1866

Historical Happenings
February 12 Washington, D.C. First formal observance of Lincolns birthday takes place at Capitol, with President Johnson in attendance. New York City The first American Equal Rights Association formed at a meeting of the National Womens Rights Convention. Franklin, Massachusetts Work began on the construction of Dean Academy and at a special town meeting, Franklin voted to build three new schools. (see newspaper article August 17, 1866.) Washington, D.C. In a proclamation today, President Johnson makes it official, declaring that the insurrection was finally ended and that peace, order, tranquility and civil authority now exist in and throughout the whole United States.

May 10

July 30

August 20

December 21

Idaho Territory Sioux ambush and kill 80 near Idaho fort. On lands that have been reserved for them by treaty, a war party of Oglala Sioux led by Chief Red Cloud today ambushed and wiped out a military force of 80 men stationed at Fort Phil Kearney. The fort was recently constructed near the Powder River in order to protect the Bozeman Trail to the Western gold fields. Ezra Cornell getting university started. Cornell who made his fortune in 1855, convinced New York State to use land obtained through the Morrill Land Grant Act for a new university. Cornell, 59, has been a state senator since 1863.

Ithaca, New York

Detroit, Michigan

J.B. Sutherland has built a refrigerated freight car. He claims it can be used to ship fresh fruit and vegetables from one end of the country to the other. The car is cooled by passing air through containers of ice at each end.

1867
Historical Happenings
March 1 April 9 Nebraska becomes 37th State Washington, D.C. U.S. purchases Alaska for $7.2 million After an impassioned, three-hour speech by Senator Charles Sumner of Massachusetts, the vote to purchase Alaska from Russia was approved by a vote of 27 to 12 with six legislators absent. The total in favor of buying was one vote more than the two-thirds that is required for ratification. Many citizens express the feeling that the purchase by the United States of an utterly useless land of perpetual snow was an investment that only the insane would make. But its supporters are confident that this territory is some day going to be one of the nations greatest resources. The total cost of the territory comes to two cents an acre.

April 16

Franklin, Massachusetts George M. Wadsworth summoned to serve on the Jury in Dedham Court.

November 20 Washington, D.C. House unit asks to impeach Johnson Charging high crimes and misdemeanors the House Judiciary Committee has voted 5 to 4 to recommend impeachment proceedings against President Johnson. Most of the alleged crimes stem from Johnsons action in ordering Secretary of War Edwin Stanton to resign. December 4 Washington, D. C. Grange set up to aid farm recovery A new organization called the National Grange has been formed to help farmers recover in the wake of the Civil War. The purpose of this organization is to disseminate information and train farmers in new techniques. Local chapters are to be called granges.

1868
Historical Happenings
January 16 Washington, D. C. Detroit fish dealer William Davis granted patent for his refrigerated railroad car. Washington D. C. House of Representatives votes to impeach President Johnson The House of Representatives voted 126 to 47, to impeach President Andrew Johnson for high crimes and misdemeanors. Panama, Central America First survey conducted for a canal linking Atlantic and Pacific Oceans Chicago, Illinois Ulysses S. Grant nominated by Republicans for president. Washington, D. C. Congress mandates eight-hour day for government employees. Washington D.C. Senate Acquits President Andrew Johnson of all articles of impeachment. The vote, 35 to 19, was just one short of the two-thirds required for conviction and removal from office. Franklin, Massachusetts The construction of Dean Academy is complete and dedication ceremonies will be held today. (See related articles following May 28th diary entry.) Milwaukee, Wisconsin A patent has been applied for by three local men for a machine that prints type, letter by letter, on a sheet of paper. The invention called a typewriter was built by three Milwaukee residents named C.C. Scholes, Carlos Glidden and Samuel Soule. Moline, Illinois John and Charles Deere incorporate their firm as Deere & Company. Boston, Ma. While working for Western Union, Thomas A. Edison receives invention papers for electric vote recorder. San Francisco, California Earthquake causes more than $3 million damage. February 24

February 25

May 21

May 25

May 26

May 28

June 23

August 5

October 13

October 21

November 13 Washington, D.C. Ulysses S. Grant, Civil War General, is elected President

1869
Historical Happenings
March 4 Washington, D.C. Ulysses S. Grant sworn in as 18th President Washington, D. C. Amendment to Judiciary Act raises number of Supreme Court justices from seven to nine. Cincinnati, Ohio, First Pro Baseball team, Red Stockings, to pay shortstop $1,400. The Red Stockings captain-shortstop, George Wright contracted for a salary of $1,400 for the season. The team, while playing amateur ball last year, were the first club to perform in uniforms that featured shortened pants known as knickerbockers. Union Pacific railroad joining East to West is completed today. Now the trip from New York to San Francisco has been cut from three months to eight days. Colorado Major John Wesley Powell begins exploration of the Grand Canyon. Fossil Creek, Kansas Band of Cheyenne Indians destroys section of Union Pacific Railroad. Washington, D. C. Ives W. McGaffey granted patent for vacuum cleaner. Boston, Ma. The Great Peace Jubilee Grandest concert celebrates peace The opening-day audience thrilled to the festival that was staged by Musical Demonstrations. It was organized to herald the Restoration of Peace. Held in the vast new Coliseum, built just for this purpose, the five day event is featuring a chorus of more than 10,000 and an orchestra of 1,000. The effect has been truly staggering as the sound of the unprecedented chorus washes over the audience in echoing waves. See George Wadsworths diary entry June 16 and related newspaper article. April 10

April 7

May 10

May 24

May 28

June 8

June 15

1870
Historical Happenings
January 2 Brooklyn, New York Construction begins on Brooklyn Bridge Cleveland, Ohio John D. Rockefeller forms Standard Oil Co. Standard Oil has a capitalization of $1 million and its president, John D. is only 31 years old but already is a commanding figure in the American oil industry. Piegen Camp, Montana U. S. Cavalry under command of Eugene M. Baker slaughters 173 Indians, almost all women and children. Helena, Montana J.L. Compton and Joseph Wilson, guilty of robbery and murder, are last to be executed from Hangmans Tree. Wyoming Union Pacific hires Chinese for $32.50 a month rather than pay whites $52. a month. St. Louis, Missouri Robert E. Lee wins Mississippi Boat Race The Robert E. Lee docked here at 11:24 this morning, winning the great riverboat race with the Natchez. The powerful boat had completed a 1,100 mile trip up the Mississippi from New Orleans in three days, 18 hours and 14 minutes. Laramie, Wyoming Terr. First womans vote cast Mrs. Louisa Swain today became the first woman in the nation to cast a legal ballot, voting under equal suffrage laws passed here last year.

January 10

January 23

April 27

June

July 4

September 6

1871
Historical Happenings
April 1 Boston, Massachusetts Alexander Graham Bell begins using his fathers system of visible speech to teach deaf. Brooklyn, New York Barnum opens great travelling menagerie. Phineas T. Barnum, the self-proclaimed Prince of Humbug has opened the Great Travelling Museum, Menagerie, Caravan, and Hippodrome. Barnum seems unperturbed by the 1868 loss of his American Museum. Fire killed dozens of exotic animals that took years of effort to acquire. Minneapolis, Minnesota . Charles Pillsbury receives full title to flour mill, C.A. Pillsbury & Co. Camp Grant, Arizona Territory Mob kills more than 100 Apaches, who are supposed to be under federal protection. New York City Rioting between Scotch-Irish Presbyterians and Irish Catholics during Scotch-Irish Parade leaves 31 civilians and two policemen dead. New Bedford, Massachusetts United states Arctic Whaling fleet trapped by earliest winter in memory; 32 of 39 vessels frozen in ice. Great Chicago Fire The great fire rages from October 8th through the 9th, leaving a path of destruction. As many as 300 people are believed dead, some 90,000 are without homes and the damage is estimated at nearly $200 million. Rumors abound as to how the conflagration got started: the religious see it as Gods judgment; the political see it as the work of communists, and the common people blame a cow in Mrs. OLearys barn for knocking over a lantern. Mrs. OLeary, who lives on DeKoven Street on the West Side, says this is an out-and-out lie. American yacht Columbia wins Americas cup. April 10

April 12

April 30

July 12

August

October 8

October 23

Washington, D. C. National Rifle Association founded.