Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1923-12-28
ANCIENT LEDGER
INTERESTINGRELIC
Hastings Hitchcock Has Unique Rec
ord of Old Days = Some
Comparisons


Trail Garage is the owner of an ac-
count book or ledger which is an in
teresting record of business trans
actions in New York state near the
Canadian line in 1889. The book
was originally the property of Mr..
Hitchcock's great grandfather, Seth
S. Douglas, Britton, N. Y. 1t was
handed to us this week by Charlie
Warren.
In looking over the accounts we
are struck by the various items used
as legal tender in those days. Labor,
potatoes, oats, wood, corn, rye, pork
and beef seemed to predominant as
collateral.
The largest account in the book
is against "Peter, the Frenchman," "
although Felix Marcot was no mean
customer. Rents were something
fearful in those days, as we note that
one customer was charged the big
sum of $1.25 per month for house.
Woolen goods, however, were high,
as Joseph Akan was charged 81 ito
1 pare mittings," but he made up
on this by getting "6 pipes 06c."
John Garnet got SO for chopping
9 cords of wood. Felix Marcot paid
soc for 'SO pounds flower" Hard
wood" sold at 50 per cord, the soft
variety for 81. Robert Johnson was
charged "To pants and trimmings,
s2.91." We wonder just how John
had 'em trimmed. blanchard" was
charged, "sharping sisors, 12c."
Charles Clemant was soaked SAC for
"tea and fish"
Wear and tear was evidently fig
ured up in those happy days, as
one item reads, "To taring my cloths
SOC"
Henry Mcclure will realize at once
that he charges too much for hoss
board when he reads this item' TO
keeping horse days, Soc"
George Gill had an account with
the company which was closed on
Dec. II. but right under this item
anpears the announcement, Com
menced I'd time" and George was
evidently hungry, for the first charge
was "To 1 order on store, $2.oV.
In Charles Faven's account ap-
naars this item, "To paid Stanton for
brandy. 4Oc." Why, Charlie!
"schinneyhorne" was charged
q, 81 for 81 pair pataloons and
shirt" -
..The oald Frenchman" got lnto
+bo firm for $1.63, and no crealts
aro noted in his account. The same
hold. true of Joseph, the Sawyer
who got grubstaked to the extent OIL
2S cents. - ha
..H. L.eavensworth" appeared 10 pe
tbe official constable in that neck oi %
+bo woods, and Col Fountain VIII
annraciate these items: "Writ, Walk
or VS. Williams, IL miles, copy
o1c,, "Hassan VS.. Scott, wrlI' ~
miles. copy, $1.45.
CHARLES Russell served one writ
50 miles for 1898.
corvis the Frenchman commenced
,vorl at $40 per month, but ne hau
70 sign up for Sh months to get
these big wages. Edward the irlsn-
man started in at $5, and the nrs'
nntation is 'Lost days going 10
Montreal and u day going aIter
mare boots" 1t looks pau ioi - -
Itch "The Irishmen" are started
TIC account book Oct. Win
.aonmanced work." but the beggars
evidently quit before noon, as there
aro no further entries. PRANK tne
piock Frenchman" worked from june
90 - Oct I, at which time ne TOOK
shirt and csc and departed.
pridget Toughey commenced WORK
Anr / at 50 month, but she was
80 ertravagant at the store that on
Nov 2s she had but $8.l4 coming
to her. .,,uouo,b n
The account book runs through 70
the year 1853, when the entries
cease. o4o+,one
oud miscellaneous stuff evidently
.aoa for markers. One Of these is
uoem uoeu written by E. C. Wright May
70 1892, consisting OF four verses
It ig-oh, we'll, read it;
coma forth ON the mountains in May
And view the first blossoms o.
spring
sweet blackbirds are waroling tnen
lay
Secure in the greenwood they sing
IN praising our heavenly King