Vintage Standard Diary 1895 Robert Johnson Shawmut Ave Boston Teenager b. 1879

Description

Wonderful Authentic Antique Pocket Diary for the year 1895 by teenager Robert S. Johnson who lived at 80 Shawmut Ave., Boston, MA, with his parents John and Myra Johnson.  This is a Standard Diary with leather cover measuring approx. 5 x 3.5" closed.  Robert's name and address handwritten inside cover plus stamp with his father's name opposite page.  His mother's name we discovered through online search.  Robert made entries for EVERY day of the year plus some additional dated entries in the memoranda.  He also noted his financial transactions for first few months of the year including his violin lessons.  His lessons are often noted in his penciled entries.  At back are notations for some of the letters he received including Joe Winslow, his friend, who is also often mentioned throughout.  We have not read the diary in its entirety but many entries they are short as diary is obviously small he also notes the weather mostly with single word.   Much discussion about school and his parents' store which we confirmed in 1880 and 1900 census.  But by 1910 we could not locate the parents.  It's a wonderful insight into mind and life of 15 y.o. boy in Boston later 1800's.
He starts the year by noting a fire at Brigham's Creamery and another slightly humorous (to us) entry in Feb. where he notes a nose bleed but also his father had captured five rats in the cellar.   We researched Robert a bit as curiosity naturally gripped us and learned he was born in Boston March 1879 to John and Myra Johnson.  He appears to be the oldest child.  John was born in NH in 1850 and Myra was born in Illinois though it was also noted she was born in Sweden.  Robert married Ethel Averill in 1903 and they went on to have at least eight children as noted in 1920 Census.  At that time Robert was 'Chief Clerk' in the railroad industry and they owned a home in Malden. MA.  However, by 1930 Census Robert was living alone as a boarder still in Malden.  Many of his children were still young he was likely divorced and Ethel may have been living at the house and Robert nearby.  But we have not researched that far yet to confirm.   We cannot find him in the 1940 Census.  In flap of diary his name is written again and it looks like date of 1957 but not positive.  This could have possibly been year he passed and someone wrote it in we are only speculating.
The diary was discovered in the walls of a house in Boonton, NJ, several years ago and we acquired by the tradesman who found it.  How it got there is a mystery and maybe something buyer will want to research.  Maybe one of his many children moved to NJ.  There must be many descendants running around thanks to Robert and Ethel.  Condition is good there is wear along edges and some of the cover is missing in spots.  Cover also has scuffs and foxing and somewhat loose but not detaching.  Pages and spine are good pages quite legible though Robert's handwriting at times can take a second to discern.  And like any antique item like this it should be handled with care.  Zoom in on pics as part of description.  This is a fantastic and rare item and a treasure to read.  Please zoom in on pics as part of description.  This ships fast and FREE signature required.  Contact us any questions and please follow our store as we tirelessly seek the rare and unique!