FREDERICK COUNTY MARYLAND Brunswick MD Antique Handwritten Store Ledger 1877
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:3173 | Year Printed: 1877 |
| Original/Facsimile: Original | Topic: Historical |
| Special Attributes: 1st Edition, Manuscript | Subject: Americana |
IMPORTANT, ORIGINAL 19TH CENTURY MANUSCRIPT LEDGER FROM A NOTED FREDERICK COUNTY, MARYLAND MERCHANT. This historically significant volume dates from 1877-1878 and was kept by the Boteler & Gross general store in Brunswick, MD. Popular store was a mainstay in the community for decades and "one of the largest general merchandise houses in western Maryland" (see History of Frederick County, Maryland by T. J. C. Williams, 1910, Vol. 2, p. 977). During this early period in the city's hi...story, Brunswick was still known as Berlin (with a Barry post office address). It was not until 1890 that Brunswick was officially incorporated as a city. William L. Gross (b.1857) became a principle in the store in 1877, the same year in which the present volume commences. He would later buy out his partner Lingam Boteler and become one of the county's most prominent citizens like his father, county commissioner and state legislator Charles Gross (1815-1892). (Scroll down for more pictures).
"William L. Gross...was reared on the old homestead near Jefferson, Frederick County, and educated in the public schools of his home district. He followed agricultural pursuits until he was twenty years of age. Then, in 1877, he came to Berlin, now Brunswick, and purchased a half interest in the general merchandise store of Lingam Boteler, the firm name being Boteler & Gross. This partnership lasted for nine years, until 1886, when Mr. Gross purchased the half interest of Mr. Boteler. He has since continued to conduct the business alone. In the thirty-three years he has been engaged in business in Brunswick...Mr. Gross has met with much success...The first year he took charge of the store the sales were less than $10, 000, and in 1908, the amount of goods sold aggregated over $61, 000. His store is one of the largest houses of its kind in western Maryland, and Mr. Gross is recognized as one of Brunswick’s most prominent and progressive business men. He has managed his store with a sagacity and foresight that stamp him as a man of fine executive capacity and rare mercantile acquirements. Mr. Gross is a public-spirited citizen, and has always supported anything that promised to benefit the community. He was chairman of the committee through whose efforts the present system of water works was established in Brunswick in 1909. The water supply is pumped from an artesian well, 305 feet deep, from which flows ninety gallons a minute...thus giving one of the highest pressures of any water plant in the State of Maryland. Mr. Gross’ efforts were largely instrumental in securing this needed improvement. In politics, Mr. Gross is a staunch adherent of the Democratic party, but he has never sought public office, preferring to devote all his time and energy to his large business." (see History of Frederick County, Maryland by T. J. C. Williams, 1910, Vol. 2, p. 978).
Fantastic handwritten volume contains about 366 pages of entries chronicling William L. Gross's first year in the business which became an economic cornerstone in western Maryland. It is evident by the large number of transactions over a relatively brief period of time that the thriving store was already a hub of activity and popular one-stop shopping destination. Hundreds of customer names can be found throughout making for a treasure trove of early Brunswick and western Maryland history and genealogy. Included are various members of both the Gross and Boteler families. Among the innumerable items found throughout ledger include allspice, almanacs, bags, bails of tobacco, balls and spools of cotton, bottles of vanilla and snuff, blocks and boxes of matches, concert tickets, cups and saucers, dozens of eggs, cakes of glycerin and soap, chocolate cakes, cigars, cedar buckets, cloves, coats, gallons of syrup, garden rakes, horse buckets, knitting balls, lamp chimneys and wicks, linen towels, looking glasses, nutmeg, pants, plugs of tobacco, pounds of coffee, herring, lard, mackerel, nails, nut coal, roasted coffee, tea, etc., pairs of boots, shoes, strap hinges, suspenders, etc., paper pens, pass books, paste boards, reams of paper, sacks of rags, shovels, sides of bacon, spice, straw hats and mats, tin buckets, [train or stagecoach] travel tickets to places such as Washington, vests, vials of laudanum, wash boards, window blinds, yards of calico, denim, flannel, muslin, etc. This is a mere fraction of the products sold by Boteler & Gross, and many large quantities suggest the store also engaged in the wholesale trade selling to other vendors. An amazing manuscript artifact from western Maryland and the city of Brunswick.
Brunswick is located in southwestern Frederick County, Maryland. The city is situated on the north bank of the Potomac River with Loudoun County, Virginia occupying the opposite shore. According to recent census figures, the city's population currently stands at about 5, 870. The area now known as Brunswick was originally home to the Susquehanna Indians. In 1728 the first settlement was built, and the region became known as Eel Town, because the natives would fish for eel in the Potomac River. A grant to the land was then given to John Hawkins by George II of Great Britain on August 10th, 1753. The grant had the name "Hawkins Merry-Peep-o-Day".
The land was sold and Leonard Smith platted it in 1787 with the name of “Berlin, ” as many Germans settled in the area. The name “Berlin, ” however, could not be used for mail as there was already a Berlin on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, so the post office changed the name to "Barry." The town continued to grow and was incorporated April 18th, 1890 with the name “Brunswick.” Established along the now-defunct Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, the city became a hub for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, which built a six-mile-long rail yard along the Potomac from 1891 to 1912, boosting the population to over 5, 000 and making Brunswick virtually a company town. The railroad reduced its yard operations in the 1950s and today Brunswick is home to a commuter rail station serving Washington, D.C.. It is also home of the Brunswick Heritage Museum which interprets the history of the city and is home of a large model railroad showing why the city's location was important to the railroad.
Along with Brunswick, Frederick County today also comprises the city and county seat of Frederick; the towns of Burkittsville, Emmitsburg, Middletown, Mount Airy (partly in Carroll County), Myersville, New Market, Thurmont, Walkersville, and Woodsboro; the village of Rosemont; the census-designated places of Adamstown, Ballenger Creek, Bartonsville, Braddock Heights, Buckeystown, Jefferson, Libertytown, Linganore, Monrovia, Point of Rocks, Sabillasville, Spring Ridge, and Urbana; and the unincorporated communities of Charlesville, Clover Hill, Creagerstown, Discovery, Garfield, Graceham, Green Valley, Ijamsville, Knoxville, Ladiesburg, Lewistown, Lake Linganore, Linganore, New Midway, Petersville, Rocky Ridge, Spring Garden, Sunny Side, Tuscarora, Utica, and Wolfsville. Frederick County is also adjacent to numerous counties including Carroll County, Howard County, Montgomery County, and Washington County, Maryland; Adams County and Franklin County, Pennsylvania; and Loudoun County, Virginia.
Condition: Rare book remain in fair condition only (see pictures). Covers and spine lacking, some loose pages, a few closed tears, mild toning, scattered minor staining and ink smudging, etc., generally clean internally with ink bold and legible throughout. Early ledgers contains about 366 pp. of manuscript entries; and measures approx 16" tall x 6.5" wide x 1" thick. Quite a find and a very worthy acquisition indeed.
"William L. Gross...was reared on the old homestead near Jefferson, Frederick County, and educated in the public schools of his home district. He followed agricultural pursuits until he was twenty years of age. Then, in 1877, he came to Berlin, now Brunswick, and purchased a half interest in the general merchandise store of Lingam Boteler, the firm name being Boteler & Gross. This partnership lasted for nine years, until 1886, when Mr. Gross purchased the half interest of Mr. Boteler. He has since continued to conduct the business alone. In the thirty-three years he has been engaged in business in Brunswick...Mr. Gross has met with much success...The first year he took charge of the store the sales were less than $10, 000, and in 1908, the amount of goods sold aggregated over $61, 000. His store is one of the largest houses of its kind in western Maryland, and Mr. Gross is recognized as one of Brunswick’s most prominent and progressive business men. He has managed his store with a sagacity and foresight that stamp him as a man of fine executive capacity and rare mercantile acquirements. Mr. Gross is a public-spirited citizen, and has always supported anything that promised to benefit the community. He was chairman of the committee through whose efforts the present system of water works was established in Brunswick in 1909. The water supply is pumped from an artesian well, 305 feet deep, from which flows ninety gallons a minute...thus giving one of the highest pressures of any water plant in the State of Maryland. Mr. Gross’ efforts were largely instrumental in securing this needed improvement. In politics, Mr. Gross is a staunch adherent of the Democratic party, but he has never sought public office, preferring to devote all his time and energy to his large business." (see History of Frederick County, Maryland by T. J. C. Williams, 1910, Vol. 2, p. 978).
Fantastic handwritten volume contains about 366 pages of entries chronicling William L. Gross's first year in the business which became an economic cornerstone in western Maryland. It is evident by the large number of transactions over a relatively brief period of time that the thriving store was already a hub of activity and popular one-stop shopping destination. Hundreds of customer names can be found throughout making for a treasure trove of early Brunswick and western Maryland history and genealogy. Included are various members of both the Gross and Boteler families. Among the innumerable items found throughout ledger include allspice, almanacs, bags, bails of tobacco, balls and spools of cotton, bottles of vanilla and snuff, blocks and boxes of matches, concert tickets, cups and saucers, dozens of eggs, cakes of glycerin and soap, chocolate cakes, cigars, cedar buckets, cloves, coats, gallons of syrup, garden rakes, horse buckets, knitting balls, lamp chimneys and wicks, linen towels, looking glasses, nutmeg, pants, plugs of tobacco, pounds of coffee, herring, lard, mackerel, nails, nut coal, roasted coffee, tea, etc., pairs of boots, shoes, strap hinges, suspenders, etc., paper pens, pass books, paste boards, reams of paper, sacks of rags, shovels, sides of bacon, spice, straw hats and mats, tin buckets, [train or stagecoach] travel tickets to places such as Washington, vests, vials of laudanum, wash boards, window blinds, yards of calico, denim, flannel, muslin, etc. This is a mere fraction of the products sold by Boteler & Gross, and many large quantities suggest the store also engaged in the wholesale trade selling to other vendors. An amazing manuscript artifact from western Maryland and the city of Brunswick.
Brunswick is located in southwestern Frederick County, Maryland. The city is situated on the north bank of the Potomac River with Loudoun County, Virginia occupying the opposite shore. According to recent census figures, the city's population currently stands at about 5, 870. The area now known as Brunswick was originally home to the Susquehanna Indians. In 1728 the first settlement was built, and the region became known as Eel Town, because the natives would fish for eel in the Potomac River. A grant to the land was then given to John Hawkins by George II of Great Britain on August 10th, 1753. The grant had the name "Hawkins Merry-Peep-o-Day".
The land was sold and Leonard Smith platted it in 1787 with the name of “Berlin, ” as many Germans settled in the area. The name “Berlin, ” however, could not be used for mail as there was already a Berlin on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, so the post office changed the name to "Barry." The town continued to grow and was incorporated April 18th, 1890 with the name “Brunswick.” Established along the now-defunct Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, the city became a hub for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, which built a six-mile-long rail yard along the Potomac from 1891 to 1912, boosting the population to over 5, 000 and making Brunswick virtually a company town. The railroad reduced its yard operations in the 1950s and today Brunswick is home to a commuter rail station serving Washington, D.C.. It is also home of the Brunswick Heritage Museum which interprets the history of the city and is home of a large model railroad showing why the city's location was important to the railroad.
Along with Brunswick, Frederick County today also comprises the city and county seat of Frederick; the towns of Burkittsville, Emmitsburg, Middletown, Mount Airy (partly in Carroll County), Myersville, New Market, Thurmont, Walkersville, and Woodsboro; the village of Rosemont; the census-designated places of Adamstown, Ballenger Creek, Bartonsville, Braddock Heights, Buckeystown, Jefferson, Libertytown, Linganore, Monrovia, Point of Rocks, Sabillasville, Spring Ridge, and Urbana; and the unincorporated communities of Charlesville, Clover Hill, Creagerstown, Discovery, Garfield, Graceham, Green Valley, Ijamsville, Knoxville, Ladiesburg, Lewistown, Lake Linganore, Linganore, New Midway, Petersville, Rocky Ridge, Spring Garden, Sunny Side, Tuscarora, Utica, and Wolfsville. Frederick County is also adjacent to numerous counties including Carroll County, Howard County, Montgomery County, and Washington County, Maryland; Adams County and Franklin County, Pennsylvania; and Loudoun County, Virginia.
Condition: Rare book remain in fair condition only (see pictures). Covers and spine lacking, some loose pages, a few closed tears, mild toning, scattered minor staining and ink smudging, etc., generally clean internally with ink bold and legible throughout. Early ledgers contains about 366 pp. of manuscript entries; and measures approx 16" tall x 6.5" wide x 1" thick. Quite a find and a very worthy acquisition indeed.
