10/21/2026
From 1856 to 1863, Henry Mayer documented 130 pages of his daily life in Collinsville as a farmer and brewery owner. His Farm Journal provides rare insight into the highs and lows of an entrepreneur during the mid-nineteenth century and highlights the effects of the Civil War and economic hardship on everyday life in the region.
During his seven years in Collinsville, Mayer and his family resided at 429 Vandalia Street, a grand home still well known to many Collinsville residents. He farmed wheat, corn, oats, and barley and maintained a large vegetable garden and fruit orchards on his property, having as many as 112 apple trees in 1861. He routinely noted daily temperatures and weather patterns and often fretted about how they would impact his crops. He also documented important events in the lives of his farm animals, such as mating or illness, and recorded when crops were planted or harvested.
Upon entering the b**r brewing business in 1858, Mayer also began journaling about operations at the Collinsville Brewery. Almost immediately, he considered selling the business. In addition to inconsistent sales and product quality, Mayer struggled with staff who drank on the job, had poor work ethic or poor temperament. He stopped brewing b**r in 1861 due to the state of the economy, writing on February 6, “There will be about 2 more brews then I am done with the business, I hope forever. I shall try to sell or rent.” He was finally able to sell the brewery in 1865, two years after leaving Collinsville.
While Mayer’s Farm Journal was primarily dedicated to farming and other business ventures, he also touched on family life, personal ailments, and his thoughts on the Civil War. On July 19, 1862, he wrote “The last news from England is more favorable for a recognition of the southern confederacy; anything that will bring peace.” While Mayer seemingly held Southern sympathies, more than anything he wanted the war to end to ease the financial strife he was experiencing during that time.
For more information, please stop by the Museum and view our new exhibit, Henry Mayer’s Farm Journal. The Museum is open Wednesday through Saturday from noon to 4 p.m.
