The Pastor's Diary documents the life of a Methodist circuit pastor, salesman, and farmer from Washington, Ohio, from 1878 to 1881. The collection includes one handwritten, leather-bound diary. Salient topics cover the weather, milling of corn, raising livestock, church activities, local festivals, funerals, marriages, yellow fever outbreaks, local and national elections, and a hanging. The author also mentions twice attending a sermon at a camp meeting for people of color. Mentioned geographic locations are Cincinnati, Groveport, Rees Station, Yankeetown, Lockburn, Lancaster, Darbyville, and Circleville, among others.