Diary of Doctor Justin Allen of Topsfield from 1858 to 1880

This volume is Doctor Justin Allen's diary from 1858 to 1880. Doctor Allen did not write in his diary every day, just when he had something of interest to record, frequently an interesting medical case. Some of these medical cases are very sad, children unable to breathe with diphtheria, and new mothers with convulsions from infectious fevers. From December 3, 1859, we have this remarkable entry, "Yesterday was the time appointed for hanging John Brown in Charleston [W.] Va. for treason, murder . . . John Brown . . . will be held as a martyr, a hero in the future." He was superintendent of schools, worked to establish the free Town Library, and served as president of the Historical Society. He bequeathed the sum of $8,000 to fund the Civil War monument, Wounded Color Sargent.