of fun and frolic that the genius of the crowd and convenience of the place and the occasion would scare up." Buying ice cream for his family, Rawn noted that stands sold "ice cream, lemonade, cakes, confectionary, and thing generally to take inwardly, for the good or ill of the stomach."

In April Rawn also enjoyed attending a series of lectures on phrenology conducted by a Mr. Fowler. The series took place on five consecutive nights, from April 23-27, and Rawn attended all of them. He stated in his diary that "I am a firm believer in the science of it may be so called of practical and experimental evidence of the truth of phrenology." At the opening lecture Mr. Fowler took four subjects from the audience who "had their heads examined" which Rawn noted was "much to the satisfaction and delight of the audience acquainted with the subjects."

Rawn also showed some compassion for the people he hired to work for him at his own home and at other properties he owned. He meticulously records in his journal the work that was done on a certain property, who did the work, and how much they were paid. Sometimes he mentions that a worker took his meals at his house, such as Samuel Burton, a laborer who often appears in diary entries. Rawn also makes note of giving Burton articles of clothing and food when working for him. On one or two occasions he bought some extra meat at the Market and gave it to his hired hand.

The Rawns also employed a hired woman, who worked for them and lived in their house. At the beginning of this section of the diary Mary Gately worked for them, and Rawn wrote of her with compassion when she was about to leave their employ. On June 18th he noted that Mary Gately had been with them for 44 weeks, since last August 15th, and that he was giving her final pay to her that day. "She leaves this afternoon specially on account of late disagreements between her and Mrs. Rawn. She is perhaps an unfortunate and much to be pitied woman in her temper . . . but she is [an] intelligent, faithful woman and remarkably regular in her home comings in the evening having I think not been out beyond and seldom as late as 9 o’clock since she has lived with us. Her sympathies at times appear commendably if not unusually acute but she appears to me to labour under a kind of morbid ill temper or dissatisfaction with the world or some of its society not omitting her own kindred. I pity and feel for her and hence have guardedly avoided . . . saying anything to wound her feelings. She left me with kindly feeling and expression of many thanks." Mary left for another position, and two days later the Rawns hired Nora Barry, "an Irish woman aged about 58 years or upwards, of good countenance and mild manners and behavior."

Rawn also expressed sentiment when a friend passed away. He was particularly moved by the passing of Mrs. Ellen Whitehall on May 23rd. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church and active in the Sunday School and in charitable activities. The day he heard of her death Rawn wrote that "She will be greatly missed and sincerely mourned, but doubtless . . . she has been entered upon a blessed exchange." At her funeral Rawn said that "My heart felt very sad as it has since her death and I have found myself often lead to shed tears of heartfelt sorrow."

When Rawn’s neighbor, David Hummel, died at the end of June, he helped out Hummel’s daughter by buying a table she was selling, even though he said he really didn’t need it. He also expressed sorrow for the death of Rev. Mr. Winebrenner, who died on September 13, and asked after his son John, who was a classmate of Charles Rawn at Princeton.

Rawn was very regular about attending church services, on Sunday morning and Sunday evening, at the First Presbyterian Church, located on Market Square. He seldom missed a service, except due to illness. He usually wrote in detail of the sermons he heard at each service, discussing the delivery style of the ministers and making note of the text upon which they based their sermons. Rawn was also on the Board of Trustees for his church, on the building committee to oversee the construction of a new church building, and was the church treasurer, a position from which he wanted to resign on September 7th, but was persuaded by the board to continue in the position for the time being.

Rawn also used his diary to record information about court cases he was involved in, and to note meetings with his clients. He would specify the times he was in court, and wrote about the building of a new Court House. Rawn noted other attorneys he worked with, both friend and foe, and made his opinions known on the judges he encountered.

He was also politically active, attending a meeting of "The People’s Party" to ratify the nomination of Abraham Lincoln for President and Hannibal Hamlin for Vice President. Rawn discussed the city election held in April, referring to the Democratic Party as "The Nigger Party" and charged them with being pro-slavery. He claimed to have voted the People’s Party ticket "out and out" in the local election. In September Rawn went to Buehler’s Hotel to attend a speech by Presidential candidate Steven Douglass, but was disappointed because he couldn’t hear anything due to the large crowd. Later that same month Rawn attended a "Grand Display of the Republican Party Wide Awakes", and heard several speakers, particularly being impressed by Carl Schurz of Wisconsin, whom he described as "a fine speaker, logical and of the keen and sarcasm and ridicule. He shows ripe scholarship and an intimate acquaintance with human nature."7

Other than the political references above, Rawn does not mention race or slavery very often in this particular section of his diary, although he had a reputation as an abolitionist. He does mention on June 18, during a walk with a Mr. Esh, that they talked "approvingly and pleasantly about the court’s conservative and quiet position on the subject of slavery." He also points out when he is referring to "a black fellow", such as Oscar, a hired man of the Warfords, or "a yellow man" named Owen Blue who was a laborer, and his son Ben. Blue as "a yellow boy." One of his clients, John H. Dickerson, was identified as "colored" and was seeking an assault and battery charge against a German man who attacked his daughter, Adella. Rawn wrote of his experience in court that there was a "considerable crowd present and the justice as usual considerably pompous, dumb, heady, cost seeking and trying to go it to please a crowd of Dutch and oppress a Negro girl and her father or to smother their rights." The trial did, however, go Rawn’s way.

Another aspect of Rawn’s life that seemed to be particularly important to him was to acquire various properties in Harrisburg and to rent them out. Much of his time is chronicled as being spent purchasing the properties at auction, sprucing them up, and renting them. He makes careful note at the end of each month of the month collected from his renters. In July he paid taxes on his properties, one of which was his own home "in the 2nd Ward, from Market Square to Raspberry Alley." He also owned a property on West State Street, rented to David Peelor, and a property on North Street rented by the Malay brothers. Three separate properties on East State Street were rented to Looker, Daily, and Fry and Leger. There is also reference to "my Cunkle lot" at West Avenue and Reservoir, and a warehouse rented to Boas. At the end of June he had also purchased a house that was part of Caroline Hopple’s estate, and he spent a good deal of time and money making improvements on the place.

One aspect of Rawn’s journal that was similar to that of William Byrd’s is his discussion of his illnesses. Rawn, like Byrd, is very explicit when writing about his own illness, but barely mentions sickness in other family members.8 At the beginning of April Rawn is unwell and goes into great detail about his "cold, irritation in the throat, soreness and aching in the limbs, &c," as well as describing the visit from Dr. Charlton on the 9th, how he was examined, and how the doctor found inflammation in his right lung. He also goes into detail about how Dr. Charlton was an associate of a Dr. Parrcourt in Philadelphia, and Rawn was interested in Parrcourt’s medical theories as related to Rawn’s own health. At the same time Rawn was chronicling his own health, Fanny was sick as well, but he only mentions "Daughter Fanny also at home all day with cold, coughing a good deal being the chief ailment." Later, at the end of June, Rawn mentions that Mrs. Rawn was feeling unwell, "from eating cold veal at tea." Presumably both Fanny and Mrs. Rawn recovered quickly, but Rawn does not mention either illness further.

In editing this section of Charles Rawn’s journal, every effort was made to decipher Rawn’s handwriting and abbreviations. The model followed was Mary-Jo Kline’s Guide to Documentary Editing, and the goal was to make the journal as easily readable as possible, in keeping with Rawn’s original intentions.9 Rawn’s system of dates was followed, as listing the date and day of the week by a number, but continuation of dates over a page break were omitted for ease of reading. Abbreviations are written out as much as possible, and punctuation sometimes added for clarity. Rawn would often make a dash where a comma or period should be, or simply wrote without punctuation. Also, prices and lists of items purchased were written in sometimes neatly, and sometimes haphazardly within the text, so an effort was made to separate them from the text for better legibility.

The diary of Charles Rawn provides an interesting insight into everyday life in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in the mid- nineteenth century. Rawn kept track of everything from his mundane daily shopping purchases, miles walked, and the time he went to bed, to his dealings with a variety of people, from family members, friends, and hired hands, to clients and colleagues. He kept a record of his business dealings, but also a record of important things happening in his life. His church was important to him, his family outings, and taking care of his properties. Money was surely important to him, since he kept such exact records of his income and expenditures. He also makes note of significant events, such as ratifying Lincoln’s nomination, or going to Stephan A. Douglass’ speech. Rawn’s journal is a chronicle of both the ordinary and the extraordinary.

Footnotes

1 - Michael Zuckerman, "William Byrd’s Family," Perspectives in American History, ed. Donald Fleming, Volume XII (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1979), pp. 253-311.

2 - Harrisburg City Census, 1860 - copy in Rawn Family Folder at Dauphin County Historical Society.

3 - Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania (Chambersburg, PA: Runk and Co., 1896), 940.

4 - William Henry Egle, History of Dauphin and Lebanon Counties in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia: Evert and Peck, 1883), 529. Francis Rawn Shunk (1788-1848) was Governor of Pennsylvania 1845-1848.

5 - Cooke, Anne Brown Rawn, Hannum Connection to the Rawn Family through the Cheney Connection (printed by the author) 2.

6 - Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County Pennsylvania, p. 940, and John Calvin Rawn Obituary, newspaper clipping, Rawn Family Folder, Dauphin County Historical Society.

7 - Carl Schurz (1829-1906) was a German immigrant who achieved the rank of Major General during the Civil War, and commanded a division in the Union’s 11th Corps at Gettysburg. He later became a U. S. Senator and was Secretary of the Interior during the Rutherford B. Hayes administration.

8 - Zuckerman.

9 - Kline, Mary-Jo, A Guide to Documentary Editing (Baltimore and London: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1998), p.104.

The Journal

Transcriptions for this section of the journal begin April 1, 1860 and end September 30, 1860. Click on a date to begin reading.

List of Businesses Mentioned

(Information in brackets is taken from the 1860 Boyd’s Directory of Harrisburg)

  • Bell’s Store - Rawn bought sugar there [Bell and Brother, George H. Bell and William H. Bell, were grocers at South Second St.]
  • Beyner’s - Book store
  • Blanchard, H. B. and Co. - Of Philadelphia, worked on new pews for Presbyterian Church
  • Buehler’s Hotel
  • Calder’s Livery Stable
  • Cornelius and Co. - Of Philadelphia, hung chandeliers for Presbyterian Church
  • Coverly’s Hotel - On Market Square
  • Dock Store
  • Gross (?) and Kunkle’s Store
  • Herr’s Hotel - At Market and Third
  • Hite’s Place
  • Hoffman’s Hotel - Owned by Jacob D. Hoffman, on Market St. Near Fourth]
  • Holman and Muench - Stables
  • Houser and L’s - Rawn bought hose for his son Charles [Jacob Houser and Augustus Lochman had a clothing store at 15 Market Square]
  • Huntzberger’s - Rawn bought sugar there
  • Kelly, Philip F. and Co - Of Philadelphia
  • Kunkle and Muench
  • Loeffler’s - Druggist [William Loeffler had a store on Market at the corner of Fourth]
  • Lutz’s - Rawn bought licorice there
  • Niberim and Co - Rawn bought box blacking there
  • Pollock’s - Rawn bought writing sand there [E.M. Pollock was a stationer at 9 Market St.]
  • Reel’s Store - At North West corner of State and Third Streets
  • Robinson’s Store - Rawn bought sugar there [A. Robinson and Co. Store owned by Alfred Robinson and H.T. White. Their grocery was located on Canal Street]
  • Roumfort’s - Rawn bought crackers there [Roumfort and Brother, owned by Charles E. And Henry J. Roumfort, was a bakery on South Fourth St. at the corner of Chestnut]
  • Shartz’s Livery

Finances

September 1
Paid - $2.34 for groceries and newspaper, $3.00 to Nora Barry, hired woman
Received - $7.00 for rent from Malay, $405.33 from Dauphin Deposit Bank for special deposit and interest

September 3
Paid - .23 to John Casey for meat, .25 to Mrs. Rawn for her own use

September 4
Paid - $1.63 for groceries, .10 for copy book for Fanny

September 5
Paid - .38 for sugar and spices, $1.50 for gas bill

September 6
Paid - .25 for crackers, .08 for powder for John Calvin

September 7
Paid - $1.60 for groceries and newspaper

September 11
Paid - .22 for sugar, .13 for black tea, .09 for burning fluid, $1.00 for exhibition ticket to County Agricultural Fair, $333.80 balance on purchase of Caroline Hopple property

September 12
Paid - .94 for groceries, .72 for beef, .10 for John Calvin and .25 for Mrs. Rawn’s entrance to County Fair, $4.64 property taxes

September 13
Paid - .38 for sugar, .18 to John Calvin
Received - .82 for interest on Bates lot, $5.00 counseling fee from George Hain, client

September 15
Paid - $3.48 for groceries

September 17
Paid - .06 for Public Ledger, .06 for Daily Telegraph, .11 for sugar, .11 for envelopes and writing sand
Received - $9.00 counseling fee from Roger Sheehy, client

September 19
Paid - .61 for groceries, .79 for sugar, $8.32 to Peter Myers for shoemaking and mending, .30 to Fanny to buy a singing note book. .10 to John Calvin to buy powder and shot
Received - $3.50 from Fry and Leger for one month’s rent

September 20
Paid - $2.40 for one month’s worth of milk
Received - $5.00 counseling fee from John H. Dickerson, client

September 21
Paid - $1.50 at Calder’s Livery for horse and carriage for business trip and gaming excursion, .50 at a tavern for lunch for Rawn, John Calvin, and Lyman Gilbert

September 25
Received - $2.50 from Philip Hoke for professional services regarding a will

September 26
Paid - $2.45 for groceries
Received - 3 lbs. potatoes from Philip Hoke as payment on balance of his counseling fee of $3.00

September 27
Paid - .54 for sugar, .59 for spices, mustard, pepper &c., .12 for two dozen corks, $17.00 for pew rent at church

September 28
Paid - $1.60 to Mr. Hummer for 10 gallons of cider vinegar, .10 for begonia

September 29
Paid - $1.16 for groceries
Received - $7.00 from Daily for one month’s rent

Total Expenditures for the Month of September - $396.53

Total Income for the Month of September - $447.33

List of Names Mentioned

  • Aaron, Mr. - Of Norristown
  • Allen - Sold cure-alls
  • Alricks, Herman - Lawyer [lived at 64 Market St.]
  • Alricks, Jacob - Client
  • Ankvar, John
  • Armberger, I. - Keeps "Hocker’s Old Tavern"
  • Arnold, Mr.
  • Auchmunty, Esq. - Of Millersburg
  • Backus, Rev. Dr. John C. - Of Baltimore
  • Bailey, Dr. - On committee at phrenology lecture
  • Barr, W. - Auctioneer [Washington Barr had an auction store on North Second St.]
  • Barry, Nora - Cleaning woman [Honora Barry, a domestic, lived at North Front St., above Pine]
  • Beamon - Judge
  • Beatty, Ellen - Mrs. Beatty’s sister
  • Beatty, Mrs. - Mrs. Rawn’s sister
  • Behne, Dr. - Involved in court case
  • Bennett, Mr. - "Painter, penciller, and crayoner"
  • Berghares, Bob – Friend of John Calvin Rawn
  • Berndes - [Anton Berndes was a pedlar]
  • Bertram, Rev. William - Died in 1740, tombstone mentioned
  • Bickel, Mrs. - Client
  • Black, Miss - Member of Rawn’s church
  • Black, Mrs. - Member of Rawn’s church
  • Blackford, Rev. Mr. and wife - Missionaries to Brazil
  • Blair, Frank - Of Missouri
  • Blanchard, Joseph
  • Blessing, Frederick - Mrs. Blessing’s son, owned ice cream shop on Front St.
  • Blessing, Mrs. - Friend and mother of Mrs. D. A. S. Eyster
  • Blever, William
  • Blue, Ben - "Yellow boy" who did work for Rawn
  • Blue, Owen - "Yellow man"
  • Boak, Dervis - Sold plum trees
  • Boas, C. A. - Friend of Rawn’s sons
  • Boas, Charles A. - Rented one of Rawn’s properties
  • Boas, Charles N. and wife
  • Boas, D. D. - Inquiring about house [Daniel D. Owned lumber yard on Canal St.]
  • Bonnizer - Involved in court case
  • Book, Lewis - Storekeeper
  • Bostian
  • Bower, Michael
  • Bowman, David
  • Bowman, John
  • Bowerman, Mrs. Margaret - Wife of Solomon Bowerman
  • Boyd, James Esq. - Of Norristown
  • Boyd, Mr. - The jailer
  • Brenneman, Mrs. Margaret
  • Briggs, John H., Esq. - Lawyer
  • Brinzer, John C.
  • Brown, Otis - Client
  • Brown, Sylvester - Of Buffalo
  • Brown, William H.
  • Buehler, William - Treasurer of Harrisburg Cotton Company
  • Bullock, M. - Client
  • Burd, Margaret - Deceased, Rawn handled her estate
  • Burn, Dr. - Subject at phrenology lecture
  • Burnett, Augustus - Sold flannel [he had a dry goods store at 50 South Second St.]
  • Burnsides, Mrs. - Wife of judge
  • Burt, Rev. Mr. - Of Baltimore
  • Burton, Samuel - Laborer
  • Burrows, Thomas H. - State Superintendent of Common Schools
  • Byers, Eby - Sold coal [his business was at Chestnut and Maiden Lane]
  • Cameron, Donald
  • Cameron, General
  • Cameron, J. D.
  • Carey, Mr. - Client
  • Cartleman, Mr. - Preacher at Episcopal Church
  • Casey, Michael - Client
  • Casey, Mrs. Joseph, Esq.
  • Casey, John - Butcher [business on East State St.]
  • Cattell, Rev. W. C. - Pastor at Rawn’s church
  • Chandler, Mr. - "Clerk on the hill"
  • Charleton, Mrs. - Member of Rawn’s church
  • Charlton, Dr. - Rawn’s physician [Dr. Samuel T. Charlton lived at 8 South Market St.]
  • Clark, Miss A. - Friend
  • Coesher, William H. - "Plummer" [business and home 38 South Second St.
  • Cole, Emerson - Of Middleton
  • Colmer - Laborer
  • Connor, Mr. - Friend and frequent companion on Rawn’s walks [Charles Connor a clerk at the auditor general’s office, and lived at the State Capitol Hotel]
  • Connor, William - Client
  • Copernhager - A performer
  • Coverly - Client
  • Cox, John B. - Owned saw mill
  • Cowden, John W., Esq.
  • Creswell, Miss - Member of Rawn’s church
  • Criswell, Mr.
  • Cruikshank, John - [Painter, lived at corner of Pine Street and Raspberry Alley]
  • Cullen
  • Cunkle, George - Sold sack coat
  • Cunkle, John - Carpenter
  • Cunkle, L. G. - Worked on chandeliers at church
  • Cure, John
  • Custow, Mrs.
  • Dailey, James - Tenant [laborer]
  • Daugherty, Philip
  • Davis - Helper for Cruikshank
  • Davis, Rev. Mr. - Of Middletown
  • DeWitt, John - Student at Princeton
  • DeWitt, Rev. Mr. - [Rev. William DeWitt, State Librarian]
  • Dickerson, Adella - Client and daughter of John H. Dickerson
  • Dickerson, John H. - Client "colored man"
  • Douglass, S. A. - Stephan A. Douglass, candidate for U.S. President
  • Doyle, Thomas and wife Bridget - Of Doylestown
  • Duncan, Thomas
  • Dreer, H. A. - Seedman, Philadelphia
  • Eberly, Christopher F.
  • Eby, Samuel
  • Edwards - Tenant
  • Elder, Scott - Friend of John Calvin Rawn
  • Elder, Tom - Friend of John Calvin Rawn
  • Emerson, George R. - Client
  • Emmsinger – Auctioneer, "a cryer"
  • Erwin, Daniel – Client, "a blind man"
  • Esh, Rev. Dr. - Of Carlisle
  • Espy, Josiah
  • Espy, Mrs. James S.
  • Etter, B. F. - "My colleague"
  • Eyster, Mrs. D. A. S. - Friend and occasional companion on walks [married to Sheriff David A. S. Eyster]
  • Eyster, Mr. D. W.
  • Eyster, Mary - Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. D. A. S. Eyster
  • Eyster, Mr. and Mrs. J. N. and daughter
  • Eyster, Sheriff - Friend [David A. S. Eyster was Deputy Sheriff and lived on North Third St.]
  • Eyster, Mr. W.
  • Fager, Al
  • Fahnestock, Henry - Client
  • Faley, Thomas
  • Feltwell, Rev. Mr.
  • File, Mrs. Anna Maria - Tenant
  • Fisher, Mrs. - Tenant in "Hopple House" when Rawn purchased it
  • Fleck, Susan - Client
  • Flemming, David – Lawyer
  • Forster
  • Forster, W. - Client
  • Fortney
  • Fowler, Mr. - Of New York, a phrenologist
  • Fox, John H. - Bidder at auction [farmer, lived on Pine St.]
  • Fox, Peter - Philip Hoke’s father-in-law
  • Freas, John - Sold soap [chandler, 80 Chestnut St.]
  • Freas, P. R. - Editor of German Telegraph
  • Freeland, Charles
  • Freeman, James A. - Philadelphia
  • Freis - Sold lime
  • Fry, George W. - Tenant and laborer
  • Galbraith, Mr. - Died 1744, mention of tombstone
  • Gale, Robert - A laborer and coal man, son-in-law of "Old Dr. Billy Jones" [William M. Jones]
  • Garberich - Carpenter [John Garberich lived on High St.]
  • Gately, Mary - Hired woman
  • Gemmel, R. B.
  • Gibson, John, Esq. - Of York
  • Gilbert, Lyman - Son of Henry Lyman, friend of John Calvin Rawn
  • Gildea, Mrs. Anna - Sister of Mrs. Blessing
  • Giles, John - Client
  • Ginter, Henry
  • Gray, Alexander
  • Grayson, H. M.
  • Gurley, Rev. Dr. - Of Washington City
  • Hain, George - Client
  • Hake, Elias - Of York
  • Haldeman, John H., Esq. - Member of Rawn’s church
  • Hallowen, Mr. John
  • Hamilton, Boyd
  • Hamilton, Mrs. - Member of Rawn’s church
  • Hamlin - Hannibal Hamlin, Lincoln’s Vice Presidential running mate in 1860
  • Hand, Rev. A. H. - Of Easton
  • Harris, Mr. and Mrs. G. W., Esq. - Friends [lived on South Second St.]
  • Harrison
  • Hay, Mr.
  • Hays, Miss - Member of Rawn’s church
  • Heik, Mrs. Susan - Daughter of John Fry
  • Heikart, Frederick - Democratic candidate for mayor of Harrisburg
  • Heming, D., Esq.
  • Henrich, Joseph, Jr.
  • Henry
  • Henry, L. M. O. - Involved in tax sale
  • Henry, Mrs. Mary - House cleaner
  • Hermandorfer, Mr. - Client, journeyman butcher
  • Herr, Mrs. - Client
  • Hetterman, James - Tenant, Irish
  • Hirtens, General
  • Hoffman, Daniel - Carpenter [Daniel Hoffman lived on North St.]
  • Hoffman, H. W. - Sold milk
  • Hoffman, Jacob D. - Hotel owner [on Market St., north of Fourth St.]
  • Hohnman, Samuel - Lawyer
  • Hoke, Philip - Client
  • Holman - Contractor
  • Hopple, Mrs. Caroline - Deceased, Rawn handles her estate
  • Hopple, John
  • Houser, Jacob - South Ward Director
  • Horning, Rainhart
  • Howard, Samuel - Involved in tax sale
  • Hoxie, Mr. - Architect, drew up plans for new Court House
  • Hummel, David - Neighbor, deceased [David Hummel lived at 5 Market Square]
  • Hummel, Emma - David Hummel’s daughter
  • Hummel, Peter - Clerk of sale [Peter Hummel was recorder and clerk at Orphan’s Court]
  • Hummel, Susan - David Hummel’s daughter
  • Hummer, Benjamin - Son of John Hummer
  • Hummer, John - Sold flour
  • Jordans, Thomas J.
  • Kean, Mrs. W.
  • Keenan - Client
  • Kelker
  • Kelker, R. F.
  • Kemp, Mrs. - The former Agnes Sanders or Saunders
  • Kepner - Candidate for Mayor
  • Ker, Rev. John
  • Killinger, Hon. John
  • Kingston, Oliver Saxton - Of Cumberland County
  • Kinney, Mr. M.
  • Kipple, Peter - Client
  • Kippler, Peter - Tax collector for Borough of Dauphin
  • Kirwin, Dr.
  • Kline - Alderman
  • Kline, Peter - Of Lykens
  • Kline, William - Storekeeper
  • Knoche, Mr. - Piano player [William Knoche, piano-fortes, lived at 92 Market St.]
  • Knox, George W.
  • Knox, Mrs. Sarah (Sally) - Vendor at Market and client [widow of George Knox, lived on North Fourth St.]
  • Kunkle, Christian W.
  • Kunkle, Ely - Sold cigars
  • Kunkle, John C. - Lawyer [office on North Third St., lived on Front St.]
  • Lamberton, N. A.
  • Lamberton, Bob - A member of the Masons [Robert Lamberton, lawyer, lived at 44 North Second St.]
  • Lawrence, W. C. A. - Deceased [lawyer, business on Market Square, lived on North Third St.]
  • Leas, Mr. - Lawyer from Mechanicsburg
  • Lees - Coach trimmer, subject at phrenology lecture
  • Leger, James H. - Tenant
  • Lefever, Rev. Mr.
  • Lehman, Mary - Of Mechanicsburg
  • Lenker, John - Client
  • Lincoln, Abraham - Candidate for President of U.S. in 1860
  • Looker, Charles - Tenant
  • Loomis, Mr. - Teacher in South Ward [Isaac N. Loomis, teacher, lived on West State St.]
  • Loudenschlager, Elizabeth - Daughter of Jonas Loudenschlager
  • Loudenschlager, Jonas - Administrator of Hopple’s sale
  • Lowry, Chief Justice
  • Lutz, Henry - "Court cryer" [Henry H. Lutz, auctioneer, lived on North St.]
  • Lyen, Mr. - A workman for Blake
  • Lyne, Mrs. - A tenant at the "Hopple House"
  • Macauley, Mr. - Of Franklinburg
  • Maclean, John D. D. - President of "College of NJ"
  • Malay, Eli- Tenant at North State Street house
  • Malay, Peter - Tenant at North State Street house
  • Manly, Abraham - Son of George Manly
  • Manly, George - Laborer
  • Mares, Frederick P.
  • Marks, Mrs.
  • Maus, A. J. - Of Danville, Montour County, brother of Frederick P. Maus
  • Maus, Frederick P.
  • Mayer, Benjamin - Involved in law suit, German
  • McAllister, Captain - Involved in law suit
  • McKeon, Thomas - (Possible McCune or McQune)
  • McCormick, Mrs. Elizabeth
  • McCormick, Hamilton Henry
  • McCormick, Henry - Possibly the same as Hamilton Henry McCormick
  • McCormick, Mr. - Coal dealer
  • McCormick, Mr. and Mrs. James - Members of Rawn’s church [lawyer, lived on Third Street]
  • McCullen, Steve
  • McCullock, Mrs. - Member of Rawn’s church
  • McDowell, J. C. - Member of Rawn’s church
  • McLaughlin, James - Of Duncannon, client
  • McPhail, Rev. Dr. G. W. - President of Lafayette College
  • Medlawn, Mrs. Elizabeth - Of Dauphin County, potential tenant
  • Meil, S. G. - Sexton
  • Mer, James
  • Merrick, D. W.
  • Merrick, Henrich
  • Metzgar, Adam - Client, married to Mary Metzgar
  • Metzgar, Louis - Butcher, involved in court case
  • Metzgar, Mary - Client, married to Adam Metzgar
  • Miess, Henry - Client
  • Miess, Mrs. Mary
  • Miles, Rev. Mr. - Subject at phrenology lecture
  • Miller, Mrs.
  • Miller, William H. - Client
  • Mitchell - Prothonotary
  • Mitchell, Rev. Mr. - Of Paxton Church
  • Moody, Mrs. Mary Jane - Client
  • Moody, Samuel - Client
  • Moore, Anthony
  • Mott, S.
  • Morris, Mrs. Catherine - Of Delaware
  • Mumma, Judge P. D.
  • Munson, George F.
  • Murray - Referred to as "The Murray Elder"
  • Murray - Driver of an omnibus
  • Murray, William F.
  • Nelson, T. S. - Subject at phrenology lecture
  • New, A. J., Esq.
  • Nolan - Builder [William Nolan, mason, lived on North Third St.]
  • Nummel, Peter - Recorder of Deeds
  • Oliver, John L. - Spiritualist
  • Ornslager, John
  • Orth, Miss - Married J. F. Seiler
  • Oscar - "Black fellow" who worked for the Warfords
  • Packer, Governor
  • Parrcourt, Dr. - Of Philadelphia
  • Paten, B.- Lawyer
  • Patterson, Dr.
  • Patterson, Rev. Mr.
  • Peacock, B. G., Esq.
  • Pearce, Charles - Song of Mrs. Pearce
  • Pearce, Mrs. - Sister in law of Mrs. Beatty
  • Pearson, Judge
  • Peelor, David - Tenant at State St. Mitchell House, from Indiana
  • Peffer, H.
  • Peters, B. - Lawyer
  • Pollock, Mary
  • Pollock, Mr. - Neighbor and member of Rawn’s church [E.M. Pollock, stationer, lived at 9 Market St.]
  • Pople
  • Porter, George W. - Postmaster
  • Porter, Hon. James M. - Of Easton
  • Power, Michael - John Casey’s brother-in-law
  • Pugh, Mr.
  • Quinnes
  • Rawn, Charles - Son of Charles Rawn, student at Princeton
  • Rawn, Frances (Fanny) - Daughter of Charles Rawn
  • Rawn, John Calvin - Son of Charles Rawn
  • Rawn, Juliana - Sister of Charles Rawn
  • Rawn, Mrs. - Frances, wife of Charles Rawn
  • Rawn, Mrs. Mary - Wife of Michael Rawn
  • Rawn, Michael - Husband of Mary Rawn
  • Reardon, William - Involved in court case
  • Reeves, Rev. Mr. - Of Chambersburg
  • Reigel, Mrs.
  • Reese, Mr. Jeremiah
  • Rife
  • Riplinger, George M. - Involved in tax sale
  • Rittenhouse, Mrs. - Member of Rawn’s church
  • Roberts, Colonel
  • Roberts, Fahnstock
  • Roberts, Mrs. James - Attended North St. Church
  • Robes, W. V.
  • Robinson, Rev. Mr. - Of New School church
  • Rumel, Theodore - (Possibly Bumel)
  • Ryan - Helper for Cruikshank
  • Sanders, Hoke
  • Sanders, John
  • Sauter, John - Tenant
  • Schoder, Mrs.
  • Schurz, Carl - Of Wisconsin
  • Seacask, Mr. - Preacher at Episcopal Church
  • Seely, Mrs.
  • Seilert, Dr. C. - Client, of Mechanicsville
  • Seiler, Galen - Son of Dr. Seiler and friend of John Calvin Rawn
  • Seiler, George A. C. - Client
  • Seiler, J. F. - Paid him tuition for John Calvin Rawn’s school
  • Seiler, Mrs. - Member of Rawn’s church
  • Seiler, John Perry - Son of Dr. Seiler and friend of John Calvin Rawn
  • Seiler, V. - South Ward Director
  • Seilers, W. - Engineer on rail road
  • Sent, Lewis - Involved in court case
  • Shakspear, George - Client, son of Mr. Shakspear
  • Shakspear, John and Mary - Clients
  • Sharp, Elizabeth - Client
  • Sharp, S. W. - Of Newville, Cumberland County, client
  • Sheehy, Roger - Client
  • Shoemaker, John J. - Client
  • Shoemaker, Rev. Mr.
  • Shoff
  • Simon, Mr. B - Mason (possibly the same as John B. Simon)
  • Simon, John B. - Builder for new Presbyterian Church
  • Simon, L. - "A Jew"
  • Simon, Mr. and Mrs. Luther
  • Simon, Mr. - Contractor [Luther M. Simon, architect, lived on Locust St.]
  • Simonton, Rev. Mr.
  • Sleglebaum, Charley - Sold pants
  • Small, George - Lived on Chestnut St.
  • Smith, Mr. and Mrs. John - Stone cutter
  • Smith, Rev. Dr. - Of Baltimore
  • Steckly, M. - Shoemaker
  • Stehley, Mr.
  • Stewart, James
  • Sumner, Hon. Charles
  • Sweigart, Mrs.
  • Taylor, Andrew - Client
  • Thomas, Rev. Mr.
  • Thominger, D.
  • Todd - Of Cumberland County
  • Tully, Rev. Andrew - Of Harmony, New Jersey
  • Unger - Railroad conductor
  • Updegrove, Corbett
  • Upperman - Involved in tax sale
  • Urich, Hugh
  • Verbeke, Mr. - Near Franklin House
  • Wallimer
  • Watson, Alexander - City treasurer
  • Warford, Colonel N. B.
  • Warford, Miss Dolly
  • Warford, Mr. and Mrs. - Friends and members of Rawn’s church
  • Weidman, James Buchanan - Son of John Weidman, Esq.
  • Weidman, John - Client
  • Weidman, John, Esq. - Of Lebanon, friend of Rawn’s
  • Weidman, Mary - Daughter of John Weidman, Rawn’s client
  • Weidman, Sarah Ann - Daughter of John Weidman, Esq.
  • Wennich, Daniel (possible Werrich) - Client and laborer
  • Wennich, Joseph (possibly Werrich) - Client
  • Wenrich - Supervisor of North Ward
  • Whitehill, Mrs. Eleanor - Deceased
  • Wilson - A blind preacher
  • Wilson, Thomas S.
  • Wilt - Contractor
  • Wilt, Daniel - Lawyer
  • Winebrenner, John - Friend of Charles, also attending Princeton, and son of Rev. Mr. John
  • Winebrenner - [Rev. John Winebrenner lived at 29 South Third St.]
  • Winebrenner, John - Banker
  • Winebrenner, Rev. Mr. - Deceased [Rev. John Winebrenner lived at 29 South Third St.]
  • Winkerman, Mr.
  • Winter, Montgomery
  • Winters, John - Sold ice
  • Wise, John
  • Wiseman, Mrs. - Member of Rawn’s church
  • Witmer, P. Blanchard
  • Wyeth, John - On committee at phrenology lecture
  • Wyeth, Miss
  • Yarman
  • Yately, Mary
  • Young, J. C. - Tax collector
  • Young, Mr. - Mason
  • Yundt, Henry - Client
  • Yundt, Wellington - Client
  • Zittles, John - Operated the former Hoerner’s Tavern
  • Zollinger, Nicholas - Tax collector
  • Zollinger, S. E. - Tinner, sold stove fittings and water cooler [Samuel Zollinger, stoves, lived at 24 South Third St.]
  • Zollinger, Stuart - Worked at Dauphin Deposit Bank

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PDF Icon Book 26: 1860-04-01 to 1860-09-30