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To have been able to buy a quart of whiskey for 12 1/2-cents and another quart a few days later for 14 cents seems to have been a "low" market but when a barrel of whiskey was sold for $5.75 3/4 "them must have been the good old days", according to folk who have turned over the pages of an old ledger of Matthew Laughlin back in 1826, when Mr. Laughlin kept a store in the vicinity of Beaver Creek just over the Ohio-Pennsylvania State line.
This old book was handed down to Homer Laughlin, and when he removed to California, the ledger remained hidden in an obscure comer of the Laughlin home on Broadway. A few days ago the old ledger was discovered by workmen who are making improvements to the property, and its time-stained pages show that little money changed hands in those days. Accounts were squared by giving and taking merchandise at a particular market price.
Scrawled in ink across the top of an old newspaper clipping is TRIBUNE, July 26,1921. The heading reads. "Ledger Owned by Matthew Laughlin in 1826 is Found". Subheading - "Old Book Discovered by Workmen Improving Property On Broadway Contains Some Interesting Entries."; it was written by M.K. Zimerman. The Store was apparently located in the Smith's Ferry - Glasgow Area. Broadway refers to a street in East Liverpool, Ohio.
Several accounts were balanced by Mr. Laughlin writing in the ledger "by note in hand in full".
The ledger was opened early in 1826 and on the very first page in very bold and elegant script at the top of the page was the name "John Ansley." On March 26,1826, Mr. Ansley bought 10 pounds of ten penny nails from Mr. Laughlin for $1.10. Then on June 1 the same year, Mr. Ansley sold to Mr. Laughlin a barrel of whiskey and was credited with $7.56 1/4. This same account also shows that on February 6, 1826, Mr. Ansley sold another barrel of whiskey to Mr. Laughlin for $7.04. The account also shows that horse collars sold for $1.25 and bridles brought $1.
On November 29, 1828, this ledger shows that John Babb bought 100 "segars" for which he paid $1.
Charles Blackmore on March 1, 1825 bought a pound of tobacco for 18 3/4 cents.
Benoni Blackmore, on May 27,1826 bought "powder and lead" at a cost of 27c; a lamp tape for 56 1/4c; one hair comb for 12 1/2c and a curry comb for 25c. Mr. Blackmore received a credit on February 9, 1826 for 41 bushels of wheat at $16.40 and on December 6, the same year, there is a credit "by barrel whiskey 311/2 gal" but there is no price given in the credit column.
Page six in this ledger shows the name of "Widow Blackmore". One entry shows "Widow Blackmore" bought 3 1/2 yards of muslin for 2.18 3/4c.
Page seven of the ledger shows the name of Thomas Blackmore. The debtor column shows Mr. Blackmore to have borrowed $1.50 from Mr. at the store on September 9, 1826. On December 4 the same year there was a purchase of a penknife for 37 1/2c and December 23 there is shown the purchase of a quart of whiskey for 14c.
The credit column of this account shows Mr. Blackmore to have sold a barrel of whiskey for $5.76 1/2 and also a credit "by beef" of $1.29 1/2. Another credit shows where he sold Mr. Laughlin 21 bushels and 29 pounds of wheat for $16.11.
Jacob Biddle had the store to post a letter for him July 29,1826, which cost 18 3/4c and on May 26 the same year he bought "one gill of sweet oil" for 18 3/4c. One gill of caster oil was bought the same day for the same amount then in credit items on this account March 12, 1829 are these words; "by note of hand in full $21.59".
"To balance in exchange of hats 50c" reads a line in the account of John Clarke, while another entry shows he bought a half pound of powder for 25c.
At other times Mr. Clarke bought 888 feet of lath for $3.22 1/2 and 100 --lbs of flour for $2.50. One pair of shoes is shown to have cost $1.25.
"To one pint flask 12 1/2c" reads a line in the short account of Daniel Cunningham, while a credit line shows he sold the store five bushels of wheat for $2.
Two spelling books cost Joseph Deringer 40c February 2, 1826, while a pound of tobacco cost him 12c and a "set knives and forks" cost $1.75.
Page 45 of the ledger was given George Dawson who sold the store one barrel of 36 gallons of whiskey for 25c per gallon or $9.00. Among his purchases at the store was "one looking glass" for which he paid $2.25.
Nicholas Dawson sold the store 10 gallons of apple butter for $2.50, and on December 7, 1826 he purchased "2 yards home made flannel, 80c".
Mathew Elder took a lot of flax seed to the store and received a credit of $167.59 which balanced his account, May 19, 1826.
On July 7, 1826, Joshua Dawson bought 46 1/2 pounds of bacon at the store. Then turned around and sold the store "one mans saddle" for $13, and four horse collars for $4.73.
Written in the credit column of the account of Thomas Foster is found the following: "by I spectacle case that was charged to you in a mistake May 19,1823, 50c.". This entry was made under date of Sept. 17, 1836.
Between the pages in the ledger was a receipt made out to Thomas Moore from James Reynolds, teacher, March 15, 1828, which reads:
"For 2 scholars sent to the Union school for two quarters, each at $1.75 and $7.00. Received of Thomas Moore the above sum of seven dollars in full March 20th 1828".
Another credit slip found in the ledger, but on which there is no name are the following entries:
Work at mill 35 days, $10.97. 3 1/2 at dam 1.75. 1 day fetching flat from Liverpool 50c. 7 days at logs $3.50. 1 chopping wood 50c. 4 days at sundries $2.00. 1 hauling barrels $1.25.
Judging from this old account, fifty cents seems to have been the price of day labor, while seventy-five cents was the price for a team.
The old record is in an excellent state
of preservation, and contains the details of 238 accounts. The
ledger is a book of approximately 500 pages, bound in leather
and shows very little wear for a volume so aged.