Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-08-05
|. P. BAKER HAS
OLD ACCOUNT BOOK
SHOWS RECORD OF BUSINESS
WHEN FATHER OPERATED
STORE OVER 60 YEARS AGO.

r. p. Baker has in his possession
an heirloom that he prizes much for
its historical worth. He expects to
present 1t to the state historical
society, where it will be kept among
other articles Of an early day IN Iowa
1t is an old account book kept by MS
father when the latter operated gen
eral store in old Iowaville more than
half century ago. The book is OF an
old fashioned leather binding, some
twenty inches long, by about eight
inches wide. 1t Is full of faded Ink
notations that represent the daily
business dealings of country general
store Of sixty odd years ago.
The binding despite the age is but
little worn. although the book
Is somewhat misshapen, due per-
haps to having been wet and warping
as it dries. The ink In which the
hundreds of accounts are marked is
faded to tan brown with age, but re-
mains quite distinct.
The interesting features Of the old
book are many for 1t shows the style
OF doing business In an early day and
is compared to the present time, quite
crude. Debts and credits appear to-
gether and names that we're once COM
mon In southern Iowa are found In
scribed on Its pages.
THE character of the stock carried
by the store and the variety OF mer-
chandise attract attention for the ar
ticles Of dry goods and groceries are
almost equaled by those of hardware
and drugs, and Of course there is no
end OF the numerous articles of wear
Ing apparel for both sexes and all ages
that are enumerated.
It is in the prices paid for staple
articles of food and raiment three
score years ago compared with what
is paid for the same things today that
make the book interesting to look in
to, For instance, one finds in one
customers account the charge Of $22
for stove. Another's purchases for
the day is as follows:
Eight yards of braid at 1920; four
yards Of calico at soc: two yards OF
Bingham at soc; one yard Of domestic
(muslin), 15c; one parasol for 40c;
eight ounces of indigo at SOC; six
tumblers at 75c.
QUITO VI INC VTICS0s
One finds prices such as these, ten
pounds Of cheese at eighty cents; a
hushel OF potatoes at fifty cents; one
fourth pound Of tea, twenty-five cents;
two dozen Of eggs for ten cents and
three pounds of butter for twenty-five
cents. Shoes ranging from seventy
i've cents to $1.30 per pair and slip.
pers at seventy-flve cents were COM
mon charge. One bottle of vermifuge
ut twenty-five cents and cough candy
for twenty-five cents, ague pills at
eeventy-fve cents and variety of pro-
prietary medicines went to make up
the drugs sold at the store. A Jennie
Lind comb for twenty cents, powder
and shot, nails, etc., are enumerated
IN the varied stock. Sugar sold at
ten cents per pound and a bushel of
oats varied from twenty-five to thirty
cents. A set of teaspoons for twenty.
i've cents and speller for twelve
cents were charges on one account.
Another was nine pounds of meat for
sixty.three cents, while still another
charge was for 100 pounds of pork for
81 and twenty-three pounds of the
same at ninety-two cents. Five chick
ems were listed at ,forty-two cents,
pair Of suspenders brought sixty-two
cents, while fiddle strings were sold at
twelve cents, side of sole leather
for 81, watch chain for fifty cents,
Dix pounds of coffee tor 81 and forty"
I'VE bushels Of lime at $3.50.
Z The department stores Of today may
carry larger stock, but from the old
account book Of John D. Baker it
would seem that none of them carry
. more varied lot Of articles than did
his general store.
Mr.. Baker was pioneer in south
ern Iowa, coming from Bloomington,
Ill.,, in 1888 to place three miles be-
low Iowaville, where he built mill
b 1855 and from 1S46 to 1852 operated
me general store. The account book
from which the above figures were
taken was used in tho store during
1851.
Iowaville, which was located be.
Moines river, like old Ashland, is no
longer town but rather more of
memory with old settlers. At one time
It was an Indian agency and when the
river was navigated much Of the
transportation was by the packets
that piled the stream and the balance
by wagon overland.
Mr. Baker came to Ottumwa in the
sixties and made this city his home
for many years before his death, which
occurred
T. P, S. D., and A. w. Baker, well
known residents, are his sons.
How to Cure Colds.
Avoid exposure and drafts. Eat
right. Take DR.. Kings New Discovery.
r. kills and DESTROYS the cold germs All