The
The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and
Printed Ephemera
Henry Francis du Pont
5105 Kennett Pike, Winterthur,
Delaware 19735
Telephone: 302-888-4600 or 800-448-3883
OVERVIEW OF
THE COLLECTION
Creator: Mercer, James R. (James
Rowland), 1847-1909
Title: Bills
Dates: 1884-1905.
Call No.: Col. 575
Acc. No.: 99x45
Quantity: 95 items
Location: 34 J 4
BIOGRAPHICAL
STATEMENT
James Rowland Mercer was a wholesale dealer in
“hosiery, gloves, notions, fancy goods, embroideries, ribbons, etc.” His store was at 529 and 531 Penn Street in
Reading, Pennsylvania. He was born in
Philadelphia in 1847, the son of Mary and George P. Mercer. (The father was a corder.) James was married to Ellen Bowman, and they
had several children. He died in 1909.
Several bills were addressed to Adam S. Troub of
Honey Brook, Chester County, Pennsylvania.
A saddler of that name was found listed in census records. He was born in 1840, the son of John C. Troub
(1810-1889), and died in 1909.
SCOPE AND
CONTENT
Collection of bills from various businesses in
Reading, Pennsylvania. Most are
addressed to James R. Mercer. Some of
the bills, such as the ones for dozens of pairs of hosiery, were for goods that
were undoubtedly for his store. Others,
the grocery bills, for example, were for goods consumed at his home. Still others, bills for lumber, bricks, and
window shades were for materials which could have been used in either his home
or store. Mercer bought a wide range of
merchandise: shoes, shoe laces, beer, a picture frame, a toilet set, paint,
tools, nails, a corset, men’s and women’s clothing, feathers (probably used in
upholstering), business stationery, etc.
As well, there are bills for insurance, gas, and “rent for telephonic
services;” a bill from the Reading Steam and Power Company; a receipt for
hiring a collection agency; and a letter soliciting orders for dyes for Easter
eggs.
Other people for whom bills exist are H.W. Hiestand
[?], J.C. Troub (John C. Troub was the father of Adam S. Troub), Adam S. Troub,
Peter G. Corl, Rufus Hyman, and J. Ehelman.
They bought blankets, garters, ribbon, ticking straw, braid, and other
goods. Two of the bills received by
these men were from James R. Mercer’s store.
It is not known why the other bills were found with Mercer’s bills.
ORGANIZATION
The bills are in accession number order; with a
couple of exceptions, this is also chronological order.
LANGUAGE OF
MATERIALS
The materials are in English.
RESTRICTIONS
ON ACCESS
Collection is open to the public. Copyright restrictions may apply.
PROVENANCE
Purchased from Mrs. Sydney Woolf.
ACCESS POINTS
People:
Hiestand, H. W.
Troub,
J. C. (John C.), 1810-1889.
Corl,
Peter G.
Troub,
Adam S., 1840-1909.
Hyman,
Rufus.
Ehelman,
J.
Topics:
Retail trade - Pennsylvania -
Reading.
Food prices - 19th century.
Easter eggs.
Dress accessories - Prices - 19th century.
Building materials - Prices - 19th century.
Merchants - Pennsylvania - Reading.
Reading (Pa.) - Commerce.
Bills.
Invoices.
DETAILED
DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION
Location: 34 J 4
All accession numbers begin with 99x45.
All businesses were located in Reading,
Pennsylvania, unless otherwise noted.
Folder 1 of 1:
.1 receipt: H.W. Hiestand paid Union
House, Jacob Goodman, proprietor, for board, March 17, 1884;
Printed billhead
.2 bill: J.C. Troub & Son bought of
Bright & Lerch, Oct. 17, 1884: blankets and lap robes;
Printed billhead:
hardware, iron and oils, [etc.]
.3 receipt: H.W. Hiestand paid Union
House, Jacob Goodman, proprietor, for board, Nov. 25, 1885;
Printed billhead
.4 bill: Mercer bought of Solomon Brubaker
Estate, Sept. 30, 1886: lumber and boards, with charges for hauling;
Printed billhead: dealer
in lumber
.5 receipt: Mercer paid Pennsylvania
Telephone Company, Jan. 3, 1887: for telephonic services;
Printed form
.6 receipted bill: Mercer paid David
Keiser, July 5, 1887: shading, fixtures, cord, and for making and hanging
[apparently roller shades];
Printed billhead: dealer
in carpets, oil cloths, matting, &c., and manufacturer of rag carpets;
[also made shades]
.7 receipted bill: Mercer paid R.E.
Bishop, Jan. 10, 1888: on account;
Printed billhead: dealer
in dry goods, notions, groceries, queensware, flour, &c.
.8 bill: Peter G. Corl bought from James
R. Mercer, Sept. 7, 1889: purses, garters, ribbon, etc.
Printed billhead:
wholesale dealer in hosiery, gloves, notions, fancy goods, embroideries,
ribbons, etc.
[Corl had a general
store in Lobachsville, Penn.]
.9 receipted bill: A.S. Troub & Son
paid L. Heilman & Son, Nov. 13, 1889: for merchandise;
Printed billhead:
dealers in saddlery hardware
.10 receipted bill: Mercer paid E.C. Hiester
& Bro., 189-, for delivery or shipment of bags and cases;
Printed billhead: local
express
.11 notice to Mercer from Geo. P. Zieber,
Dec. 1890, about an insurance policy;
Printed form: general
insurance agent
.12 receipted bill: Mercer paid I.C.
Hunsicker & Co., March 1, 1890: for merchandise;
Printed billhead: Reading
Knitting Mills
.13 bill: Mercer bought of I.C. Hunsicker
& Co., June 3[?], 1890: for merchandise;
Printed billhead:
manufacturers of seamless hosiery
.14 bill: A.S. Troub & Son bought of Adam
Oese, June 9, 1890: ticking straw collars[?];
Printed billhead:
manufacturer of horse-collars
.15 receipt: Mercer paid some money to
Eunice[?] Marlow on behalf of collection agencies;
Printed billhead for
Mercer: importer and wholesale dealer in hosiery, gloves, notions, fancy goods,
embroideries, ribbons, etc.; and manufacturers’ agent for seamless hosiery;
decorated with floral designs
.16 bill: Mercer bought of I.C. Hunsicker
& Co., June 24, 1890: for hose;
Printed billhead:
manufacturers of seamless hosiery
.17 bill: Mercer bought of D. Gerhard, Aug.
14, 1890: sugar, butter, ham, potatoes, lemons, melon, etc.;
Printed billhead: dealer
in dry goods, notions, groceries and clothing
.18 bill: Mercer bought of William Laramy,
Sept. 11, 1890: rushing[?];
Printed billhead: jobber
of notions, fancy goods, hosiery and suspenders, and manufacturer of shirt and
shirt fronts; printed on bright yellow paper
.19 receipted bill: Mercer paid Edward
Luigard, Oct. 20, 1890: for 5 days and 2 meals;
Printed billhead:
boarding and livery stable
.20 bill: Mercer bought of C.K. Whitner &
Son, Oct. 31, 1890: yards of something;
Printed billhead: dry
goods and notions
.21 bill: Mercer bought of Bright &
Lerch, Oct. 23, 1890: tacks;
Printed billhead:
hardware, iron and oils, [etc.]
.22 bill: Mercer bought of McCurdy &
Durham, Dec. 12, 1890: castor oil;
Printed billhead:
druggists
.23 request to Mercer from Sellers, Medlar
& Bachman, Dec. 22, 1890: asking for black and white cottons;
Printed billhead:
clothiers
.24 receipted bill: Mercer Paid Kline &
Eppihimer, Feb. 6, 1891: for cotton;
Printed billhead:
jobbers and retailers of dry goods and carpetings
.25 receipted bill: Mercer paid Kurtz, Groves
& Mayers, Feb. 11, 1891: for goods;
Printed billhead:
wholesale grocers and tea dealers, [etc.], printed on orange paper
.26 receipted bill: Mercer paid Henry J.
Rhoads, Feb.24, 1891: for hose;
Printed billhead:
importer and jobber of hosiery, gloves, notions, fancy goods, &c.
.27 receipted bill: Mercer paid F. Woerner,
March 2, 1891: for a gilt frame;
Printed billhead:
manufacturer and dealer in mirrors, cornices and picture frames, [etc., and]
Woerner’s Art Gallery;
On back: sketch of
something and notes
.28 bill: Mercer bought of William Laramy,
March 18, 1891: cotton Williamantic [sic];
Printed billhead: jobber
of notions, fancy goods, hosiery and suspenders, and manufacturer of shirt and
shirt fronts;
.29 bill: Rufus Hyman bought of Mercer, April
2, 1891: goods of some sort, with a note requesting payment;
Printed billhead:
importer and wholesale dealer in hosiery, gloves, notions, fancy goods, etc.
.30 receipted
bill: Mercer paid John G. McGowan, May 23, 1891: for collars and gloves;
Printed
billhead: men’s furnisher, shirt maker, hatter
.31 bill:
Mercer bought of Folk & Rabenold, June 9, 1891: goods of some sort;
Printed
billhead: Wood and Willow Ware Rooms
.32 bill:
Mercer bought of Graul & Co., June 23, 1891: hard bricks;
Printed billhead: West
Reading Brick Yards, manufacturers of pressed and common brick
.33 receipted
bill: Mercer paid Merritt Bros. & Co., July 1, 1891: for scantling and
boards;
Printed
billhead: manufacturers, wholesale and retail dealers in lumber
.34 receipted
bill: Mercer paid Hagy & Trexler, July 9, 1891: toilet set;
Printed
billhead: lamps, crockery, glassware, tinware, &c.
.35 receipted bill: Mercer paid Mt. Penn
Hosiery Mills, W.J. Bobst & Son, proprietors, Dec. 3, 1891: for French mix;
Printed billhead:
manufacturers of men’s, ladies’ and children’s seamless hosiery
.36 receipted bill: Mercer paid Felix P.
Kemp, Dec. 4, 1891: for ribbon;
Printed billhead:
importer and jobber of hosiery, gloves, notions, fancy goods, &c.; (the
name Henry J. Rhoads is crossed out, and Kemp’s name is written in);
.37 bill: Mercer bought of C.F. Yeity, March
11, 1892: flour, molasses, rice, royal powder, stove polish, tea, vinegar,
sugar, peas, tomatoes, cinnamon, etc.
Printed billhead: dealer
in dry goods, groceries, provisions, notions, &c., also flour & feed
.38 receipted bill: Mercer paid John B.
Raser, Nov. 30, 1892: nursing bottles;
Printed billhead:
wholesale druggist, dealer in drugs, chemicals, patent medicines, glassware,
paints, oils, fluid extracts, sugar coated pills, artists’ and wax flower
materials
.39 bill: Mercer bought of D. Gerhard, April
27, 1892: ham, apples;
Printed billhead: dealer
in dry goods, notions, groceries and clothing
.40 bill: Mercer bought of J.C. Illig &
Bro., April 28, 1892: yards of tarlatan;
Printed billhead:
jobbers and retailers of dry goods and notions
.41 bill: Mercer bought of D. Gerhard, May 6,
1892: vinegar, sugar, salt, eggs, beans, tea, pepper, soap, powder raisins;
Printed billhead: dealer
in dry goods, notions, groceries and clothing
.42 receipted bill: Mercer paid J. H. Lutz,
June 1892: for repairing bridle and harness, a halter strap, and a webb halter;
Printed billhead:
harness manufacturer and dealer in horse supplies
.43 form letter to Mercer from Consumers’ Gas
Company, June 15, 1892: please pay overdue account;
Printed form
.44 bill: Mercer bought of John P. Fink, June
25, 1892: ham, pepper and other spices, cream of tartar, corn starch, Royal
Powder, lemons, potatoes, etc.;
Printed billhead: dealer
in fancy groceries, teas, coffees, spices, flour and feed
.45 receipted bill: Mercer Paid Kline &
Eppihimer, Feb. 6, 1891: for merchandise;
Printed billhead
.46 receipted bill: Mercer paid Gittelman
& Harbach, July 13, 1892: for paint and hours of work;
Printed billhead: house
& sign painters, grainers, glaziers and paper hangers, [etc.]
.47 receipted bill: Mercer paid M. Moyer
& Son, July 19, 1892: for some kind of thread;
Printed billhead:
leather and shoe findings, manufacturers of boot and shoe uppers; the firm name
M. Moyer & Son is stamped on top of the old firm name, which was J.L. Moyer
& Bro.
.48 receipted bill: Mercer paid W.L. Wunder,
July 30, 1892: for repairing a carriage;
Printed billhead:
manufacturer of baskets and children’s carriages, importer and dealer in
willow, [with list of kinds of baskets available]
.49 bill: A.S. Troub bought of Birdsboro
Brick Works, Aug. 17, 1892: pressed and clinker bricks;
Printed billhead:
manufacturer of common and pressed bricks
.50 receipted bill: Mercer paid J.F. Lengel
& Co., proprietors of Neversink Hosiery Mills, Aug. 22, 1892: for hosel
Printed billhead
.51 receipt: A.S. Troub paid Birdsboro Brick
Works, Aug. 23, 1892: for bricks;
Printed billhead:
manufacturer of common and pressed bricks
.52 receipted bill: Mercer paid Bricker
Bros., Oct. 20, 1892: monkey wrench, nails, buttons on plates;
Printed billhead:
hardware, building materials, paints, oils, glass, &c.
.53 receipted bill: Mercer paid John Sauer,
Oct. 27, 1892: for shoes and repairs;
Printed billhead:
Continental Shoe Store, fine boots, shoes and slippers
.54 receipted bill: Mrs. Mercer paid J.S.
Seaman & Co., Nov. 3, 1892: for pair of robes and two shades;
Printed billhead:
dealers in carpets, oil cloths, window shades, curtains, rugs, &c.
.55 receipted bill: Mercer paid Reading Steam
Heat & Power Co., Dec. 1, 1892: for heating his store;
Printed form
.56 bill: Mercer bought of Thomas Jackson
& Son, Office of Reading Steam Cordage Manufactory, Dec. 6, 1892: for “bill
rendered”;
Printed billhead:
manufacturers of white, tarred & manilla rope, packing for steam engines,
bed robes, twines, oakum, &c.
.57 printed letter: John B. Raser to Mercer,
Feb. 6, 1893: requesting that Mercer handle his Easter egg dyes, the Crown
Easter Pads;
Printed letterhead:
drugs and chemicals
.58 receipted bill: Mercer paid Albert J.
Fisher, March 28, 1893: for goods [difficult to read];
Printed billhead: dealer
in dry goods and choice family groceries
.59 receipted bill: Mercer paid Coleman
Printing House, Ltd., April 1, 1893: for merchandise;
Printed billhead:
commercial printing
.60 receipted bill: Mercer paid Frieds &
Croessant, May 1, 1893: for beer and porter;
Printed billhead:
bottlers
.61 receipted bill: Mercer paid Chas. G.
Willson, May 6, 1893, for [difficult to read];
Printed billhead:
manufacturing jeweler, dealer in diamonds, watches, clocks, jewelry, silverware
& spectacles
.62 bill: Mercer bought of Peter D. Getz, May
8, 1893: load of sand, cement, and other goods;
Printed billhead: dealer
in curbing and flagging
.63 receipted bill: Mercer paid M. Moyer
& Son, June 9, 1892: for laces;
Printed billhead:
leather and shoe findings, manufacturers of boot and shoe uppers; the firm name
M. Moyer & Son is stamped on top of the old firm name, which was J.L. Moyer
& Bro.
.64 receipted bill: Mercer paid D. Gerhard,
June 17, 1893: flour, sugar, fish, tea, rice, potatoes, starch, soap, soda,
cream of tarter, cinnamon bark, cloves, etc.
Printed billhead: jobber
in smoked meats, butter, lard, dried fruits, &c., and dealer in dry goods,
groceries and clothing
.65 receipted bill: Mercer paid W.J. Bobst
& Son, June 27, 1893: for unspecified goods;
Printed billhead:
manufacturers of seamless hosiery
.66 bill: Mercer bought of Coleman Printing
House, Ltd., June 21, 1893: for billheads;
Printed billhead: commercial
printing
.67 receipted bill: Mercer paid Ritter Brown,
July 1, 1893, for a black shawl;
Printed billhead: dealer
in fine black dress goods and staple dry goods
.68 bill: Mercer bought of Henninger, Schick
& Hertwig, July 1, 1893: feathers and reupholstering sofa in brocatelle;
Printed billhead:
manufacturers & dealers in furniture, bedding & upholstery
.69 receipted bill: Mercer paid J.C. Illig
& Bro., July 1, 1893: suit, skirt, waists, lace, silk, powder, dimity,
etc.;
Printed billhead: jobbers
and retailers of dry goods and notions
.70 receipted bill: Mercer paid Joseph H.
Lutz, July 10, 1893: for repairing satchel;
Printed billhead: manufacturer
of hand made harness, collars, bridles, whips, fly nets, riding saddles,
&c.
.71 receipted bill: Mercer paid M. Moyer
& Son, July 22, 1893: for some kind of thread;
Printed billhead:
manufacturers of boot and shoe uppers and dealers in leather and shoe findings
.72 receipted bill: Mercer paid J.S. Shade,
Aug. 24, 1893: for a corset;
Printed billhead: jobber
and retailer in foreign and domestic dry goods and notions
.73 receipted bill: Mercer paid C.K. Whitner
& Son, April 1, 1893: for a corset;
Printed billhead: dry
goods, notions and house furnishings
.74 note: J. & H.K. Boyer, Boyertown,
Sept. 12, 1893, enclose check drawn on National Bank of Boyertown to pay
Mercer’s bill;
Printed form; the Boyers
were dealers in general merchandise
.75 receipted bill: Mercer paid Jas. S.
Brusstar, Sept. 14, 1893, for dress shirts;
Printed billhead:
manufacturer of fine dress and fancy shirts
.76 receipted bill: Mercer paid Albert J.
Fisher, March 28, 1893: for goods [difficult to read];
Printed billhead: dealer
in dry goods and choice family groceries
.77 receipted bill: Mercer paid J. O’Donnell,
Oct. 10, 1893: for merchandise and mucilage;
Printed billhead:
wholesale dealer in toys, fancy goods, confectionery, fire-works, &c.
.78 receipted bill: Mercer paid M.J. Earl,
Oct. 31, 1893: for merchandise;
Printed billhead: wall
and wrapping papers
.79 receipted bill: Mercer paid W.C. Shantz,
Dec.11, 1893: for hose;
Printed billhead:
proprietor of Monarch Knitting Mills, manufacturer of cotton seamless hosiery
.80 receipted bill: Mercer paid E.S. Ammon,
Dec. 21, 1893L for ladies’ vests;
Printed billhead:
manufacturer of fancy jersey ribbed vests
.81 letter: W.C. Shantz, Monarch Knitting
Mills, to Mercer, Dec. 28, 1893: encloses receipt, hopes for another order;
Printed letterhead:
manufacturer of cotton seamless hosiery
.82 receipted bill: Mercer paid Penn-Troy
Laundering Co., Jan. 6, 1894: for stock;
Printed billhead: stock
work, family washing, hotel and restaurant work, towel supply
.83 receipted bill: Mercer paid Bright &
Lerch, Limited, Jan. 19, 1894: gross of red wish;
Printed billhead:
hardware, iron, oils, &c.
.84 receipted bill: Mercer paid W.J. Bobst
& Son, Jan. 19, 1894: for unspecified goods;
Printed billhead:
manufacturers of seamless hosiery
.85 receipted bill: Mercer paid Hagy &
Bittner, Feb. 27, 1894: for crown chimneys;
Printed billhead:
importers and manufacturers’ agents; on yellow paper
.86 receipted bill: Mercer paid Lessig &
Haeseller, Feb. 27, 1894: for freight on tons of [coal, most likely];
Printed billhead:
dealers in coal, cord and kindling wood, hay, straw, flour and feed
.87 bill: J. Ehelman bought of J.C. Illig
& Bro., March 30, 1894: braid and cass [cassimere];
Printed billhead:
jobbers and retailers of dry goods, notions and art novelties
.88 receipt: A.S. Troub & Son paid John
H. Obold & Co., June 23, 1899: unknown merchandise;
Printed billhead:
dealers in hardware, iron, glass, paints, oils, &c.
.89 receipted bill: A.S. Troub & Son paid
G. W. Heilman, Oct. 1, 1900: for merchandise;
Printed billhead:
dealers in saddlery hardware; the name G. W. Heilman is stamped over L. Heilman
& Son
.90 bill: A.S. Troub & Son bought from
John H. Obold & Co., Dec, 7, 1900: fawn blankets, Storm King something,
shoe thread;
Printed billhead:
building hardware, glass, oils, paints, guns, ammunition and sporting supplies,
agents for Blue Rock Targets
.91 receipted bill: Adam S. Troub of Honey
Brook paid The Ramson-VanNote Co., June 21, 1901, for nets;
Printed billhead:
harness and horse goods, trunks, traveling bags, &c.
.92 receipted bill: A.S. Troub & Son paid
John H. Obold & Co., Dec, 7, 1901: merchandise;
Printed billhead:
builders’ and shelf hardware, iron, glass, paints, oils, etc.; agents for
Baum’s Stock Food
.93 receipted bill: A.L. [sic] Troub &
Son paid John H. Obold & Co., Nov. 1, 1902: merchandise;
Printed billhead:
building and shelf hardware, iron, glass, paints, oils, guns, blankets and
sporting goods;
.94 bill: Adam S. Troub of Honey Brook bought
from S.W. Van Note, Feb. 9, 1903, for collars, pads, dog and tick collars,
etc.;
Printed billhead:
harness, collars, and saddlery hardware
.95 receipt: A. S. Troub paid J.H. Obold
& Co., Aug. 15, 1905;
Printed form: builders’
and shelf hardware, iron, glass, paints, oils, etc.