Biography:

David Russell Hearn

A native of Georgia, David Russell Hearn moved to Mississippi after the Civil War. He settled near Madison Station, Madison County, where he engaged in farming and owned and operated Alford's Mill. Hearn was appointed as the first postmaster of Tougaloo, Mississippi, on July 26, 1876. That same year, he reportedly built a steamboat at Alford's Mill for H. E. Glasscock. Hearn was appointed as a trustee of Tougaloo University in 1880, 1890, and 1894. He was also a member of the board of visitors for the 1886-1887 academic session of Tougaloo University. Hearn and his wife, Martha Jane Mixon Hearn, had four children: Alice M., H. B., James Asbury (II), and Maude.

 

Scope and Content Note:

This collection primarily consists of thirteen diaries kept by David Russell Hearn, Martha Jane Mixon Hearn, and Alice M. Hearn. David Hearn's diaries cover 1877 and 1883 and document his daily activities and business transactions with Madison Station-area residents. Martha Hearn's diaries are the most significant in the collection and cover 1873 to 1876, 1882 to 1884, 1886, and 1891 to 1909. Her diaries contain numerous references to family matters, household activities, and local weather data. Of special importance are the entries that document her culinary and sewing skills. Alice M. Hearn's combination diary and memory book contains scattered entries for 1893. The collection also contains Hagaman Power Hearn's 1902 baby book. It provides biographical data on the infancy and early childhood of Hearn, a grandson of David Russell Hearn.

 

Series Identification:

Series 1: David Russell Hearn Diaries. 1877; 1883. 2 items.

David Hearn's two diaries cover 1877 and 1883 and primarily record daily business transactions and local weather data. They also describe his work on the printing equipment at Tougaloo University. Hearn's diaries contain scattered entries for the years that they cover.

Box 1: 1877; 1883

 

Series 2: Martha Jane Mixon Hearn Diaries. 1873-1876; 1882-1884; 1886; 1891-1909. 10 items.

Martha Hearn's ten diaries relate daily activities, family matters, local weather data, and household accounts. They also contain useful genealogical information on the Hearn family. Of special importance are the diary entries reflecting Martha Hearn's skills as a homemaker, especially her talents as a seamstress. She frequently records making aprons, collars, cuffs, dresses, pants, quilts, shirts, skirts, and undergarments. Martha Hearn also mentions broom, sausage, soap, and starch making; molasses drawing; hanging meat; leaching ashes; and cooking on an open hearth. She prefaces most of her diary entries with a benediction or prayer.

Box 1: 1873-1876; 1882-1884
Box 2: 1891-1901
Box 3: 1886
Box 4: 1902-1909

 

Series 3: Alice M. Hearn Diary. 1893. 1 item.

This series consists of Alice M. Hearn's combination diary and memory book for 1893.

Box 3

 

Series 4: Baby Book. 1902. 1 item.

This series consists of Hagaman Power Hearn's baby book entitled Baby's Biography, by A. O. Kaplan. It contains biographical data on the infancy and early childhood of Hearn, a grandson of David Russell Hearn.

Box 4

 

Series 5: Miscellany. 1877; 1880; 1886-1887; 1894; 1896; 1898-1899; 1901-1904; 1906-1909; 1923; undated. 55 items.

This series contains a variety of items, including a few scattered letters written by various Hearn family members; advertisements, articles, obituaries, and poetry clipped from newspapers; and printed materials relating to children.

Box 4