Manuscript diary of S. M. Bower, a lightning rod salesman, recording his travels in the Midwest (primarily Illinois) in 1869. The diary includes notes on Bower’s cash accounts and expenses and his daily journal records of work, in which he includes names and addresses, towns visited, weather, and other incidents. Bower also recorded cures for various human ailments, such as hangovers, and ailments in horses, for example, "For cold in Horses" and "cure for poll evil".