Collection open for research .
Physical characteristics and conditions affect use of this material. Researchers must use transcription. Photocopying of original not permitted.
Christian Nisewarner Diary, 1861-1877 (SC 0040), Thomas Balch Library, Leesburg, VA.
Evelyn Potterfield, Warrenton, VA.
Handwritten and typed transcriptions
1988.0002
Processed by Rebecca K. Ottinger, 22 Jun 2009
Christian Nisewarner (also spelled Nicewarner and Nisewaner) was born on 25 March 1819. He owned a farm about nine miles west of Lovettsville, VA and married Albina (Alvinia) A. McDaniel (14 Jun 1831-17 Jul 1915). They had one son, Henry (1863-?). Nisewarner died on 10 Jan 1902. The couple is buried at Mt. Olivet Methodist Cemetery near Lovettsville.
The diary was kept in a book 5 by 8 inches bound by a Morocco cover. Although the entry is undated, Christian Nisewarner appears to have started keeping the diary on 18 Feb 1861, noting that, "Jeff Davis of Mississippi was inaugurated as president of the southern confederacy...." on that date. The last entry is dated "Monday, the 31st." Since this follows an entry on Tuesday, 25 Dec 1877, it appears that the last entry is 31 Dec 1877.
Entries by Nisewarner are usually short descriptions of weather conditions, farming chores, community news, and effects of the Civil War on the local community. The end of the Civil War and Lincoln's assassination are noted without comment and entries after the war show that life seemed to quickly return to normal farming and community activities. Part of the book is a day book written by his wife, Albina Nisewarner, which records recipes, household instructions, and home remedies.
The collection also contains two transcriptions, one typed and one handwritten, prepared by Eugene Scheel in December of 1977. Scheel is a writer and cartographer residing in Waterford, Virginia.
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