This collection contains Frank E. Witmer's original 1879 diary, as well as a transcription and index prepared by Dr. David H. Wallace. The diary provides a detailed record of the daily activities of all members of the family. He primarily records the work involved in running a truck farm--planting, maintaining, and harvesting crops, and preparing for market. Other entries of interest include helping a neighbor move a carriage house; building a hog pen; canning; attendance at several Mennonite churches in the area; the process of moving from one house and barn to a new house and barn on the property; frequent visits between relatives and neighbors; and a few mentions of school and the leisure activities of the young men.
Admin/Biographical History
In 1879, Franklin E. Witmer (1855-1931), at age 23, was the eldest son of Aaron L. Witmer, farmer of West Lampeter Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and his wife Mary Ann (Herr) Witmer. The household also included his younger brothers Abraham (Abram), 21, and Jacob Elam (Elem), 19; two school-age girls Sarah Dunlap, 13, an apprentice servant, and Hettie Fritz, 8, a ward of Mr. and Mrs. Witmer; and for part of the year a teen-age boarder-farm hand , Thaddeus (Thad) Brackbill. In Frank's diary, each person's activity was recorded daily, almost as if he had set himself a deliberate project to do so.
Mr. Witmer's truck farm embraced fields of grain (wheat, oats and rye), several acres of tobacco, a varied fruit orchard, a large truck garden, and a greenhouse for vegetables and flowering plants, a small herd of dairy cattle, some hogs and chickens; enough variety to make year-round weekly visits to market in Lancaster. During the year the family moved into a new house, raised a new barn, stables, hog-pen and chicken-house, and rented the old house and barn to a tenant farmer, Jacob Dieter.
The Witmers were Mennonites, regularly attending church in Lampeter Twp. and Strasburg, and occasionally in New Providence and Lancaster. Sarah and Hettie and briefly Elam, attended the Lampeter School. Their chief source of entertainment seems to have been visiting among their extended Witmer and Herr families and neighbors, although Abram and Elam sometimes attended "singing school" and the Lampeter Lyceum and did some "driving about" of an evening. Only Abram seems to have had a special girlfriend.
Although all the men of the family did everything in the way of farm chores, each of the boys also had a specialty. Frank, the oldest, had his own corn and tobacco patches to tend and market, Abram tended to concentrate on the greenhouse and truck-garden, and Elam helped his father provide veterinary services to other farmers in the area.
Frank Witmer married Mary Ann Herr on November 30, 1881; he continued general farming in West Lampeter Township, died there on December 10, 1931, and was buried in the Mennonite cemetery in nearby Willow Street, Pennsylvania.
This history was prepared by Dr. David H. Wallace.
Please use transcription and index, MG0847_F002 and MG0847_F003.
Original diary may be used by appointment--contact research@lancasterhistory.org at least two weeks prior to visit.
Copyright
Images have been provided for research purposes only. Please contact research@lancasterhistory.org for a high-resolution image and permission to publish.
LancasterHistory retains the rights to the digital images and content presented. The doctrine of fair use allows limited use of copyrighted material without permission from the copyright holder. Fair use includes comment, criticism, teaching, and private scholarship. Any images and data downloaded, printed or photocopied for these purposes should provide a citation. All other uses beyond those allowed by fair use require written permission.
Permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory. Persons wishing to publish any material from this site must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants of copyright or other use restrictions. Publication fees may apply.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Accession Number
2021.011
Other Numbers
MG-847
Other Number
MG-847, Folder 1
Classification
MG0847
Description Level
Item
Custodial History
PDFs of the transcription and index are attached to the correlating records.
Jeremiah Brown’s gristmill account book "B" Little Britain Township, Fulton Township
Description
Jeremiah Brown’s gristmill account book "B" Little Britain Township, Fulton Township
Contains 200 pages, plus a 12 page index of clients and what pages they appear on.
Front cover has a "B" written on it.
"LEDGER" is printed on spine.
BAck cover inside has an "X" written on it.
Book references itemized list of profits and expenses, and the employees of the mill and what they were being compensated for. The profits list ranges from selling and grinding corn, wheat, and rye as well as sawing boards. The recorded expenses for the mill include employee wages, transportation costs, and dry goods such as salt.
This account book also contains several sections of estate planning for multiple individuals.
o Jeremiah Brown records his will and what his children are to inherit from his estate on pg. 1.
o Jeremiah Brown later records a detailed list of what he gave to his daughter Sarah as she married Timothy Hanes on pg. 10.
o Vincent King estate on pg. 102
o Richard Stedman real estate on pg. 104.
Insert 1 - Blue donor card and "The Book Haven" description.
Insert 2 - Nine account loose pieces of paper and a note dated 1814 outlining the transition of the mill from Jeremiah to his son Slater that was found on pg. 171.
Insert 3 - Ten account loose pieces of paper.
Insert 4 - Ten account loose pieces of paper.
Insert 5 - Ten account loose pieces of paper.
Insert 6 - Ten account loose pieces of paper.
Insert 7 - Ten account loose pieces of paper.
Insert 8 - Ten account loose pieces of paper.
Admin/Biographical History
From: Donor Card and "The Book Haven" description card
Jeremiah Brown was born 1750, descended from Joshua Brown. He received his father’s mill in 1775. Jeremiah’s business became quite prosperous and with the help of other prominent figures in Lancaster County, he helped establish the Farmers Bank of Lancaster. Jeremiah’s fathered several children including the honorable Judge Jeremiah Brown and Slater Brown, later leaving the mill to Slater. At the time of his death in 1831, he was thought to be one of the largest stockholders, if not the largest, of the Farmers Bank of Lancaster at 1,000 shares.
Book is in poor condition. Front and back covers are unattached with most of the leather worn off. Spine is completely worn through at places. Paper has foxing and some pages have water damage. Nine pages are unattached. Index tabs A-B, C-D, N-O, W-X and W-Z are missing.
There is no page 2. Pages 201 to 206 are not paginated.
Object ID
MG0963_F010
Location of Originals
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Notes
Preferred citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection Title (MG#), Box #, Folder #, (or Object ID), LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. URL if applicable. Date accessed (day, month, year).
Edmond is recorded as "Black Edmond"
Hannah is recorded as "Black Hannah"
Patrick is recorded as "Black Patrick"
Access Conditions / Restrictions
No restrictions. Original documents may be used by appointment. Please contact Research@LancasterHistory.org at least two weeks prior to visit.
Copyright
Collection items may be photographed. Please direct questions to Research Center Staff at Research@LancasterHistory.org.
Permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory. Persons wishing to publish any material from this site must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants of copyright or other use restrictions. Publication fees may apply.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
In 1879, Franklin E. Witmer (1855-1931), at age 23, was the eldest son of Aaron L. Witmer, farmer of West Lampeter Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and his wife Mary Ann (Herr) Witmer. The household also included his younger brothers Abraham (Abram), 21, and Jacob Elam (Elem), 19; two school-age girls Sarah Dunlap, 13, an apprentice servant, and Hettie Fritz, 8, a ward of Mr. and Mrs. Witmer; and for part of the year a teen-age boarder-farm hand , Thaddeus (Thad) Brackbill. In Frank's diary, each person's activity was recorded daily, almost as if he had set himself a deliberate project to do so.
Mr. Witmer's truck farm embraced fields of grain (wheat, oats and rye), several acres of tobacco, a varied fruit orchard, a large truck garden, and a greenhouse for vegetables and flowering plants, a small herd of dairy cattle, some hogs and chickens; enough variety to make year-round weekly visits to market in Lancaster. During the year the family moved into a new house, raised a new barn, stables, hog-pen and chicken-house, and rented the old house and barn to a tenant farmer, Jacob Dieter.
The Witmers were Mennonites, regularly attending church in Lampeter Twp. and Strasburg, and occasionally in New Providence and Lancaster. Sarah and Hettie and briefly Elam, attended the Lampeter School. Their chief source of entertainment seems to have been visiting among their extended Witmer and Herr families and neighbors, although Abram and Elam sometimes attended "singing school" and the Lampeter Lyceum and did some "driving about" of an evening. Only Abram seems to have had a special girlfriend.
Although all the men of the family did everything in the way of farm chores, each of the boys also had a specialty. Frank, the oldest, had his own corn and tobacco patches to tend and market, Abram tended to concentrate on the greenhouse and truck-garden, and Elam helped his father provide veterinary services to other farmers in the area.
Frank Witmer married Mary Ann Herr on November 30, 1881; he continued general farming in West Lampeter Township, died there on December 10, 1931, and was buried in the Mennonite cemetery in nearby Willow Street, Pennsylvania.
This history was prepared by Dr. David H. Wallace.
Commissioners' order for payment to David Brown, Clerk of Courts
Admin/Biographical History
This record group contains canceled orders that were issued by the county commissioners for payment to be made by the county treasurer. The orders show date, order number, amount, name of payee, purpose, and signatures of the county commissioners.
This record group contains canceled orders that were issued by the county commissioners for payment to be made by the county treasurer. The orders show date, order number, amount, name of payee, purpose, and signatures of the county commissioners. In the case of "poor children," teachers were reimbursed by the county for tuition and/or the supplies purchased for students whose parents were unable to pay. Orders include: Poor Children, Almshouse, Bridges, Coroners' Inquests, Prisons, Roads, Court House, and Tax Exonerations.
Payment for handling "vagrants, disorderly and suspicious persons, arrested, brought examined and disposed of from October 5, 1826 until July 20th 1827.
Lightner, Nathaniel. Mayor.
Persons named:
Buckram, Joseph.
Linton, Sarah.
Smiith, Charles.
Doyle, John.
Milford, John.
Caldwell, David.
Basley, William.
Basley, John.
Sniderass, John.
Wattm Jane.
Jackson, Codorus.
Stewart, George.
Speagler, Christian.
Dickaman, Joseph.
Hickman, Sally.
Delaware, Eliza.
McEwen, John.
Spencer, William.
Linton, Emanuel.
Moore, Thomas.
Gardner, Thomas.
Slater, John.
Bartle, George.
Wise, Jacob.
Wise, Catharine.
Aaron, Joseph.
Magill, John.
Smith, Mathias.
Crole, Finley.
Smith, Sally.
East, Polly.
Trippel, Catherine.
Neelen, James.
McCormick, John.
Rees, Henry.
Biddle, Benjamin.
Brown, Jacob.
sharp, Thomas.
Billard, John.
Jones, Christ[opher].
App, William.
Loxer, Thomas.
Caslin, Charles.
Thornton, Robert.
Fisher, Richard.
Jackson, Nicholas.
Smith, Charles.
Miller, Elizabeth.
Willis, Nancy.
Saul, Samuel.
Anthony, Thom.
Lawrence, Jacob.
Huskins, William.
Michaels, Lucy.
Gensimer, Ge[orge].
Michael, James.
McFaddon, Robert.
Crawford, John.
Deits, Margaret.
Myers, Maria.
Bower, Philip.
Peerest, John.
Warder, William.
Butts, Matty.
Holby, Elizabeth.
Bryson, Jesse.
Muller, Pat.
Walker, Edward.
Star, Job.
Miller, Eliza.
Noble, George.
Gillespie, William.
Morgan, Sarah.
Stover, Samuel.
Stoll, William.
Turner, David.
Wallace, David.
Hensel, George.
Erferett, Fanny.
McFarland, George.
Stoner, Samuel.
Kane, Robert.
Flanegan, Peter.
Glasern, Abraham.
Ramsey, Philip.
Jordan, Isaac.
Dever, William.
Watts, Jane.
Hall, William.
Galbreth, David.
Blitt, Conrad.
Smith, James T.
Boot, John.
Bosly, Elizabeth.
Cunan, Mary.
Weidle, John.
McAlister, William.
Anthony, Will.
Butler, John.
McMicxhael, James.
Connelly, Dennis.
Eichholtz, George.
Kendig, Sally.
McCorkle, Eliza.
Ames, George.
Killian, Izabella.
Newhouse, Philip.
Barton, Simon.
Barton, Elizabeth.
Aaron, Kit.
Mosses, John.
Wilson, Isaac.
Morris, George.
McClosky, Ann.
Murray, John.
Watt, Jane.
Shirden, Henry.
Lice, Michael.
Wallace, James.
Jones, Isaac.
Jones, Abraham.
Jones, Cath[arine].
Jones, Susan.
Patton, Thomas.
Bosly, William.
Kaufman, Dr[inken].
Getz, Philip.
Tobias, Samuel.
Smith, WIlliam.
Glascome, Abraham.
Weir, Robert.
Weir, Margaret.
Smith, Soloman.
Marshall, John.
Marshall, Nancy.
McLean, Benjamin.
Graham, Charles.
Thomas, Lewis.
Selhert, George.
Bartle, Elizabeth.
Frosig, John.
McDevit, John.
Efvert, Fanny.
Glascow, Abraham.
Keller, Catharine.
Jefferey, Mary.
Mauman, David.
Stephens, Levin.
Webb, William.
Steward, Joseph.
Lee, Philip.
Drabach, John.
Davenport, Charles.
Johnson, Richard.
Poulman, Fred.
Lochraine, James.
McKittrick, Nancy.
Hoyt, Aaron H.
Prince, John.
Henning, Mary Ann.
Ralf, Christian.
Carlan, Jane.
Roberson, William.
Tally, Margaret.
Miller, Mary.
Miller, Nancy.
Tully, Margaret.
Barter, Geroge.
Nixdorf, Henry.
Moore, William.
Watson, Oliver.
Black, Thomas.
Clendenin, James.
OConner, John.
Tripple, Cath.
Moyer, Nancy.
1 item. 1 piece.
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at research desk. Photocopy made by staff member.
Transcription of the diary of Frank E. Witmer, 1879.
Admin/Biographical History
In 1879, Franklin E. Witmer (1855-1931), at age 23, was the eldest son of Aaron L. Witmer, farmer of West Lampeter Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and his wife Mary Ann (Herr) Witmer. The household also included his younger brothers Abraham (Abram), 21, and Jacob Elam (Elem), 19; two school-age girls Sarah Dunlap, 13, an apprentice servant, and Hettie Fritz, 8, a ward of Mr. and Mrs. Witmer; and for part of the year a teen-age boarder-farm hand , Thaddeus (Thad) Brackbill. In Frank's diary, each person's activity was recorded daily, almost as if he had set himself a deliberate project to do so.
Mr. Witmer's truck farm embraced fields of grain (wheat, oats and rye), several acres of tobacco, a varied fruit orchard, a large truck garden, and a greenhouse for vegetables and flowering plants, a small herd of dairy cattle, some hogs and chickens; enough variety to make year-round weekly visits to market in Lancaster. During the year the family moved into a new house, raised a new barn, stables, hog-pen and chicken-house, and rented the old house and barn to a tenant farmer, Jacob Dieter.
The Witmers were Mennonites, regularly attending church in Lampeter Twp. and Strasburg, and occasionally in New Providence and Lancaster. Sarah and Hettie and briefly Elam, attended the Lampeter School. Their chief source of entertainment seems to have been visiting among their extended Witmer and Herr families and neighbors, although Abram and Elam sometimes attended "singing school" and the Lampeter Lyceum and did some "driving about" of an evening. Only Abram seems to have had a special girlfriend.
Although all the men of the family did everything in the way of farm chores, each of the boys also had a specialty. Frank, the oldest, had his own corn and tobacco patches to tend and market, Abram tended to concentrate on the greenhouse and truck-garden, and Elam helped his father provide veterinary services to other farmers in the area.
Frank Witmer married Mary Ann Herr on November 30, 1881; he continued general farming in West Lampeter Township, died there on December 10, 1931, and was buried in the Mennonite cemetery in nearby Willow Street, Pennsylvania.
This history was prepared by Dr. David H. Wallace.
