Description
Book Synopsis“Business during the Week was very dull. The great Plague of the Year Cholera is driving every Country [person] and Merchants from Surrounding Cities away. The City looks like a desert Compared to its usual animated appearance. People parting for a day or so, bid farewell to each other. My Partners family are fortunately in the Country.
Trade Review“A very interesting look into the business and social life of a merchant...lavishly illustrated and footnoted.” * Stacked: Weblog of the Mercantile Library of Cincinnati *
“(T)he 1840s [have] never been so accessible. [Mersman’s] charm (where it seeps through) and his drive (on every page) are an inspiration to those who pursue their dreams, no matter what the odds.” * Ohioana Quarterly *
“(Fisher’s) annotations are copious and complete. Even minor obscurities are tracked down and identified.... While the diary will be of greatest interest to professional historians, it is suitably engaging for general readers.” * Missouri Historical Review *
“Fischer has done a superb job of teasing out all the details of Mersman’s diary, creating excellent references, maps, and illustrations throughout the publication. Her notes to each chapter are relevant and generous, and the depth of her research adds significant value to the publication.” * Northwest Ohio History *
“Business during the Week was very dull. The great Plague of the Year Cholera is driving every Country [person] and Merchants from Surrounding Cities away. The City looks like a desert Compared to its usual animated appearance. Last week ending the 6th there were 78 deaths from it, altogether 173. This week ending yesterday 278 deaths 189 from Cholera. People parting for a day or so, bid farewell to each other. My Partners family are fortunately in the Country. I and Clemens sleep in the Same bed, in Case of a Sudden attack to be within groaning distance…” * Diary entry for Sunday, May 13th, 1849 *
