ANTIQUE HANDWRITTEN LEDGER SPARTANBURG COUNTY SC Woodruff/Cotton/Diary/Log Book
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:15719764 | Year Printed: 1893 |
| Subject: Americana | Topic: Historical |
| Original/Facsimile: Original | Binding: Hardcover |
| Special Attributes: 1st Edition, Manuscript |
FANTASTIC, ORIGINAL 19TH CENTURY MANUSCRIPT LEDGER OF A NOTED SOUTH CAROLINA MERCHANT. This important volume dates from 1893-1900 and was kept by J. B. Alexander of Woodruff, SC. Author maintained a Calvins, SC postal address and was instrumental in the founding of the Woodruff Supply Company. Established in 1897, the legendary local supply store thrived for over half a century and became "Woodruff's oldest firm". The present volume contains entries pertaining to author's own gene...ral store along with his daily life in and around Woodruff. Archive of separate material that accompanies ledger includes an envelope bearing an "Alexander Bros" address which may have been the name of author's business. The names of other Alexander family members found here include J. W. Alexander and L. M. Alexander
"Woodruff's oldest business firm the Woodruff Supply company celebrated its 50th anniversary on February 20. The organization which began in 1897 as a stock company with a capital stock of $2, 200 has increased to a two-story building with stock worth $25, 000, the owner, T. Wright Cox, said today. Mr. Cox named the stockholders of the first company as J. B. Alexander, Elliott Mason, Sr.; and Neville Holcombe, who were instrumental in starting the business: J. W. Alexander, Mrs. William Burnett, J. H. Thomas, W. F. Lanford, F. M. Skinner, S. M. Castleberry, Robert Crow, Lee Crow, Richard Burnett and Mr. Cox as the first stockholders, only two of whom, Mr. Cox and Lee Crow, are living now." (see The Greenville News, Greenville, South Carolina, Feb. 22nd, 1947, p. 7).
Fascinating handwritten volume chronicles author's busy work life prior to the founding of the Woodruff Supply Company and up through the turn-f-the-century. The well-known store's founding was presumably inspired by author's own successful general store and farming enterprise which is chronicled here. Cotton was a big seller for J. B. Alexander, with entries here for the sale of cotton sold in large quantities by both the pound and in bales. Entries for large quantities of cotton seed can also be found here. Cotton served as an important staple crop in South Carolina during the antebellum period and continued as a cornerstone of the state’s economy through World War Two. At the start of the Civil War, the cotton industry employed more than eighty percent of the state's slave labor. Cotton production totaled about 280, 000 bales in 1860 but declined to less than 180, 000 bales a decade later. By 1911 however, production reached its peak at 1.6 million bales. Cotton was produced on more than forty percent of South Carolina's improved farmland and provided the basis of the state’s economy and the tenancy system. (see Cotton, South Carolina Encyclopedia online).
In addition to cotton related entries, other items bought and sold here include blacking, guano, chicken, clothes, corn, dresses, flour, gloves, matches, meat, molasses, nails, oats, oil, onions, over pants, paregoric, pigs, shirts, shoes, soda, sugar, suspenders, syrup, tobacco, whiskey, etc. Also entries here for picking cotton and potatoes, plowing, shucking corn, scattering manure, working in mill, making dress, warehouse storage, medical attention and medicine received from Dr. Lampham, order to Lanford & Castleberry, paid road tax, etc. Names found throughout ledger and the additional material make for a treasure trove of local history and genealogy. Among the many names found here Louis Anderson, Glenn Bearden, Foster Bryson, Elijah Butler, Elijah Castleberry, Clark Coan, Charlie Fant, John Johnson, George and Thomas Meadows, Jack Nesbitt, Rubin Rayford, J. B. O. Stadman, L. H. and Maleum Turner, Joe Watson, J. R. Westmorland, Charles Whitmire, Jim Wofford, etc. A fabulous early manuscript artifact from a noted Spartanburg County, SC merchant.
Spartanburg County is located on the northwestern border of the state of South Carolina. According to recent census figures, the county is currently home to a population of about 306, 854 making it the fifth-most populous county in the state. The city of Spartanburg Is the county seat. A treaty with the Cherokee Indian Nation in 1753 originally opened up the area for white settlers. The county formed in 1785 and got its name from the Spartan Regiment, a local militia unit that fought in the Revolutionary War. During the Revolutionary War the Spartanburg area witnessed an impressive number of engagements, with more battle sites than nearly any other area in the United States. Two of these battles changed the course of the war, and thus, the history of the country. After the war, settlements sprang up around the area and the new district began to take shape by forming its own government. Following the construction of a new courthouse, the central town was named Spartanburg.
The county grew from a sparsely populated frontier trading post and later a major textile center to an important and diversified manufacturing center with more than 500 manufacturing firms. Spartanburg County is today a hub for international business with a high per capita foreign investment and over a hundred international firms such as BMW. Along with the city and county seat of Spartanburg, today the county also comprises the cities of Chesnee (partly in Cherokee County), Greer (mostly in Greenville County), Inman, Landrum, Wellford, and Woodruff; the towns of Campobello, Central Pacolet, Cowpens, Duncan, Lyman, Pacolet, and Reidville; the census-designated places of Arcadia, Boiling Springs, Clifton, Converse, Cross Anchor, Enoree, Fairforest, Fingerville, Glendale, Gramling, Inman Mills, Mayo, Roebuck, Saxon, Southern Shops, Startex, and Valley Falls; and the unincorporated communities of Switzer, Una, White Stone, Cashville, and Pauline.
Condition: Rare book remains in fair condition only (see pictures). Early ledger bound in original printed cloth with leather tips; cover worn with pages loose in binding, mild toning, scattered tearing, some pages lacking, etc. Volume contains about 86 pp. of manuscript entries plus several additional manuscripts and documents; and ledger measures approx 12" tall x 7.5" thick x .5" thick. Quite a find and a very worthy acquisition indeed.
Payment and Shipping: Please see our feedback and bid with confidence. Never a reserve and very low opening bid as always. For international shipping quote, please contact us. Bidders with no established feedback must contact us before bidding. Massachusetts residents must add 6.25% sales tax or include dealer tax resale number. Payment must be received within 3 days after close of auction. Thanks for your interest!
"Woodruff's oldest business firm the Woodruff Supply company celebrated its 50th anniversary on February 20. The organization which began in 1897 as a stock company with a capital stock of $2, 200 has increased to a two-story building with stock worth $25, 000, the owner, T. Wright Cox, said today. Mr. Cox named the stockholders of the first company as J. B. Alexander, Elliott Mason, Sr.; and Neville Holcombe, who were instrumental in starting the business: J. W. Alexander, Mrs. William Burnett, J. H. Thomas, W. F. Lanford, F. M. Skinner, S. M. Castleberry, Robert Crow, Lee Crow, Richard Burnett and Mr. Cox as the first stockholders, only two of whom, Mr. Cox and Lee Crow, are living now." (see The Greenville News, Greenville, South Carolina, Feb. 22nd, 1947, p. 7).
Fascinating handwritten volume chronicles author's busy work life prior to the founding of the Woodruff Supply Company and up through the turn-f-the-century. The well-known store's founding was presumably inspired by author's own successful general store and farming enterprise which is chronicled here. Cotton was a big seller for J. B. Alexander, with entries here for the sale of cotton sold in large quantities by both the pound and in bales. Entries for large quantities of cotton seed can also be found here. Cotton served as an important staple crop in South Carolina during the antebellum period and continued as a cornerstone of the state’s economy through World War Two. At the start of the Civil War, the cotton industry employed more than eighty percent of the state's slave labor. Cotton production totaled about 280, 000 bales in 1860 but declined to less than 180, 000 bales a decade later. By 1911 however, production reached its peak at 1.6 million bales. Cotton was produced on more than forty percent of South Carolina's improved farmland and provided the basis of the state’s economy and the tenancy system. (see Cotton, South Carolina Encyclopedia online).
In addition to cotton related entries, other items bought and sold here include blacking, guano, chicken, clothes, corn, dresses, flour, gloves, matches, meat, molasses, nails, oats, oil, onions, over pants, paregoric, pigs, shirts, shoes, soda, sugar, suspenders, syrup, tobacco, whiskey, etc. Also entries here for picking cotton and potatoes, plowing, shucking corn, scattering manure, working in mill, making dress, warehouse storage, medical attention and medicine received from Dr. Lampham, order to Lanford & Castleberry, paid road tax, etc. Names found throughout ledger and the additional material make for a treasure trove of local history and genealogy. Among the many names found here Louis Anderson, Glenn Bearden, Foster Bryson, Elijah Butler, Elijah Castleberry, Clark Coan, Charlie Fant, John Johnson, George and Thomas Meadows, Jack Nesbitt, Rubin Rayford, J. B. O. Stadman, L. H. and Maleum Turner, Joe Watson, J. R. Westmorland, Charles Whitmire, Jim Wofford, etc. A fabulous early manuscript artifact from a noted Spartanburg County, SC merchant.
Spartanburg County is located on the northwestern border of the state of South Carolina. According to recent census figures, the county is currently home to a population of about 306, 854 making it the fifth-most populous county in the state. The city of Spartanburg Is the county seat. A treaty with the Cherokee Indian Nation in 1753 originally opened up the area for white settlers. The county formed in 1785 and got its name from the Spartan Regiment, a local militia unit that fought in the Revolutionary War. During the Revolutionary War the Spartanburg area witnessed an impressive number of engagements, with more battle sites than nearly any other area in the United States. Two of these battles changed the course of the war, and thus, the history of the country. After the war, settlements sprang up around the area and the new district began to take shape by forming its own government. Following the construction of a new courthouse, the central town was named Spartanburg.
The county grew from a sparsely populated frontier trading post and later a major textile center to an important and diversified manufacturing center with more than 500 manufacturing firms. Spartanburg County is today a hub for international business with a high per capita foreign investment and over a hundred international firms such as BMW. Along with the city and county seat of Spartanburg, today the county also comprises the cities of Chesnee (partly in Cherokee County), Greer (mostly in Greenville County), Inman, Landrum, Wellford, and Woodruff; the towns of Campobello, Central Pacolet, Cowpens, Duncan, Lyman, Pacolet, and Reidville; the census-designated places of Arcadia, Boiling Springs, Clifton, Converse, Cross Anchor, Enoree, Fairforest, Fingerville, Glendale, Gramling, Inman Mills, Mayo, Roebuck, Saxon, Southern Shops, Startex, and Valley Falls; and the unincorporated communities of Switzer, Una, White Stone, Cashville, and Pauline.
Condition: Rare book remains in fair condition only (see pictures). Early ledger bound in original printed cloth with leather tips; cover worn with pages loose in binding, mild toning, scattered tearing, some pages lacking, etc. Volume contains about 86 pp. of manuscript entries plus several additional manuscripts and documents; and ledger measures approx 12" tall x 7.5" thick x .5" thick. Quite a find and a very worthy acquisition indeed.
Payment and Shipping: Please see our feedback and bid with confidence. Never a reserve and very low opening bid as always. For international shipping quote, please contact us. Bidders with no established feedback must contact us before bidding. Massachusetts residents must add 6.25% sales tax or include dealer tax resale number. Payment must be received within 3 days after close of auction. Thanks for your interest!
