In recent months, I purchased an original 1848 handwritten ledger from when the Smith Brothers had their general store in Port Byron.
It covers the dates of Sept. 2, 1848 through Dec. 21, 1848.
David B. Smith and Walter H. Smith, brothers who were from Orange County, opened the store in the building previously occupied by J.E. Smith in the fall of 1824.
This store was located on the corner of Main and Rochester streets.
The business was successful for four or five years, until the brothers separated.
The former continued the old store until about 1858, when he was succeeded by his son, John T. Smith.
The latter moved to another store across the street, keeping the same line of goods.
The store was located behind where the Lock 52 Historical Society is today.
Both brothers kept the same line of general goods, which consisted of groceries, building supplies, furniture, stoves, tobacco, hardware, coffee, candles and paper supplies.
The store also provided means to have clothing made up for customers, along with selling ladies shoes, boots and a variety of ladies “notions.”
Walter ran the store up until about 1851, when he moved back to Chemung County.
Many of the customers listed were from nearby towns such as Conquest, Victory and the surrounding areas, including women buying their “notions.”
In cases where someone purchased an item for someone else, both names were given and the price of each item that was purchased.
This ledger contains the names of some of the earliest settlers in our area such as Philip King, Seth Higley, R.W. Hoff, Wm. Hayden and his wife, Edward Dixon and his wife, George W. Milliner, Lasuvious King along with captains or canaleers who would cash their pay checks and buy supplies, listing the packet boat they were on. One such boat was called the “Lady Suffolk.”
This store was an important stop on the Erie Canal, which explains why so many customers whether transient or local made this business so successful.
Penny Helzer is historian for the village of Port Byron. She can be reached at 776-5300 or e-mail CraftyPenny@tds.net
David B. Smith and Walter H. Smith, brothers who were from Orange County, opened the store in the building previously occupied by J.E. Smith in the fall of 1824.
This store was located on the corner of Main and Rochester streets.
The business was successful for four or five years, until the brothers separated.
The former continued the old store until about 1858, when he was succeeded by his son, John T. Smith.
The latter moved to another store across the street, keeping the same line of goods.
The store was located behind where the Lock 52 Historical Society is today.
Both brothers kept the same line of general goods, which consisted of groceries, building supplies, furniture, stoves, tobacco, hardware, coffee, candles and paper supplies.
The store also provided means to have clothing made up for customers, along with selling ladies shoes, boots and a variety of ladies “notions.”
Walter ran the store up until about 1851, when he moved back to Chemung County.
Many of the customers listed were from nearby towns such as Conquest, Victory and the surrounding areas, including women buying their “notions.”
In cases where someone purchased an item for someone else, both names were given and the price of each item that was purchased.
This ledger contains the names of some of the earliest settlers in our area such as Philip King, Seth Higley, R.W. Hoff, Wm. Hayden and his wife, Edward Dixon and his wife, George W. Milliner, Lasuvious King along with captains or canaleers who would cash their pay checks and buy supplies, listing the packet boat they were on. One such boat was called the “Lady Suffolk.”
This store was an important stop on the Erie Canal, which explains why so many customers whether transient or local made this business so successful.
Penny Helzer is historian for the village of Port Byron. She can be reached at 776-5300 or e-mail CraftyPenny@tds.net
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