Item #26700 Manuscript Journal of William D. Olmsted & Co. covering September 1, 1863 through June 29, 1864. William D. Olmsted.
Manuscript Journal of William D. Olmsted & Co. covering September 1, 1863 through June 29, 1864
Manuscript Journal of William D. Olmsted & Co. covering September 1, 1863 through June 29, 1864
Manuscript Journal of William D. Olmsted & Co. covering September 1, 1863 through June 29, 1864
Manuscript Journal of William D. Olmsted & Co. covering September 1, 1863 through June 29, 1864
Manuscript Journal of William D. Olmsted & Co. covering September 1, 1863 through June 29, 1864
Manuscript Journal of William D. Olmsted & Co. covering September 1, 1863 through June 29, 1864
Manuscript Journal of William D. Olmsted & Co. covering September 1, 1863 through June 29, 1864
Manuscript Journal of William D. Olmsted & Co. covering September 1, 1863 through June 29, 1864
Manuscript Journal of William D. Olmsted & Co. covering September 1, 1863 through June 29, 1864
Manuscript Journal of William D. Olmsted & Co. covering September 1, 1863 through June 29, 1864
Manuscript Journal of William D. Olmsted & Co. covering September 1, 1863 through June 29, 1864
A milling operation (moulding, doors, windows...) during the Civil War

Manuscript Journal of William D. Olmsted & Co. covering September 1, 1863 through June 29, 1864

[Genessee County, New York]: Not published 1863-1864. First Edition. 360 numbered pages plus notations on endpapers. Folio (9 x 13 3/4 inches). Stamped reverse calf with leather with diced leather reinforcements on the edges and center of spine. Three compartment labels on the spine: "Journal | D | W.D.O. & Co." the middle on red leather, the others on brown. Marbled endpapers. "W. D. Olmsted & Co. Journal D" inked on flyleaf. Entirely manuscript journal/ledger in multiple hands with additional notes on the blank endpapers. Sound, if worn. Very Good. Boards. [26700]


The journal records many interesting items. One entry J Lathrop & Co [bankers in Le Roy] draft $1000 Sep 1,, 1863. Another J Lathrop & Co. to cash: "To this amt Pennsylvannia money" for $150. Many transactions with certain kinds and amounts of lumber - we see pine, oak, hemlock, black walnut moulding, etc. Projects include doors, windows, sash, coffin, clapboards, shingles, norway [pine?], bead, moulding, matched, lath bundles, etc. Many mentions of Batavia Yard (lumber yard?). Each transaction with named customer or supplier, amount, and details about what was being sold/purchased. Mention of turning, machine work, sawing, etc. Hundreds of names of customers, private and institutional. Oddities like glazing street lamps, ash for a cider press, ballusters, and the normal like railroad/railway and cartage charges. That's in the first 50 pages or so we scanned through. A quick flip through finds on p166 "To paid for a soldier" $5, use of saw, and 223 feet of culls. Shortly after Bot. Sleigh Shoes.

Beer's work "Our County and it's people, A Descriptive work on Genessee County, New York", 1890 includes the following biographical note on William D. Olmsted:

"Olmsted, William D. p. o. Oakfield, N. Y., was born in Le Roy, February 19, 1832, a son of Stephen and Barbara (Parmelee) Olmsted. His father was a native of Vermont and came to Genesee county at an early day, with less than one dollar in money and an axe, and took up land in Le Roy; he died in 1883. W. D. Olmsted was educated at Cary Collegiate Seminary and Old Round House at Le Roy. After finishing his schooling he engaged in the milling business. As an upright, trustworthy citizen Mr. Olmsted has established an undoubted claim, and his interest in the good of his town and its people is worthy of note. His wife was Frances A. Parmelee, who has borne him two sons - Carlos P. and Herbert W."

A wealth of research possibilities into a type of business not often found.

Price: $750.00