Discover your inside story with AncestryDNA®

August 17, 2008

Stacy & Kyes Store ledger Rushford, Allegany County New York

I have an old ledger book from the Stacy & Kyes store in Rushford, Allegany County New York which lists sales of goods (and who bought them!) from 1868 to 1872. The Gazetteer and Business Directory Of Allegany County, N.Y. for 1875 lists a Wm. E. Kyes as a seller of dry goods, groceries, boots, shoes, hats, caps, crockery etc., on Main Street in Rushford.

Stacy and Kyes sold drugs, paints, books, groceries and just about everything else you can think of. For example, in May 1868 we find Albert Woods. Albert came into the store every day over a period of 10 days, each time buying one item. On May 12th he bought crackers for 16 cents. May 13th he returned and bought 3 lb of sugar for 78cents. Over the next few days he bought a fourth of tobacco for 25 cents, a 1/2 lb. of tea, and 95 cents worth of groceries.

A few days later Albert returned for more tobacco! Albert's wife may have been baking for the very next day he bought a sack of flour for $3.30. July saw Albert buying oil - one gallon for 60 cents. In August he bought alcohol for 56 cents and a couple of days later another sack of flour. I wonder if there was a reunion or party planned? Over a time period of 3 months Albert spent $10.75 total at the store.

The index pages from the Stacy & Kyes Store ledger have been scanned and put online on AncestorsAtRest.com.

No comments: