HANDWRITTEN BLACKSMITH & FARRIER LEDGER Antique Account Book Jefferson County OH

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HANDWRITTEN BLACKSMITH & FARRIER LEDGER Antique Account Book Jefferson County OH:
$137.50

FANTASTIC, ORIGINAL MID-19TH CENTURY MANUSCRIPT LEDGER OF A NOTED OHIO BLACKSMITH. This terrific volume was penned by John Neel and dates from 1844-1873, with the majority of entries dating from the 1840s. Records indicate John Neel, who signed ledger in a number of places, was a skilled blacksmith in Jefferson County, Ohio. He also taught his brother Samuel the blacksmith trade (see Portrait and Biographical Record of Allen and Van Wert Counties, Ohio, 1896, p. 587). The skill level shown by the variety of entries within this early handwritten book is astounding, as compiler John Neel tackles everything from horseshoeing and shovel making to repairing sleighs and buggies--and everything in between. (Scroll down for more pictures.)Majority of entries date from 1844-1846 and chronicle John Neel\'s blacksmithing activities in fascinating detail. Numerous customer names can be found throughout along with specific activities performed and charges paid by customers. Entries include altering hooks, banding pump and bolt, bar iron, bar stone coal, cutting wheelbarrow tire, drilling saw, fixing buggy, fixing buggy seats, fixing latch, fixing lock chain, fixing pole, fixing rake and hoe, fixing wagon, grindstone, hooping tub, ironing shafts, ironing sleigh whiffletree, linchpin in pole, making lock irons, linking log chains, making buckles, making corn cutters, making gate hinges, making harrow teeth, making irons for porch, making knives, making new horse shoes, making screw bolts, making shovel, mending door latches, mending forks, mending open wing and staples, mending shafts, mending wagon, point on cotter, putting irons on doubletree, putting irons on whiffletree band, putting on horseshoes, removing log chain links and open links, repairing horse hobbles, repairing plow share, repairing rings, sharpening and setting horse shoes, sharpening auger, sharpening mattocks, sharpening plow irons, sharpening shear and colts, welding clips, welding log chain link, welding tire, etc.Jefferson County is located in Eastern Ohio along the West Virginia border and just a few short miles from western Pennsylvania. The county is named for Thomas Jefferson, who was at the time Vice President, and the county seat is Steubenville. Jefferson County was organized on July 29th, 1797 by proclamation of Governor Arthur St. Clair, six years before Ohio was granted statehood.In 1786, the United States built Fort Steuben to protect the government surveyors mapping the land west of the Ohio River. When the surveyors completed their task a few years later, the fort was abandoned. In the meantime, settlers had built homes around the fort; they named their settlement La Belle. When the County was created in 1797, La Belle was selected as the County seat. The town was subsequently renamed Steubenville, in honor of the abandoned fort. During the first half of the 19th century, Steubenville was primarily a port town, and the rest of the county consisted of small villages and farms. However, in 1856, Frazier, Kilgore and Company erected a rolling mill (the forerunner of steel mills) and the Steubenville Coal and Mining Company sank a coal shaft, resulting in Jefferson County becoming one of the leading centers of the new Industrial Revolution. Jefferson County\'s population has declined to seventy percent of its 1960 figure as its manufacturing base collapsed over the last few decades.Along with the county seat of Steubenville, Jefferson County today also comprises the villages of Adena, Amsterdam, Bergholz, Bloomingdale, Dillonvale, Empire, Irondale, Mingo Junction, Mount Pleasant, New Alexandria, Rayland, Richmond, Smithfield, Stratton, Tiltonsville, Wintersville, and Yorkville; the townships of Brush Creek, Cross Creek, Island Creek, Knox, Mount Pleasant, Ross, Salem, Saline, Smithfield, Springfield, Steubenville, Warren, Wayne, and Wells; the census-designated place of brilliant, and the unincorporated communities of Alikanna, Annapolis, Bradley, Calumet, Circle Green, Connorville, Costonia, Deyarmonville, Dunglen, East Springfield, Emerson, Fairplay, Fernwood, Georges Run, Gould, Greentown, Hammondsville, Herrick, Hopewell, Knoxville, Monroeville, New Somerset, Osage, Piney Fork, Port Homer, Pravo, Ramsey, Reeds Mill, Rush Run, Unionport, Warrenton, Wolf Run, Weems, and York.Condition: Rare book remains in good overall condition (see pictures). Ledger bound in original leather backed marbled boards; cover worn with front cover detached though present and rear joint cracked, mild toning, scattered minor staining, etc., generally clean internally. Most entries in black or blue ink with a few penciled entries in back. Majority of entries pertain to compiler\'s blacksmithing activities with a few entries pertaining to other matters. It appears the family later moved to Mansfield in Richland County, Ohio. Volume contains about 107 pp. of manuscript entries; and measures approx 15.5\" tall x 6.5\" wide x .5\" thick. Quite a find and a very worthy acquisition indeed.Payment and Shipping: Please see our response and offer with confidence. Never a reserve and very low opening offer as always. For international shipping quote, please contact us. buyers with no established response must contact us before offerding. Massachusetts residents must add 6.25% sales tax or include dealer tax resale number. Payment must be received within 5 days after close of sale. Thanks for your interest!