2026-05-10T05:48:23Z

Margaret V. Watson Diary

Creator

Watson, Margaret V.

Abstract Or Scope

Diary of Margaret V. "Jennie" Watson, a resident of northern West Virginia, with most entries dating from 1877 to 1879 during the period of her single life. These entries provide a glimpse of the day-to-day life of the author, including giving music lessons, sewing, entertaining, traveling by horse-drawn carriages and trains, and her courtship with Clarence Smith, whom she married on 21 May 1879. A 26 June 1877 entry mentions the "Mystics" having a "Grand Meeting" at Governor Pierpont's. On 22 July 1877 she mentions the "railroad war" being "hot" in Pittsburg [Pittsburgh]; the following day's entry refers to a depot near Philadelphia being burned by a mob of strikers while women and children were killed. She reports on 25 March 1878 of a lynching that occurred on 23 March involving a man named "Wallace"; he was lynched for the alleged murder of his sister-in-law, her 8 month old child, and a fifteen year old girl. Locations mentioned in the diary include towns in West Virginia (Barracksville, Clarksburg, Grafton, Fairmont, Mannington, Palatine, Phillipi, and Rivesville) and Pennsylvania (Bobtown, Carmichaels, East Liberty, Pittsburgh [Pittsburg], Washington, and Waynesburg).
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Collection Context

1. West Virginia and Regional History Center