"Born in Middle Paxton Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania at the end of the 18th century to a slave mother and an unknown father, Stephen Smith overcame the handicaps posed by racism and poverty to become one of the wealthiest African Americans in the United States. As his prosperity and prominence increased, Smith also became a recognized and respected leader of the African American community, first in Columbia, Pennsylvania, and later on the state and national level...I have sought to understand the forces that shaped him, the circumstances that allowed him to succeed in business when so many others were unable to do so, and the contributions he made to the African American community." [from the author]
Original diary in Lancaster County Historical Society Archives.
Summary
Francis Ziegler was born in Columbia, Pennsylvania in 1817 and he died in 1902. He was a school teacher and a telegraph operator.He recorded in this diary sporadically between 1854 and 1857. His entries describe personal experiences, but many entries pertain to events of the day, both local and national. His discontent with politics and the times, in general, is clear. The diary begins at the time of a cholera epidemic in Columbia during which many people died. He presents a picture of a very frightening time. Another highlight of the diary was his description of the invasion of Pennsylvania by Confederate troops during the Civil War. He witnessed the burning of the bridge over the Susquehanna River between Columbia and Wrightsville. This action closed off a potential route for the Confederates to reach Philadelphia and Harrisburg after Gettysburg.
