Frank Kimball - The Technical Story, Part three

Love Lost: E.A.H. </3 Frank (07/15/1854 - 12/03/1854)

Frank's first diary

Frank's oldest book is a tiny red pocket book from 1854. It's leather bound and stained here and there, but otherwise intact. Frank's name is written inside the cover along with his current location, in Jamaica Plains, Massachusetts and later, Contoocookville, New Hampshire. I am assuming the "1854." label was added later on, but other than that, this is the window to the life of a young man in his mid-twenties, living in the United States just before the Civil War. The writings he produced, plus whatever we can link to it historically, will be the main subject of this blog from here on until about 1913. From the 1960s Irene Phillips takes a glimpse of these pages and shares the following:

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On July 15, 1854 when Frank Kimball first shares the story of his life with us, he is just 23 years old.

The Family home is at Contoocook village in New Hampshire. Here live Asa Kimball, and his wife Hannah Little Kimball with the children. Levi, Warren, Frank, George, Charles and sister Mary.

The first entry was sort of a reminder of what he had recently paid for:

Saturday, July 15th 1854
Jamaica Plains
Settled with Williams
Floyd Reeds        27.93
Express Bills on chest        .62
Fare to Boston        .25
Fishing hooks        1.50
Pine Apples        .60
Fare to Contoocook        2.15
etc...

Left Jamaica Plains at seven o clock and reached Contoocookville at half past three P.M.
Went fishing in the river.

Frank's first diary entry.

Phillips continues:

Frank is most considerate of the other members of  the family, this time bringing cloth for a pair of pants for his youngest brother, Charles. Mr. MoLean will make them for $0.90. (Tues. July 18, '54)

"got cloth for a pair of pants for Charles, 3.25"

He does carpentry work of all types and the day after his return is busy in the shop completing a bird's eye maple desk, and a chest.

Right away I see Frank as a great guy because he wants to help his family members. In his list of expenses the next day, Frank makes room for an extra $3.25, plus .16.

The weather was great, so he took a dip in the river, but that day, clouds started to collect into a darker entity, and Frank hurried home and got their bamboo poles ready to go fishing. After a visit from George Morrill, Frank waited until the next morning before writing somebody named E.A.H.

Frank first mentions E.A.H. on Sunday, July 16, 1854. He's sending a letter to her.

It is hinted by Phillips that E.A.H. may have been Frank's lover at the time. Perhaps a summer fling when he was in Jamaica Plains. Phillips explains, "E.A.H. lives at Jamaica Plains and postage and envelopes used in correspondence to her play an important part in his purchases". We'll never know for sure what he wrote to E.A.H. because Frank's letters only survive from the 1870s onward.

We do know from his journals though that he received a letter from E.A.H. on July 21st though. It was among his usual lists of things he had done and bought throughout his diaries. He would often describe the weather as well:

...lovely in the morning.
-July 19, 1854

The hottest day of the seasons.
-July 20, 1854

...lovely all day but very warm.
July 22, 1854

...lovely and sunny this morning.
July 23, 1854

Frank's third mention of E.A.H. was on July 23, 1854. He had received a letter back on the 21st and now he's sending another letter.

Sunday was spent at Meeting and in the evening "I had an invite to a sing with Mary and Levi."

After an early morning fish he went to his father's new farm for cherries and black berries. While there decided it would be a nice place for a home so arranged to purchase a piece of land from his father getting 1/2 acre for $100.

"Finished the day by playing on my base viol." July 26, 1854

Frank records his first land purchase on July 26, 1854. Half an acre from his father for $100.

Charles, like the other boys is interested in carpentry so Frank "made an agreement with Charles to take him on as apprentice to the carpentry trade on these conditions: to give him 2 terms at some high school and all the winter district school till he is 21. Two suits of clothes and a chest of tools. Am to receive $50.00 in cash (presumably from his father) and all of Charles' labor." July 31, 1854

Frank's fourth mention of E.A.H. July 31, 1854. Sending a "paper".

Frank agrees to teach Charles carpentry on July 31, 1854. It appears he was good at the art from the start.

Right away, you learn that Frank not only was a great carpenter at a young age, but also a pious business man. He records everything he buys and is owed by his family, but is also willing to do favors at times.  The details in the logs are about as amazing as your Instagram account.

A fifth mention of E.A.H. on August 1, 1854. Receiving a letter and a "paper".

I wonder how come Frank only refers to this person as E.A.H. rather than the person's first name. Perhaps it was best kept secret who it was, or they had a ridiculously long name. Phillips continues:

He becomes engrossed in plans for his home, also contracted for 2 houses in the meantime doing odd jobs.
"Rode to Mrs. Chases' to get some work." These names were to become familiar in National City in later years. August 5, 1854.

Financial relations between members of the family are on a strictly business basis. "Mother paid back the 10 cents.", "Bought 2 sticks of timber from father, $0.50", "Loaned father $5.00 and sold him a set of bench planes for $5.00."

Sixth mention of E.A.H. August 8, 1854. Receiving a paper.

These are a few examples of their methods.

In getting material for the houses in the contract it is necessary to scour the country-side as good lumber is hard to find. Frank wants "clear" wood but mostly is is just "merchantable". "Bought 279 feet of clear chestnut boards for Mr. Richardsons' job, $5.58." "Measuring boards all day. Looked at Eben Morrill's "lumber" as he called boards that had no knots in them but were of all shapes. I told him I would not give him $10.00 per M. if they looked like that."

"Charles working now. Cleaned out the shop and picked up the rest of my lumber."

"Sent deed by Charles to be recorded 33 cents. Paid Chas. 10 cents for doing my errand." (Purchased land from father)

"Commenced, with Charles, shoveling much in George Jackmans' bog. Got 4 loads." August 9, 1854

Seventh mention of E.A.H. on August 11, 1854. Sent a paper.

While Phillips focuses on Kimball's housing project, I'd like to point out that he didn't work on his projects on Sundays, he was a Christian. He had also been part of the "No-Nothing Party" at one time, suggesting that he was not only a Protestant, but possibly anti-Catholic. He may have been building the house with E.A.H. in mind and seems to have spent a lot of time on August 13th writing her before and after going to church.

Frank seems to have spent a good majority of the day thinking about what to write to E.A.H. on August 13, 1854

"Started the "job" with Charles and father. Paid Asa Kimball $0.94 for 3/4 days work." August 14, 1854

Another mention of E.A.H. on August 20, 1854. Writing a letter.

And again on the 22nd, reading "two Papers and a letter".

August 27, 1854 "Wrote to E.A.H. seven pages"

It seems as though Frank and E.A.H. are doing well and have been writing each other every few days.

September 2-6, 1854

September 6-9, 1854

"Paid George Kimball 18 cents for a corn broom and 2 cents for apples. Boots for Charles, $3.00. Confectionery, 8 cents. Frank is very fond of candy often spending anywhere from 2 cents to 8 cents a week on sweets. A year or so later he was "splurging 15 cents for chocolate." September 11, 1854

September 29, 1854 "On Sunday went to church and subscribed $2.00 towards the preacher. Enjoyed a good "sing" in the evening." Singing was a morale booster for Frank Kimball and his mist anticipated pleasure-aside from a magazine that was to go Though life with him "Bought my Scientific American. 50 cents"

September 18-21, 1854

September 21-23, 1854

"A most unfortunate accident happened on the work. Father cut my wrist badly. Dr. Stinson sewed it up. 50 cents"

He's afraid he will not be able to work on the house so will spend the morning trimming apple trees on the Jackman place.

"On Monday commenced reading "Fashion and Fancy" by Mrs. Ann Stephens."

Here, Phillips starts to pick up what I'm picking up.

"Wrote to E.A.H. at Jamaica Plains." There is a tinge of anxiety in his references to E.A.H. She isn't writing as often as he wishes but he mails his letter then "picked apples at Davis' and brought two barrels of those that fell off the tree for a shilling."

October 1-3, 1854

October 4-7, 1854

She's right. It seems like E.A.H has been slower and slower at writing back....

...and plus, he doesn't take the time to write out her initials all nice and neat now.

Could the romance be all gone in less than three months? He writes to E.A.H. again October 13th, and 19th. I've also began to notice the name "Sarah Noyes" here and there. Hmmm...

Settled with father for my board and Charles', $1.25 each. In the evening played 4 games of Checquers. Lost none." October 15, 1854

"Charles is painting blinds for Dr. Simpson." This probably paid for sewing his wrist. That was the way they paid many of their bills.

Oct.22nd Levi, May and I have been to Warner to a meeting. Carried by Base Viol and played all day long."

"Have not received a letter from E.A.H. lately. Had a Paring Bee here last night, 15 or 20 persons. Good work. Good time."

"Have NOT received a letter from E.A.H. lately" October 24, 1854

One of his last entries on E.A.H. was on October 26, 1854 and is a bit difficult to read. "Have written a letter to E.A.H and one to (mom?) it is (nearly?) ____ ____ and I am up set."

October 26, 1854

We think of people in a small town as going to bed quite early but this was not Frank Kimball's program. Usually he stayed up until 12 1/2 or 1 in the morning yet was up at dawn working in the shop. No more swims now. It is October and getting pretty cold.

"Mr. Perkins wants me to boss his job at Concord. Will look it over. Charles will work with me." October 30, 1854

Despite keeping busy, it seems as though on November 4th, a depressed Frank hints at what E.A.H.'s last name is, though much of the writing is illegible. Possibly E.A. Hane or E.A. Home. The next day he "Have a bad headache this morning, shall not ____ ____ today. Walked to E.A.H. in the PM, she did not get home ____ because of ____" (If anybody else can read help translate depressed scribble, I will credit you)

November 4-6, 1854

Whatever happened that night may have been the turning point. All of a sudden, things start looking bright...

"Two offers of work. Concord job pays $1.75 a day. Ward and Walker offer the same money. Can hardly choose."

"Bought an overcoat for $6.00 then changed for a better one. Paid $2.00 more."

WOW! Splurging $8 on a coat? Somebody was feeling unstoppable that day!

"Settled with Asa Kimball to date $6.00. Settled with George Kimball to date $16.95."

Whenever Frank begins to "settle up" there is always a change ahead.

"8th November I have picked up my tools and am almost ready to go to Concord."

November 10, "Charles and I are now working for H.E. Perkins, Esq."

They just started to work when "Charles went home on the 3 o'clock train. So cold he could not work. I paid his fare. Shall board at the Pavilion House."

Eventually, his hand writing returns to normal as Frank focuses on work. He mentions that he read a letter from E.A.H. November 20th and in that entry, her initials are back to being neat. He wrote her back on the 25th.

Charles comes back and the entries in the diary are the same for a number of days, "Working with Charles, as usual," or simply, "On the work."

"Went to a clam supper. Levi is coming to work with me too." So the brothers followed Frank as he developed new interests.

The entry for December 3, 1854 is what looks like Frank coming to terms with the end of a relationship by writing a poem. He took time with the handwriting and words on this page, even though he also played with some numbers just above. As I was flipping though the pages and snapping away, I had to stop for a second and read it.

"I have...
I've thought of thee, beloved one
But must think of thee no more.
I have loved thee well and fondly
But the sunny dream is o'er.
'Tis past. I'll not upbraid thee
With my faded hopes--but yet
Something in this crushed heart whispers
That thou canst not me forget."

...and just like that, the fling was over. 

Don't worry about Frank, he'll find his "beloved one". As far as I can tell though, E.A.H. is never mentioned again. It seems like he went to see her at one point in November, but unfortunately for us, maybe fortunately for them, the details of whatever happened between the two are forever lost.

-Art Fusco