COOPER & COBBLER HANDWRITTEN LEDGER Mercer & Venango County PA Miles Genealogy
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:3197 | Year Printed: 1832 |
| Subject: Americana | Topic: Historical |
| Original/Facsimile: Original | Binding: Hardcover |
| Special Attributes: Signed, 1st Edition, Manuscript |
AMAZING, ORIGINAL EARLY 19TH CENTURY MANUSCRIPT LEDGER OF A NOTED PENNSYLVANIA COOPER & COBBLER. This important early volume dates from 1832-1851 and was kept by Lewis Miles (1790-1860) of Mercer County and later Venango County, Pennsylvania. The majority of entries here date from the 1830s when author was active in his coopering and shoemaking activities in Mercer County. Much information is available online about author, who was a War of 1812 veteran and resided in Pittsburgh for... a time. He also lived in Mercer County for many years before relocating to Venango County in 1839 where he settled in the village of Wallaceville in Plum Township. An original portrait photograph of Lewis Miles and his wife taken later in life can be found online (see gallery picture). (Scroll down below description for more pictures).
"While living in both Mercer County and Plum township he made and repaired boots and shoes for his family and neighbors. He also made quantities of kegs, buckets, meat tubs, pork and flour barrels and churns too. He generally got 50c for making a pair of shoes, and for repairing them his charges varied, like 15 and 20 cents. He generally got 25c for a butter keg, 35 or 40 cents for buckets, 25 or 30 cents for flour barrels, one or two dollars for a meat tub, and a dollar for a churn. Some of his oldtime neighbors in the Wallaceville-Sunville area with whom he did business...were Joseph Campbell, Samuel Hawthorn, Thomas Green, Peter Grove, Miles McAlevy, William Cowan, John Davison, James Davison, Philo Williams, James Loker, John Rodgers, Samuel Thomas, Robert Brown, W. W. Davison, Dr. Fielding Donaldson and Daniel Ware. In 1848 and 49 Lewis spent a considerable number of days laying road and poor taxes, and also laying out new roads in the township. In 1850 Lewis was an assistant assessor in Plum. Lewis received a warrant for 160 acres of land in 1857. This was a bounty for his services in the War of 1812. Apparently being in failing health, Lewis made his will on May 5, 1859." (see Venango County Pennsylvania online, Who was who in Plum Township, Titusville Herald by H. W. Strawbridge, 1950s-60s).
Fascinating early volume contains chronicles author's extensive coopering and cobbler activities in both Mercer and Venango counties. Among the many entries found here include making, hooping, and repairing kegs, buckets, pickling tubs, washing tubs, meat tubs, lard tubs, flour barrels, pork barrels, well buckets, vinegar kegs, butter kegs, griddles, cheese hooks, etc. Author also applies his considerable skills to shoemaking as he makes and mends shoes, fine shoes, boots, laced boots, etc. He also soles footwear and purchases needed material such as leather skins, soul leather, fox skin, pounds of iron, etc. In addition to numerous coopering and cobbler related entries, author also engages in various other activities such as laying roads, settling with road master, settling with auditors, hauling loads, work with horses and wagon, sawing, harvesting, threshing, laying on poor tax, etc. Other entries here include cooper ware, pine ware, venison, several feet of three quarter boards, pumpkin butter, saddle, bushels of corn and oats, etc. An absolutely fascinating early artifact from Mercer and Venango counties in Pennsylvania.
Mercer County is located in northwestern Pennsylvania. According to recent census figures the county is currently home to a population of about 110, 683. Its county seat is Mercer and the county's largest city is Hermitage. Mercer County was originally created in 1800 and organized in 1803. Mercer County today comprises the cities of Farrell, Hermitage, and Sharon; the boroughs of Clark, Fredonia, Greenville, Grove City, Jackson Center, Jamestown, Mercer, New Lebanon, Sandy Lake, Sharpsville, Sheakleyville, Stoneboro, West Middlesex, and Wheatland; the townships of Coolspring, Deer Creek, Delaware, East Lackawannock, Fairview, Findley, French Creek, Greene, Hempfield, Jackson, Jefferson, Lackawannock, Lake, Liberty, Mill Creek, New Vernon, Otter Creek, Perry, Pine, Pymatuning, Salem, Sandy Creek, Sandy Lake, Shenango, South Pymatuning, Springfield, Sugar Grove, West Salem, Wilmington, Wolf Creek, and Worth; the census-designated places of Lake Latonka and Reynolds Heights; and the unincorporated communities of Blacktown, Carlton, Clarks Mills, Fairview (village), Hadley, Kennard, Kremis, Milledgeville, New Vernon (village), Osgood, Petersburg, Transfer, and Williams Corners.
Venango County is also located in northwest Pennsylvania. According to recent census figures, the county is currently home to a population about 54, 984. Its county seat is Franklin. The county was originally created in 1800 and later organized in 1805. Venango County was created from parts of Allegheny and Lycoming Counties. The name "Venango" comes from the Native American name of the region, Onenge, meaning Otter. This was corrupted in English as the Venango River. The settlement at its mouth was likewise called Venango, and is the site of present-day South Side of Oil City, Pennsylvania. The county was home to an oil boom in the years following the discovery of natural oil (petroleum) in the mid-1850s. Venango County today comprises the cities of Franklin and Oil City; the boroughs of Barkeyville, Clintonville, Cooperstown, Emlenton (partly in Clarion County), Pleasantville, Polk, Rouseville, Sugar Creek, and Utica; the townships of Allegheny, Canal, Cherrytree, Clinton, Cornplanter, Cranberry, French Creek, Irwin, Jackson, Mineral, Oakland, Oil Creek, Pine Grove, Plum, President, Richland, Rockland, Sandy Creek, Scrubgrass, and Victory; the designated-places of Hannasville, Hasson Heights, Kennerdell, Seneca, and Woodland Heights; and the unincorporated communities of Bredinsburg, Cranberry, Dempseytown, Fertigs, Petroleum Center, Raymilton, Siverly, and Venus.
Condition: Rare book remains in good overall condition (see pictures). Early volume bound in original leather-backed marbled boards; cover worn with some staining and corners bumped, mild toning, scattered minor staining and ink smudging, etc., generally clean internally with ink legible throughout. Volume contains about 80 pp. of manuscript entries with some additional blank pages in back; and measures approx 7.5" tall x 6" wide x .5" wide. 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. 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 5 days after close of auction. Thanks for your interest!On May-23-19 at 20:15:36 PDT, seller added the following information:
"While living in both Mercer County and Plum township he made and repaired boots and shoes for his family and neighbors. He also made quantities of kegs, buckets, meat tubs, pork and flour barrels and churns too. He generally got 50c for making a pair of shoes, and for repairing them his charges varied, like 15 and 20 cents. He generally got 25c for a butter keg, 35 or 40 cents for buckets, 25 or 30 cents for flour barrels, one or two dollars for a meat tub, and a dollar for a churn. Some of his oldtime neighbors in the Wallaceville-Sunville area with whom he did business...were Joseph Campbell, Samuel Hawthorn, Thomas Green, Peter Grove, Miles McAlevy, William Cowan, John Davison, James Davison, Philo Williams, James Loker, John Rodgers, Samuel Thomas, Robert Brown, W. W. Davison, Dr. Fielding Donaldson and Daniel Ware. In 1848 and 49 Lewis spent a considerable number of days laying road and poor taxes, and also laying out new roads in the township. In 1850 Lewis was an assistant assessor in Plum. Lewis received a warrant for 160 acres of land in 1857. This was a bounty for his services in the War of 1812. Apparently being in failing health, Lewis made his will on May 5, 1859." (see Venango County Pennsylvania online, Who was who in Plum Township, Titusville Herald by H. W. Strawbridge, 1950s-60s).
Fascinating early volume contains chronicles author's extensive coopering and cobbler activities in both Mercer and Venango counties. Among the many entries found here include making, hooping, and repairing kegs, buckets, pickling tubs, washing tubs, meat tubs, lard tubs, flour barrels, pork barrels, well buckets, vinegar kegs, butter kegs, griddles, cheese hooks, etc. Author also applies his considerable skills to shoemaking as he makes and mends shoes, fine shoes, boots, laced boots, etc. He also soles footwear and purchases needed material such as leather skins, soul leather, fox skin, pounds of iron, etc. In addition to numerous coopering and cobbler related entries, author also engages in various other activities such as laying roads, settling with road master, settling with auditors, hauling loads, work with horses and wagon, sawing, harvesting, threshing, laying on poor tax, etc. Other entries here include cooper ware, pine ware, venison, several feet of three quarter boards, pumpkin butter, saddle, bushels of corn and oats, etc. An absolutely fascinating early artifact from Mercer and Venango counties in Pennsylvania.
Mercer County is located in northwestern Pennsylvania. According to recent census figures the county is currently home to a population of about 110, 683. Its county seat is Mercer and the county's largest city is Hermitage. Mercer County was originally created in 1800 and organized in 1803. Mercer County today comprises the cities of Farrell, Hermitage, and Sharon; the boroughs of Clark, Fredonia, Greenville, Grove City, Jackson Center, Jamestown, Mercer, New Lebanon, Sandy Lake, Sharpsville, Sheakleyville, Stoneboro, West Middlesex, and Wheatland; the townships of Coolspring, Deer Creek, Delaware, East Lackawannock, Fairview, Findley, French Creek, Greene, Hempfield, Jackson, Jefferson, Lackawannock, Lake, Liberty, Mill Creek, New Vernon, Otter Creek, Perry, Pine, Pymatuning, Salem, Sandy Creek, Sandy Lake, Shenango, South Pymatuning, Springfield, Sugar Grove, West Salem, Wilmington, Wolf Creek, and Worth; the census-designated places of Lake Latonka and Reynolds Heights; and the unincorporated communities of Blacktown, Carlton, Clarks Mills, Fairview (village), Hadley, Kennard, Kremis, Milledgeville, New Vernon (village), Osgood, Petersburg, Transfer, and Williams Corners.
Venango County is also located in northwest Pennsylvania. According to recent census figures, the county is currently home to a population about 54, 984. Its county seat is Franklin. The county was originally created in 1800 and later organized in 1805. Venango County was created from parts of Allegheny and Lycoming Counties. The name "Venango" comes from the Native American name of the region, Onenge, meaning Otter. This was corrupted in English as the Venango River. The settlement at its mouth was likewise called Venango, and is the site of present-day South Side of Oil City, Pennsylvania. The county was home to an oil boom in the years following the discovery of natural oil (petroleum) in the mid-1850s. Venango County today comprises the cities of Franklin and Oil City; the boroughs of Barkeyville, Clintonville, Cooperstown, Emlenton (partly in Clarion County), Pleasantville, Polk, Rouseville, Sugar Creek, and Utica; the townships of Allegheny, Canal, Cherrytree, Clinton, Cornplanter, Cranberry, French Creek, Irwin, Jackson, Mineral, Oakland, Oil Creek, Pine Grove, Plum, President, Richland, Rockland, Sandy Creek, Scrubgrass, and Victory; the designated-places of Hannasville, Hasson Heights, Kennerdell, Seneca, and Woodland Heights; and the unincorporated communities of Bredinsburg, Cranberry, Dempseytown, Fertigs, Petroleum Center, Raymilton, Siverly, and Venus.
Condition: Rare book remains in good overall condition (see pictures). Early volume bound in original leather-backed marbled boards; cover worn with some staining and corners bumped, mild toning, scattered minor staining and ink smudging, etc., generally clean internally with ink legible throughout. Volume contains about 80 pp. of manuscript entries with some additional blank pages in back; and measures approx 7.5" tall x 6" wide x .5" wide. 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. 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 5 days after close of auction. Thanks for your interest!On May-23-19 at 20:15:36 PDT, seller added the following information:
