I have a diary written in 1870 by Oscar Shaw who was a bookkeeper on board a steamboat that traveled from Ripley, Ohio to Cincinnati and back. He talks about social life, his kids, neighbors, church, steamboats, their captains and passengers, friends,business men, evangelists, and famous people. I have traced the families to 1890 via the census. It is most interesting and gives insight to the people of that time, and brings the Shaw family to life.