In 1860 New Hampshire, blacksmiths earned $1.50 a day, which added up to $9.00 a week or $468.00 a year. Their earnings had to cover both personal expenses and materials for their trade. Everyday costs included $0.38 per pound for butter, $0.15 per pound for corned beef, and $19.00 per acre for farmland. Even something as simple as starch cost $0.16 per pound, making budgeting an ongoing challenge.
Their work was demanding and essential to the community. Blacksmiths typically worked 10 to 12 hours a day, six days a week, shaping tools, horseshoes, wagon parts, and even industrial components. The job required precision, endurance, and skill as they worked with fire and heavy materials. On top of their physical labor, blacksmiths had to purchase and maintain their own tools and supplies, such as coal and iron, which added to their financial burden.
Blacksmiths were the heart of their communities, keeping everything running smoothly. They provided farmers with plows, repaired tools for builders, and even crafted intricate metalwork for machinery and transportation. Their trade was a blend of artistry and utility, helping drive both local economies and the rapid expansion of 19th-century America. Without their craftsmanship, the growing towns and industries of the time would have struggled to thrive.