Researcher Dawn George has submitted a transcription of a diary from 1878 from her Great-great-great grandmother Clarissa Bennett. Clarissa was married to Brice Cunningham. While writing a good part of the diary she lived with her cousin Percilla Alstetter in Monroe Twp, Allen County. Dawn may be contacted at crystalstar026@netzero.net
The diary covers the complete year of 1878 and a small portion of 1879, and graphically describes life in those times. It is interesting reading whether you have ancestral names mentioned or not. Much appreciation is offered to Dawn who performed the transcription. Note that the words and sentences are presented as spelled by Clarissa Bennett Cunningham.
Below is an index to the names referenced and the page number of the diary. Note that the page numbers begin with the alphabet and conclude with numerals.
| Alstetter, Barbia | m, 1 |
| Alstetter, Charley | o, p, 2 |
| Alstetter, Fred | 2, 9, 11, 12 |
| Alstetter, Freddie | o |
| Alstetter, George | m, 1, 5 |
| Alstetter, Jake | b, d, 2 |
| Alstetter, Jakie | a, 4, 8 |
| Alstetter, Johnie | o, 1, 2, 5 |
| Alstetter, Luisa | m |
| Alstetter, Manda | f, l, m, o |
| Alstetter, Millie | 7 |
| Alstetter, Mr. | o |
| Alstetter, Mrs. | o, p, 1, 2, 3, 12 |
| Alstetter, Mrs. Fred | o, 1, 11 |
| Alstetter, Mrs. George | I, k, l, m, 1, 8 |
| Alstetter, Petter | f, h, o, 5, 9, 11 |
| Anna | a, e, g, h, p, 1, 7, 10 |
| Bennett, Aunt Caty | o, p, 1, 17, 18, 21, 22 |
| Bennett, Callie | f |
| Bennett, Clara | b, e, f, g, I, j, m, n, p, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 17, 25 |
| Bennett, Ella | a, b, c, e, f, g, I, j, l, m, n, p |
| Bennett, Mary Ann | 12 |
| Bennett, Uncle Charley | a, f, g, I, k, n, o, p, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11, 17, 19, 20, 23 |
| Best, George | k |
| Billy 'Old' | 22 |
| Bodigers, Mrs. | 4, 5 |
| Callie | m |
| Cantenia, Mrs | f, g, h, i |
| Catherine | 9 |
| Cathren | a, e, g, h, k, m, p, 1, 7, 10, 11 |
| Caty | 28, 12 |
| Chester, Mr. William | b, d, e |
| Clinger, Anna | l |
| Clingers, Mr. | f |
| Clingers, Mrs. | d, I, j, 5 |
| Cliver, Mr. John | m |
| Close, Levi | 22, 26 |
| Close, Melroy | 22 |
| Crabell, Sherilda | 7, 10 |
| Criten, Emma | j |
| Cunningham, Brice | a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, I, j, k, l, m, n, o, p, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 30 |
| Cunningham, Caty | 2 |
| Cunningham, Ceph | b, g, 13, 18, 24, 28, 29, 30, 31 |
| Cunningham, Claray K. | 29 |
| Cunningham, Clarrissa Kerlista | 30 |
| Cunningham, Dickey | 10 |
| Cunningham, Father/Papa | 10, 11, 16, 17, 22, 25, 26, 27 |
| Cunningham, John | 1, 23 |
| Cunningham, Nan | 24 |
| Cunningham, Sallie | o, 2, 3, 10, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 25, 28, 29 |
| Cunningham, Wes | 21 |
| Cunningham, Wilford B. | k |
| Cunninghams, Mr. | 2 |
| Dannie | j, k, 3, 4, 6, 7, 11 |
| Drew, Hattie | a, b, d, g, n, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 20 |
| Drew, John | a, b, d, e, g, n, o, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 29 |
| Drew, Merta | 7 |
| Drew, Miss | 24 |
| Drew, Mrs. | l, o, 29 |
| Drew, Nan | b, h, n, o, 4, 6, 7 |
| Drew, Sam | 5, 24 |
| Drews | l,o,5,20 |
| Drews, Mr. | 1,5 |
| Ella 'little' | 21 |
| Father (Perry Bennett) | h,k,17 |
| Felker, Old | k |
| Fisher, Mike | 1,4 |
| Gander, Eddie | 2 |
| Gander, George | 2 |
| Gander, Julia | 6 |
| Gander, Marry | 4 |
| Garner, Joe | 4 |
| Granger, John | 2,25,26,28 |
| Granger, Nellie | 2,23,27 |
| Granvill, Charley | o |
| Gusta | m |
| Hardrags, Squire | 9 |
| Hardsay, Mr. G | n |
| Harpsters, Alice | j |
| Harris, Grannie | 10 |
| Harris, Scott | k |
| Hartman, George | 3 |
| Hartmans | 1 |
| Hesser, Miss Carie | n |
| Hitchcock | 20,22 |
| Hitchcock, Bill | 20 |
| Hitchcock, Mr. | 1 |
| Hofferbert, Johnie | a |
| Hofferberts, Mr. | 11 |
| Hood, George | 29 |
| Hood, John | k,19,20,28 |
| Hood, Mr. | 28 |
| Hood, Mrs. | 20 |
| Hood, Sallie | 28 |
| Hood, Tilda | 29 |
| Howell, Janie | 24,26,27 |
| Howells, Dave | 31 |
| Howl, Enoch | 26 |
| Howl, Mrs. | 26 |
| Hutchison, George | 5,6,7,8 |
| Johnson, Nancy | 27 |
| Kessels, Serri | 4 |
| Kinsley | l |
| Kinsley, Ada | l |
| Kinsley, George | e |
| Kinsley, Mary | e,l |
| Kinsley, Mr. | b |
| Kinsley, Mrs | a |
| Kinsley, Scott | e,i |
| Kiser, Aunt Polly | 20 |
| Kiser, Bell | c,k |
| Kiser, John | n,1,2,6,10 |
| Kissels, Lib | 25 |
| Leatherman, Dan | 5,6 |
| Leatherman, Ella | 1,2,3,6,7,8,9,11,13,17,19,25,26,27,28 |
| Letherman, Jake | a,b,d,e,h,k,p,2,3,6,7,8,11,26,27,28 |
| Letherman, John | a,b,d,e,f,m,n,p,2,6,7,9 |
| Lewis, William | a |
| Light, Abraham | k |
| Light, Jake | e,I,1 |
| Lights, Jacob | a |
| Lillie | m |
| Logan, Bill | 23 |
| Logan, Isrel | o |
| Logan, Len | m,o |
| Logan, Mrs. | 10 |
| Midlestutter, Mike | n |
| Miller, Bill | 4 |
| Miller, Charley | e,f,n,3,7,12 |
| Miller, Dave | 21 |
| Miller, Eddie | 8 |
| Miller, Henry 'Hens' | ,10,12,13,19,21,30 |
| Miller, Jake | l,n |
| Miller, Jakie | 8 |
| Miller, Johnie | 6 |
| Miller, Lewis | g,n |
| Miller, Lizzie | a,b,k,m,n,1,4,6,7,8 |
| Miller, Maggie | k,n,8 |
| Miller, Mary | e |
| Miller, Mr. | 10 |
| Miller, Mr. Adam | f |
| Miller, Terzie | I,k,10,12,19,21 |
| Morris, Doctor | 26 |
| Mulcahey, Presilla | 6 |
| Mulckay, Old Ginny | 3 |
| Myers, Percilla | c |
| Myers, Tesa | j |
| Myrs, Aunt Bellsie | 12 |
| Myrs, Lillie | 7 |
| Myrs, Maggie | j,16 |
| Myrs, Sylla | j,k,l |
| Nass, Johnie | o,p,2,3 |
| Nell, James | f |
| Nerwitz, Joe | 4,8 |
| Newbright, Lydey | a,4,5,6 |
| Niswanger, Lydie | k |
| Niswanger, Petter | fi |
| Nixon, Willliam | a,b,c,f |
| Nye, Bill | m |
| Parmer, Bill | 26 |
| Perciller | b,c,d,e,g,h,I,j,k,m,n,o,p,1,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,16,17,18,20,21,22,24,25,27,28 |
| Pete | m |
| Ramsews, Theadore | 24 |
| Ramsey, Ike | 12 |
| Ramsey, Sam | 12 |
| Ramsy, Hannah | o |
| Ramsy, Merta | o |
| Reasmey, Lib | 20 |
| Repperd, Julia | 28 |
| Repperd, Mrs. | 27 |
| Repport & Palmer | 30 |
| Roast, Callie | a |
| Rummel, Cate | j,k |
| Rummel, Godfrey | 11 |
| Rummel, Mary | 5 |
| Rummols, Mr. | h,i |
| Schisms, John | 29 |
| Shear, Jonas | n |
| Sigler, Anna | n,3,4 |
| sigler, Mrs. | 16,20,21,26 |
| Sigler, Willie | 4 |
| Slusser, Bill | 4 |
| Slusser, Ellen | 17 |
| Slusser, Johnie | 4 |
| Slusser, Mag | 7 |
| Slusser, Mella | j |
| Slusser, Uncle Dan | 10,17,28 |
| Slusser, Uncle John | n, 4, 11, 21 |
| Slussers, Mrs. | f, h, i, l |
| Slussers, Uncle Ben | k |
| Smith, Frank | a |
| Smith, Petter | e, f, g, n, o, p, 1, 2, 6, 7 |
| Snider, Julia | 3, 4, 6, 10, 12 |
| Snodgrass, Miss Rena | 4, 6 |
| Snooks, Mrs. | c, d |
| Stauffers, Mr. | a, 26 |
| Stauffers, Mr. Dave | 5 |
| Stinogh, Mrs. | j |
| Stull, Dave | b, d, g, h, 4, 6 |
| Stull, Mary Ann | b, d |
| Stull, Mr. | e |
| Stull, Nancy | b, d |
| Sutton, Bell | 25 |
| Sutton, Mose | 28, 29 |
| Sygler, Lyda | f |
| Syler, L C | k |
| Uncle Dan | 22 |
| Ware, Aunt Sallie | 25 |
| Watkins, John | 21, 22, 24 |
| Watkins, Mary Jane | 24 |
| Wells, Michael | k |
| Williams, Tom | 13 |
| Willie | m |
| Wood, Jas | k |