The diary of Nathan D. Allen contains material on life in Webster Groves, with accounts of the 1849 cholera epidemic, the Civil War in St. Louis, and mentions of meeting Abraham Lincoln and Henry Shaw. The Civil War portion of the diary contains brief entries of general war news and affairs in St. Louis. It includes the following entries relating to the capture of Camp Jackson and related affairs in St. Louis in early May 1861: --May 9: “600 guns 5 Cannon and ammunition from Baton Rouge La. arrive and taken to Camp Jackson (from U.S. Arsenal at Baton Rouge).” --May 7-8: “4000 Home Guards marched to Arsenal armed and mustered into service.” --May 10: “100 soldiers U.S. and the Home Guards under Capt Lyon surround Camp Jackson and take all prisoners, who are marched to the Arsenal and paroled. Mob secession fired at Union soldiers after surrender fire returned about 30 persons killed.” --May 11: “10th Ward Home Guards fired on 2 killed corner 5th & Walnut. Jackson men burn bridges on P.R.R. [Pacific Railroad] and retreat west.” --May 12: “Funeral of E. Wright killed at Camp Jackson Great Panic 1000ands of families fled from city on rumor that the Dutch were going to burn the City.” The diary also includes a description of meeting Abraham Lincoln on a train in Illinois (entry dated February 1, 1861) and mention of seeing the actor and future assassin John Wilkes Booth at the theater (entry dated April 29, 1862).