The Charles R. Greene shoemaker’s ledger
By Douglas H. Shepard, 2011
In 2009, Colin Kourelis was renovating a house at 154 Middle
Road in Dunkirk. A false wall was taken down and behind it was found a
small (3¾” x 6¼”) memorandum book with lined pages. The covers are gone and
many of the empty back pages have been chewed into by some nest-building
creature. A few of the pages have pencil or crayon scribbling, so the
supposition is that the little book was lying around in the attic, used briefly
by a small child and then dropped into the space behind the false wall on the
floor below.
An inside flyleaf has a penciled inscription that can just be
made out:
C. R. Greene
Boots & Shoes
No. 71 Main St.
Fredonia
N.Y.
Boots & Shoes
No. 71 Main St.
Fredonia
N.Y.
Number 71 Main Street today would be 7 East Main
Street, a store in what was called the American Block. In the 1870s (the
small booklet has entries from August 1872 through April 1873), the business at
71 Main Street was Frazine, Greene & Co., boots, shoes & rubber
goods. The proprietors were George N. Frazine, Charles R. Greene and Leverett
B. Greene.
Charles (the C. R. Greene of the memorandum book) used the
booklet to make a kind of shorthand record of orders he received, whether or
not they were completed, and what was the charge for the work. The penciled
entries later had two parallel ink strokes marked through them, probably
indicating that his records had been entered into the store’s ledger of all
accounts, and, no doubt, more neatly written out for a permanent record.
Charles R. Greene was born on 8 November 1848 to Roselle and
Eliza (Barker) Greene. Roselle Greene had come to Fredonia in 1832 to
apprentice with Leverett Barker, Fredonia’s very successful tanner, who had
married Desire, the daughter of Hezekiah and Sarah Barker (no relation) and
built the first brick house in the village in 1821, today’s Barker Historical
Museum. Roselle Greene became a partner of Leverett Barker’s, marrying his
daughter Eliza in November 1837. The family also had tanneries, mills, and
homes in Versailles NY.
When Leverett Barker died in May 1848, Roselle Greene became the
head of the household, with Eliza responsible for Emeline Barker, 17; Julia
Barker, 14; and their own children, Leverett B. Greene, 8; Mary B. Greene, 6;
and Kate Greene, 3. Charles followed in November 1848. Roselle Greene died in
1859, leaving Leverett Barker Greene to take over his father’s role. Charles
attended the local school and was able to have five terms at the Fredonia
Academy from 1865 through 1867. He must then have apprenticed as a shoemaker,
so that he was able to become a partner in the Frazine, Greene & Co. shoe
store in April 1872. (G. N. Frazine was probably the money behind the business
rather than an active partner, since he had long been a successful hardware
merchant, established a coal yard and was involved with several other ventures
over the years.) Once established in the store, Charles Greene married Alice,
the daughter of Franklin and Ann Burritt, in October 1872.
Unfortunately, Charles became ill. His ledger entries end on 11
April 1873 and he died on 9 November 1874 of “congestion of the brain,” age 26.
His young widow, Alice B. Greene, moved back in with her parents, the Franklin
Burritts, until 1 May 1879, when she was married to Frank Conn of Dunkirk,
manager of the Western Union Telegraph Office there. They lived on Fifth Street
at the corner of Eagle Street, about at 19 West 5th Street, moving to
Brooklyn NY by 1887. Because the house where the ledger was found, 154
Middle Road, was not built until the later 1920s, Charles Greene’s ledger
must have been preserved, perhaps by accident, elsewhere. It may have come to
Dunkirk with Alice Greene when she married Frank Conn and was left, then, at
their 5th Street home. There is no way of knowing how it migrated to
the Middle Road attic and behind the false wall.
The original small ledger has been donated to the Barker
Historical Museum through the generosity of Colin and Susan Kourelis, along
with a scanned version. That will allow researchers to examine the entries without
having to handle the fragile original. The ledger and the scan are accompanied
by a printed transcription of the ledger’s text along with an index to the
names which would be of particular interest to genealogists and local
historians.
Ledger
Aug 19 1872
N Palmer Geo
wife
A Pr Shoes
1
“ Rubber
20
Clara Whitney
1 Pr Shoes
23
Miss Lydia Denton
1 shoes
O Simmons
3 (?) Shoes
Warren Kellogg
1 Shoes boy
Mrs David Griggs
1 Shoes
Mrs Potter
1 Slips
[Slippers?]
26
Albert Tarbox
1 Shoes Mrs
Eliza Lester
To 1 Pr slips
J (?) A Putnam
1 Pr Boot
F C Crane
1 Pr Boots
30
Frank Wiley
1 Pr Boots
Watson Wood
1 Pr Shoes
L.A.Barmore
1 Pr Shoes order
Sept 3
B W Cotton
1 Bot[tle]
Blacking
H C Frisbee
1 Pr Shoes
4
A Corwin (?)
Pr Cartage (?)
5
D Smith
1 Pr Rubber
Henry Polfus
3 Pr shoe
6
Thos Horton
1 Pr Shoes Mrs
“ “
½ Doz “ Strings
1 Pr rubbers
C M Ball
1 light glass
& setting
Sept 7
L B Greene
1 Pr Shoes
H[ired?] Girl
C M Ball
1 Box Blacking
2 Pr Shoes
2 “ Rubber
2 “ Slippers
1 Doz Strings
1 Bot Benze (?)
[Benzene?]
1 “
Dressing
1 Light Glass
& Setting
O Simmons
1 Pr Shoes Dust (?
Daut?)
9
L F Harrison
2 Box Blacking
1 pr Slip
Watson (?)
Calvin
Hutchin[son?]
1 Pr slips
10
L A Barmore
Ex (?) chang e
chairs
Frank Oneal
1 Pr shoes
Mrs W Ryman
1 Pr Shoes
12
J (?) B Gardner
1 Pr Shoes Daut
Amos
Harrison (?)
1 Pr shoes
13
A S Roberts
1 Pr Shoes
Per Mrs J
Hamilton (?)
1 Pr shoes H
G “
A S Roberts
1 Pr Shoes
“
“ “ H.G
per Mrs J Hamilton
14
Cha(?) Bartram
2 shoes Mrs
1 slips
16
Carlton Wilcox
2 Pr Shoes
1 Pair Pls Gaiters
1
Cha(?) Bartram
2 shoes Mrs
1 slips
16
Carlton Wilcox
2 Pr Shoes
1 Pair Pls Gaiters
1
“ Childs “
19
A S Couch
1 Pr Rub
O Simmons
1 Pr Rub Daut
20
Hurb Tarr
1 Pr Shoes Mrs
Dian Beebe
2 Shoes
Geo Tate
1 Pr Shoes Mrs
21
Jairus Porter
1 Pr Shoes
24
Putnam Bros
1 Pr Shoes firm
(?)
W McKinstry
Pr Shoes Lewis
25
A H Barker
1 Pr Boot
26
Alvaro Wilson
1 pr Shoes Mrs
Dr Moore
2 Doz strings
28
Wm? Cooper
1 Pr Shoes
L S Riggs
1 Pr Boots
Wm Smith
1 Pr Boots
30
P H Stevens
1 Pr Boots pr Mr ?
Oct 2
Erastus Waters
Bal on Boots
Henry Polfus
1 Pr Boots
5
Allen (?) McEllwell
1 Pr Boots
EdWatson
1 Pr Boots
Putnam bros
1Pr Boots John
Clary
1 “ Rub a o
P
Norm (?) Palmer
Bal on Boots
8
Mrs S Snow
2 Pr shoes Paid
Frank Munger
3 (?) Pr shoes
Jack Baker
1 Pr shoes cash
(?)
10
J M Parker
1 Pr shoes
L Stearns
1 Pr Boots
Ensign Ellis
1 Pr Boots
Tom (?) Glinn
1 Pr Shoes
11
C R Greene
? Trade
12
B W Cotton
1 pr Boots for
Brooks(?)
S G Bailey
1 Pr Shoes Daut
W H Bettis
2 Pr Shoes
14
B W Cotton
1 Pr rub
E Hillard
2 Pr Shoes
J C Parker
1 Pr Rub Daut
15
S N Hatch
1 Pr Shoes
M Batcheldor
1 Pr Shoes
1
“ “
1
“ “
Geo White
1 Pr Rub
1 Doz string
16
Stephen Reed
1 Pr Boots Fred
Tuttle
O M Couch
1 Pr Shoes
2
“ “
Step[h]en
Palmer Arkwright
1 Pr Boots
A Corwin
By Cartage
17
W(?) M(?) Sloan
1 Pr Shoes
18
J Gardner
1 Pr Rubs
Ance Luce
1 Pr Boots
David (?) Barker
2 Pr Shoes Mrs
21
H R Barker
1 Pr shoes Mrs
W ??
McElwood (?)
2 Pr shoes
Cr
1 Pr Ret[urned?]
Nov 4 1872
B W Cotton
1 Pr Rubs Daug
6
A Palmer
1 Pr Boots H. boy
8
J B Gardner
1 Pr Shoes
Geo Rood
2 Pr Slips Mrs
9
Geo W Knott
1 Pr Shoes
N Palmer
1 Pr Shoes Bot
wife
12
Geo White
2 Pr Shoes
C O Wilcox
3 Pr Rub
1
“ “
13
L B Greene
2 for
Feckler ???
H ?? Terrell
1 Pr Boots
Vincent Dunn
1 Pr Boots
14
Miss Smith
1 Pr Shoes
August Bouquin
1 Pr Shoes
15
John Fagan
1 Pr Boots
16
Mrs W
W McKinstry
1 Pr Shoes
1 “
Rubs
1 “
Slips Doves (?)
Wm B Law
1 Pr Boots
Richard (?)
Cushing
Pete M
Hilton (?)
Geo White
1 Pr Slips
18
E Baldrick
1 Pr Rb Boots
Cr
? 1¼ Cords
wood
C R Green
Abel (?) Badrich
19
For ? Mrs Towers
1 Pr Rub
21
A S Roberts
1 Pr Rubs
Pat Fagan
2 Pr Rubs
22
D Pritchard
1 Pr Rubs
23
E O Wilcox
1 Pr Rubs
John Fagan
By Cash
Alex McElwell
2 Pr Rubs
Stephen Palmer
1 Pr Boots Son
25
J N Rowe
1 Pr Shoes
1 “
Rubs
28
O Simpson (?)
Daug
2 Pr Shoes
29
M H Sacket
2 Pr Shoes
Sam Warren
1 Pr Shoes boy
B (?) D K Benjamin
1 Pr Shoes
30
Dr Chas Smith
1 Pr Rubs
Nov
1 “ Daug
30
1
Shoes ??
Stephen
Reed 1 Pr Boots
James Irving
1 Pr Boots
boy (?)
Dr Chas Smith
1 Pr Rubs wf ?
1
“ “ Daug
1
Shoes
Albert ????
1 Pr Rubs
Dec 2 1872
Saml Cranston
5 Rush Potatoes
C R Greene
5 Rush P Cranston
3
Allen Pierce
1 Pr Boots
Pat McDonald
1 Pr Rubs
Dom Clark
2 Pr Shoes
Geo Rood
1 Pr Boot &
Insoles?
By (?) Richard I
Mercer
Benj Skinner
1 Pr Shoes
4
Henry Pemberton
By 1 Pr Shoes Ret
Wm Plank
1 Pr Rub B [Rubber
Boots?]
Richard Edmons
1 Pr Rubs
5
Tim Canty
2 Pr Shoes
6
W G Till
1 Pr Rubs sf (sp?)
1 “
Slips
Geo H. White
2 Pr Rubs avenue
7
E H Thatcher
1 Pr Shoes Mrs
Hurb Tarr
1 Pr Boot &
Insoles
L B Greene
Let g d? H Tarr
Jack Sage
1 Pr R Boots &
Insoles
9
Norman
Renolds (?)
Wood C R G
C R Greene
To the above
S S Crissy
1 Pr Rub A
10
C R Greene
1 Pr Rubs MRs
Henry Davis
1 Pr Shoes
1 “ Rubs
11
James ? H. Lake?
1 Pr Shoes Mrs ?
L A Barmore
1 Pr Heels putting
on
12
Corrington Barker
Bal on Goods
1 Pr shoes ?
1 Slips
W
McKinstry Rec
To order
13
Sam Williams
1 Pr Shoes
1 Button Hook
H G Wilber
1 Pr Shoes
1 Pr rubs
14
O Simmons
2 Shoes
1 Pr Rubs
D Morris
1 Pr Slips
1
“ “
Robt Housdell
1 Pr Shoes
Hurb Davis
1 Pr Boots
Alec Mc Ellwell
1 pr Shoes
16
C M Ball
1 Pr Boots
1
“ “
A H Barker
1 Pr Slips
18
??? Swan
1 Pr Rubs
Mrs
20
W McKinstry
1 Pr Rubs per
order
?? Manton
2 Pr Slips
21
Morgan L Rice
1 Pr Bootsfor Geo
Rice
Patrick McDonald
1 Pr Shoes
24
A O Putnam
1 Pr Shoes
1
“ “
Anne Bartram
2 Pr Slips
L T Parker
1 Pr rubs
W McKinstry
1 Pr Shoes Mrs
Sr ?
1 Pr Rubs order
string
Order 24/ -- Bal
15
Chas Pringle
1 Pr rubs
27
Joseph Gardner
1 Pr Boots
28
D K Benjamin
2 Pr Rubs
30
Nelson A Mansfield
1 pr Shoes
C R Greene
1 pr Rubs
1 Pr Shoes Mrs
Robt Hasedell
Jan 2 1873
JAirus Porter
1 Pr Shoes
C R Greene
To Chg ? E D
Howard
4
Chas Davey
1 Pr Boot
Mrs
C M Ball
1 Pr Shoes
L A Barmore
1 Pr Rub daug
H S Morton
1 Pr Boots
John Dickinson
1 Pr Shoes Mrs
6 C R Greene
Cr K R Palmer
7
Arkwright
Stephen Palmer
1 Pr Boots
8
Stephen Reed
1 Pr felt Shoes
W W Cotton
1 Pr Rubs
C R Greene
1 Cash
C R Greene
To Trade
13
Russell Beckwith
1 Pr Rub
17
? ? Nobles
1 Pr Shoes avenue
18
Wm G Fell ?
2 Pr Shoes
W A Adams
1 Pr Shoes
Anson Reed
1 Pr Boots
19
Hanson Roberts
1 Pr Shoes
21
P H
Stevens & Co
1 Pr Rubs little
Frank
O Simmons
1 ?? Mak 1 Pr
Boots
22
D S
Stratman ?
1 Pr Shoes
C O Wilcox
1 Pr Rubs
August Burquin
1 Pr Boots
Geo Havens
1 Pr Shoes
25 C O Wilcox
1 Pr Shoes Daut ?
? L Barmore
2 Pr Shoes
Boot
A O Putnam
1 Pr Rubs
27
??? Tuffts ?
1 Pr Rubs
28
Thos Prushaw
1 Pr Rubbers
30
W W Odell
1 Pr Rub Boots
Feb 1
R H Wolfers
1 Pr Boots artur
D A White
1 Pr Rubs
Feb 3
Sheridan
James Morris
1 Pr Boots boy
T L Higgins
1 Pr Rubs
H L Taylor
1 Pr Shoes ent?
Robt Wilson
1 Pr Shoes
4
Dr Moore
1 Pr Rubs
5
J C Orton
1 Pr Shoes
6
Henry Pemberton
1 Pr Shoes baby
7
John Wheeler
1 Pr Shoes
[In margin:
Returned]
Clara Whitney
1 Pr Shoes
L M Cole
1 Pr Shoes
10
John Bissell
1 Pr Shoes
C R Greene
To Trade ? D
B
A Colburn
2 Pr Shoes
Miss Smith
1 Pr Shoes
[In margin:
Returned]
Chas Pringle
2 Pr Shoes
12
Geo Bickers
1 Pr Rub
15
Alex McEllwel
1 Pr Boots
1
“ Shoes
17
Chas Cooper
1 Pr Boots
1
“ Rubs
18
G M Tremaine
1 Pr Rubs Dut ?
L C Tiffany
1 Pr Rubs
19
Mr. Wm Biggs
1 Pr Rubs Dut ?
21
H L Higgins
1 Pr Boots
H[ired?] Man
22
B W Cotton
1 Bot Blacking
26
W McKinstry
1 Pr Rubs Daut
James H Lake
1 Pr Shoes orral
wife
1
“ “ Miss
Warren Kellogg
2 [changed to] 3
Pr Shoes
Lycom Stevens
1 Pr Rub Boots pay
in week
27
C M Ball
1 Pr Shoes
P F Mace
1 Pr Boots
1 “
Slips
28
C R Greene
Rubs
1 Pr per
clute ?
H G Wilber ?
1 Pr
Rub son
Mar 1
Mrs Gates
2 Pr boots
son [marked over] Ret[urned?]
Insoles
D K Benjamin
3 Pr Slips
Cr
By Cash
23
?? Harrison
1 Pr shoes
3 strings
O Simmons
1 Pr Rubs Daut?
F G? Stevens
1 Pr Rubbers
Wm Moore
1 Pr Rubs
5
Edward Grover
2 [marked over] 1
Pr Shoe
Mrs
McPherson [In left margin marked Ret]
3 Pr Doll Shoes
E.H
Ramsdell son
1 Pr Rub Boots
“ Insoles
6
Chas S Thatcher
1 Pr
Shoes Son
Abner ? Mattoon
3 7/8 wood CRG
C R Greene
Wood A
Mattoon
W WWright
2 Pr Rubs
8
B W Cotton
1 Pr Boots
Henry
Duane Beebe
1 Pr
Boots son
Geo W Lewis
1 Pr Childs shoes
“ 8/-- Mrs ?
L B Greene(?)
Goods
Geo.H.White
Pr Shoes
____? Beebe
?????
Hanson Roberts
2 Pr Rubs
Mar 12
C M Ball
Tm 1 Pr Boots
order
“ leash
15
G Harrison
1 Pr Rubs
E R Greene
Cash
1 Pr Slips
Tim Canty
1 Pr Shoes baby
17
B W Cotton
1 Pr Rubs
19
A Corwin
By Cartage
1 Pr Shoes
20
W.McKinstry
Per order
21
A? Colburn
Pr shoes
? Williams
Pr shoes
J B Gardner
1 Pr Boots
22
Chas Horton
1 Pr shoes
Watson Woods
1 Pr slips
24
? Summerkhol?
1 Pr shoes
H B Stevens
1 Pr Rubs
Amos Harrison?
1 Pr Rubs srvant?
Marcus Carroll
1 Pr Rubs
25
H Miner
2 Pr Slips
27
Jo Zahm
1 Pr Rubs Sans?
O C DeWitt
1 Pr Rubs
28
Lu Huntley
1 Pr Rubs
Stephen Palmer
1 Pr Boots son
29
Risley Roberts
1 Pr shoes
C Butler
1 Pr shoes Ret
Bal on ?
29 (cont.)
W? F Harrison
1 Pr shoes Rogers
John Peters
1 Pr Boots
S S Crissey
Order
?? Denton
1 Pr Slips
April 1
James? B Sprague
1 Pr Rubs D??t
Clara Whitney
2 Pr Shoes
2
Thod? Wolfers
1 Pr Rubs
H Henline
1 Pr Shoes baby
Mrs
Storey Grand?
1 Pair shoes
Preston?
Moore ???
2 Pr shoes
C Mullett
1 Pr shoes
C R Greene
? to Cash
Wood &
Mc?Knott
4
H ? Pemberton
1 Pr Shoes per
order
Isac? Dr Swift
1 Pr Boot
“
“
5
H A Taylor
1 Pr Shoes
W
McKinstry & son
1 Pr Rubs
?
Cotton ?
??
7
D A Clark
1 Pr shoes
8
J C Frisbee
1 Pr Rubs
9
John Lathrup
1 Pr Shoes
10
D. H. Stevens
1 Pr Shoes baby
11
E Eley
1 Pr Rubs daut
Index of Family Names
Adams, 14
Badrich, 9
Bailey, 6
Baker, 5
Baldrick, 8
Ball, 2, 12, 13,
17, 19
Barker, 4, 7, 11,
12, 16
Barmore, 2, 3, 11,
13, 15
Bartram, 3, 4, 13
Batcheldor, 6
Beckwith, 14
Beebe, 4, 19
Benjamin, 9, 13,
18
Bettis, 6
Bickers, 16
Biggs, 17
Bissell, 16
Bouquin, 8
Brooks, 6
Burquin, 15
Butler, 20
Canty, 10, 19
Carroll, 20
Clark, 10, 22
Clary, 5
Colburn, 16, 20
Cole, 16
Cooper, 5, 17
Corwin, 2, 6, 19
Cotton, 2, 6, 7,
14, 17, 19, 21
Couch, 4, 6
Crane, 1
Cranston, 10
Crissey, 21
Crissy, 11
Cushing, 8
Davey, 13
Davis, 11, 12
Denton, 1, 21
DeWitt, 20
Dickinson, 14
Dunn, 8
Edmons, 10
Eley, 22
Ellis, 5
Fagan, 8, 9
Feckler, 8
Fell, 14
Frisbee, 2, 7, 22
Gardner, 3, 7, 13,
20
Gates, 18
Glinn, 6
Green, 8
Greene, 1, 2, 6,
8, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 19, 21
Griggs, 1
Grover, 18
Hamilton, 3
Harrison, 3, 18,
19, 20, 21
Hasedell, 13
Hatch, 6
Havens, 15
Henline, 21
Higgins, 15, 17
Hillard, 6
Hilton, 8
Horton, 2, 20
Housdell, 12
Howard, 13
Huntley, 20
Hutchin[son?], 3
Irving, 10
Kellogg, 1, 17
Knott, 7, 21
Lake, 11, 17
Lathrup, 22
Law, 8
Lester, 1
Lewis, 4, 19
Luce, 7
Mace, 17
Mansfield, 13
Manton, 12
Mattoon, 18
McDonald, 10, 12
McEllwel, 16
McEllwell, 5
McElwell, 9
McElwood, 7
McKinstry, 4, 8,
11, 12, 13, 17, 19, 21
McPherson, 18
Mercer, 10
Miner, 20
Moore, 5, 16, 18,
21
Morris, 12, 15
Morton, 14
Mullett, 21
Munger, 5
Nobles, 14
Odell, 15
Oneal, 3
Orton, 16
Palmer, 1, 5, 6,
7, 9, 14, 20
Parker, 5, 6, 13
Pemberton, 10, 16,
21
Peters, 21
Pierce, 10
Plank, 10
Polfus, 2, 5
Porter, 4, 13
Potter, 1
Pringle, 13, 16
Pritchard, 9
Prushaw, 15
Putnam, 1, 4, 5,
13, 15
Ramsdell, 18
Reed, 6, 10, 14
Renolds, 11
Rice, 12
Riggs, 5
Roberts, 3, 9, 14,
19, 20
Rogers, 21
Rood, 7, 10
Rowe, 9
Ryman, 3
Sacket, 9
Sage, 11
Simmons, 1, 3, 4,
12, 15, 18
Simpson, 9
Skinner, 10
Sloan, 7
Smith, 2, 5, 8,
10, 16
Snow, 5
Sprague, 7, 21
Stearns, 5
Stevens, 5, 14, 17,
18, 20, 22
Storey, 21
Stratman, 15
Summerkhol, 20
Swift, 21
Tarbox, 1
Tarr, 4, 11
Tate, 4
Taylor, 16, 21
Terrell, 8
Thatcher, 11, 18
Tiffany, 17
Till, 11
Towers, 9
Tremaine, 17
Tuffts, 15
Tuttle, 6
Warren, 1, 9, 17
Waters, 5
Watson, 2, 3, 5,
20
Wheeler, 16
White, 6, 8, 11,
15, 19
Whitney, 1, 16, 21
Wilber, 12, 18
Wilcox, 4, 9, 15
Wiley, 1
Williams, 12, 20
Wilson, 4, 16
Wolfers, 15, 21
Wood, 2, 11, 18,
21
Woods, 20
Wright, 18
Zahm, 20
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