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.
