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: Salmon Case & Sons
Title: Bills,
Dates: 1830-1884
Call No.: Col. 990
Acc. No.: 2018x5.8-.87
Quantity: 80 items
Location: 34 J 6
BIOGRAPHICAL
STATEMENT
Salmon Case (November 26, 1784- August 23, 1871) was
a merchant and banker in Vernon, Oneida County, New York. He was born in Norfolk, Connecticut, to Eunice
Everett and Asahel Case. As a young man,
he split his time between tending the family farm and teaching in local schools.
At the age of twenty-six, he moved to
Hartford to study the apothecary business and medicine. In 1813, he settled in Vernon New York, where
he opened a drug store, and subsequently was often called Doctor Case. This store soon grew into a general store, and
was run mostly by Case alone until 1843 (with short times in partnership with
others), when Case’s three sons—Asahel Pierson, Josiah, and Everett—joined
their father in management. Salmon Case
also helped organized the Bank of Vernon in 1839. These sons, born to Case’s wife Maria Pierson
(1799-1885; daughter of Benjamin Pierson), continued to run their father’s
business as Case’s health began to decline. Having earned a good deal of wealth
during his lifetime, Case spent his remaining years traveling and managing his
properties until his death in 1871.
Asahel Pierson Case (1818-1899) was married to
Lovina W. Coburn (born 1820) and they
had two children: Maria (born 1829) and Charles Salmon (1846-1898). A. Pierson Case served in the Union army
during the Civil War.
Josiah Case (1821-1886) married Jane Elizabeth Barton
(1831-1906). They had two children:
Laura (born 1863, married Mr. Langford) and David Barton (born 1868). Josiah served as president of the National
Bank of Vernon in addition to running the store established by his father.
Everett Case (1825-1918) married a woman named Eva
(born circa 1827). They had several
children, including a daughter Frances.
Everett served as a cashier in the bank established by his father, but
by 1880 was working in a bank in Lansingburgh, Rensselaer County, New
York. In the 1900 and 1910 censuses, he
was listed as living in Philadelphia with his daughter Frances (1900: school
teacher; 1910: social worker in settlement house). He died in Jenkintown, Montgomery County,
Penn., on January 11, 1918.
SCOPE AND
CONTENT
A collection of receipted bills and business letters
sent to Salmon Case & Co. or to Salmon Case & Sons during the period
from 1830 to 1884, detailing some of the Cases’ purchases of goods for their general
store. The store dealt in tableware,
hardware, textiles, wallpaper hangings, panes of glass, brushes of various
kinds, dress accessories, etc. Most of
the firms from which goods were purchased were located in New York City. The collection also contains receipts for
Case’s payment for clothing for himself and his sons.
ORGANIZATION
The bills are arranged in chronological order, using
the date at the top of each item.
LANGUAGE OF
MATERIALS
The materials are in English.
RESTRICTIONS
ON ACCESS
Collection is open to the public. Copyright restrictions may apply.
PROVENANCE
Purchased from Stephen Resnick.
ACCESS POINTS
People:
Case, A. Pierson (Asahel
Pierson), 1818-1899.
Case, Everett, 1825-1918.
Case, Josiah, 1821-1886.
Case, Salmon, 1784-1871.
Topics:
Brooms and brushes - Prices
- 19th century.
General stores -
New York (State) - Vernon.
Hardware - Prices - 19th century.
Men’s clothing -
New York (State) - Vernon.
Men’s clothing -
Prices - 19th century.
Personal
belongings - Prices - 19th century.
Wallpaper -
Prices - 19th century.
DETAILED
DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION
Location: 34 J
6
All items are
bills unless otherwise noted; most bills are marked “payment received.”
Bills dated
1830 are addressed to S. Case. Most others
are addressed to S. Case & Sons.
All accession
numbers begin with 2018x5.
.8 from A.M. Hatch, New York, October 4,
1830, for shoes: children’s boots and brogans, boys’ brogans, misses’ pumps,
etc.
.9 from Brown & Titus, New York,
October 5, 1830, for shawl.
.10 from John Greenfield & Son, New York,
October 7, 1830, for tableware: printed covered dishes, muffins, teapots, basins,
nappies, etc.
.11 from Ferdinand L. Wilsey, New York,
October 8, 1830, for combs.
Printed billhead: Comb
Store and Manufactory
.12 from Benedict & Roby, Albany, October
9, 1830, a long bill, for eating utensils, personal items, hardware and tools:
knives and forks, combs, hair brushes, shoe brushes, wood faucets, inkstands,
pencils, nails, brass kettle, goggles, snuff boxes, sheet and horse shoe iron,
locks, bed cords, etc.
.13 from Ward & Harrison, no location,
from Dec. 27, 1842 to Feb. 11, 1844, for cutting, making, and repairing men’s clothing:
pants, vests, floats, etc., for named individuals, including sons, but other
men as well
.14 from D. H. Barnard, no location, June
1843, for clothing: vests and pants for Case family.
.15 from L. Spaulding, Vernon, from June 11
to Nov. 16, 1843, for making dresses and capes, bleaching hats and bonnets, and
for straw edging;
Paper watermarked
Phinneys & Todd [E in Phinneys is backwards]
.16 from Seymour Bros. & Co.,
Westmoreland, September 3, 1849, for springs(?)
.17 from O. Treadwell [also spelled Tredwell], Vernon, September 20, 1849,
for coat buttons.
.18 from J. Curran, Vernon, November 1, 1849,
for Indian gloves and mittens.
.19 from Seymour Brothers & Co., Westmoreland,
February 28, 1850, for hinges and bolts.
.20 from Lucius Hart, New York, April 11,
1850, for candlesticks and molasses cups.
Printed billhead: late
Boardman & Hart, manufactures of Britannia metal ware….
.21 from Backus, Osborne & Co.,
New York, May 2, 1850, for hats: Michigan straw hats, flat-brim Panama hats,
silk-glazed caps, Jenny Lind bonnets, etc.
Printed billhead:
manufacturers and jobbers of … hats; …; … caps, buffalo robes, fancy furs,
hatters’ goods, &c, &c
.22 from Halsteds & Dash, New
York, May 3, 1850, for hardware: white metal coffin screws, screw pulleys,
table bolts, locks etc.
Printed billhead:
importers and wholesale dealers in foreign and domestic hardware
.23 from Wm. A. Cromwell, New York, May 3,
1850, for personal items: silvered fans, mirrors, soaps, combs, etc.
Printed billhead:
importer of French, English and German fancy goods, ….
.24 from Lemuel Steele & Co., Albany, May
30, 1850, for wallpapers and borders.
Printed billhead:
importers and manufacturers of French and American paper hangings, border,
landscape views, fire board patterns, brushes, fresco papers for large rooms,
&c, &c
.25 from D.J. Wetherby(?), no location, from
April 10, 1852 to January 9, 1854, for clothing: vests and pants for Salmon
[called Doctor], Josiah and Asahel Pierson; also sheeting from Utica Mills
.26 from Utica Globe Mills, Utica, September
27, 1852, for scarf and shawls.
Printed billhead.
.27 from J.T. Gurley, Vernon, October 18,
1852, for coats and accessories: mocha buttons, overcoat, hair pins, dressing
combs, japanned hooks and eyes, knitting pins, etc.
.28 from Ostrum Welton[?] & Co., Vernon,
November 1, 1852, for combs and pocket knives.
.29 from Howes, Scofield, & Howes, no
location, November 6, 1852, for glass, including flint and plate glass.
.30 from Howes, Scofield, & Howes, no
location, December 10, 1852, for glass, including New York and plate glass.
.31 from S.P. Smith, Newark N.J., December
13, 1852, for varnish, with short letter at bottom of page.
.32 from W.P. Waldron(?), Vernon, January 20,
1853, for ladies’ and men’s rubbers.
.33 from George Farmer, New York, January 24,
1853, for feathers.
.34 from The Croton Manufacturing Company,
New York, April 8, 1853, for wall décor: satin wallpaper, borders, etc.
Printed billhead:
manufacturers and importers of paper hangings, borders, fireboards prints,
&c., and window shades, trimmings, &c
.35 from Salter, Lord & Co., New York,
April 11, 1853, for fabrics: table covers, cheese strainer, farmer drill,
corset jean, Otis denim, shirting, York nankeen check, etc.
Printed billhead:
commission merchants and jobbers [specializing in textiles, yarn, blankets,
etc.]
.36 from A. Woodward, Son & Co., New
York, April 12, 1853, for whale bone, ribbons, linens, textile fabrics (prints,
linen, jean, etc.), collars, etc.
Printed billhead:
importers & jobbers of ribbons, silks, shawls, laces….
.37 from W.M. Hinton, Harlem Paper Hanging
Warehouse, New York, April 13, 1853, for wallpaper and window paper.
Printed billhead: paper
hangings, window shades, curtain papers, cornices, fire board prints and table
oil cloths
.38 from D. Berrien, Jr. & Co., New York,
April 14, 1853, for brushes: varnish brushes, paint brushes, stencil, sash
tools, etc.
Printed billhead:
manufactures of brushes, bellows, and … friction matches ….
.39 from James Best & Co., New York,
April 14, 1853, for hardware: coffin nails, chest locks, hat hooks, etc.
Printed billhead:
manufacturers, importers and wholesale dealers in cabinet makers’,
upholsterers’ & undertakers’ trimmings
.40 from Richard Decker, New York, April 15,
1853, for china: harp spoon holders, edged plates, nappies, mugs, etc.
Printed billhead:
importer and dealer in china, glass and earthenware
.41 from Clark, Watson, & Co., New York,
April 14, 1853, for ribbons, cloths, and buttons: Taffeta ribbon, velvet
ribbon, black silk velvet, muslin, gingham, buttons, pearl silk gloves, Mother
Hubbard handkerchiefs, palm leaf fans, etc.
Printed billhead.
.42 from Nicolson & Wright, New York,
April 15, 1853, for a cashmere shawl.
Printed billhead:
importers and dealers in French and German silk goods, and laces
.43 from Backus & Osborne, New York,
April 16, 1853, for moleskin and band boxes.
Printed billhead:
manufacturers and jobbers of … hats; …; … caps, buffalo robes, fancy furs,
hatters’ goods, &c, &c.
.44 to A.P. Case & Co., from S.J. Wetherby(?).,
no location, from May 7, 1854 to May 16, 1856, for making men’s suits, overcoats,
frock coats, vests, and pants, mentioning A.P. and Josiah Case
.45 to A.P. Case, from Ezra Bryan, no
location, from May 30 to June 6 1854, for woodwork: mahogany wash stand,
portrait frame, castors on bedstead.
.46 from White & Lawrence, New York, June
9, 1854, for hats.
Printed billhead:
wholesale dealers in and manufacturers of straw goods, hats, caps and furs
.47 from Nicolson & Wright, New York,
June 12, 1854, for hat ribbons (green, plaid, black silk ribbon, etc.) and
collars
Printed billhead:
importers and dealers in French and German silk goods and laces
.48 from Thurber & Dickinson[?],
Syracuse, July 17, 1854, for shipping unknown goods.
.49 letter from S. Jay Knox, Syracuse,
December 8, 1854, regarding delayed shipment from Thurber & D due to
inclement weather.
.50 letter from Dickinson & Dodge,
Syracuse, December 21, 1854, regarding delivery of goods; mentions salt is very
scarce
,51 from Dana & Co., Utica, July 6, 1857,
for hardware: brads, knobs, screws, and tacks, with short letter at bottom of
page.
Printed billhead: agents
for Utica gimlet point screws, Seymour, Bros. & Co.’s gate hinges and
fasts, patent blind butts, &c
.52 from William Howes, Dunbarton Glass
Works, Verona, N.Y., July 16, 1857, for glass and lights
Printed billhead:
manufacturer of window, coach, sheet & double-thick glass
.53 from G. & S. Crawford, New York, July
17, 1857, for spirit turpentine and zinc.
Printed billhead:
wholesale dealers in oils, candles, paints, window glass, drugs, dye stuffs,
&c [with list of other articles available, including colors]
.54 from Salter, Lord & Co., New York,
July 17, 1857, for ladies’ white hose.
Printed billhead:
commission merchants and jobbers [specializing in textiles, yarn, blankets,
etc.]
.55 from Artois, Lyon & Co., New York,
July 18, 1857, for vest buttons, skirt reeds, dress bone, and hoop bone.
Printed billhead:
importers and jobbers of foreign and domestic fancy goods
.56 from Vincent, Clark, & Co., New York,
July 18, 1857, for taffeta ribbon, cotton trimming, Irish linen, silk gloves,
and mitts.
Printed billhead.:
importers and jobbers of silk and fancy dry goods
.57 from A. Soper & Co., no location,
August 25, 1857, for window sash with panes of glass, with note regarding
blinds at the bottom of the page.
.58 from A. Soper & Co., no location,
September 11 to 16, 1857, for blinds & sash.
.59 from Dana & Co., Utica, September 20,
1857, for hardware: knobs, rabbited latches, and bolts, with short message at
bottom of page.
Printed
billhead: agents for Utica gimlet point screws, Seymour, Bros. & Co.’s gate
hinges and fasts, patent blind butts, &c
.60 from Dana & Co., Utica, September 27,
1857, for window hardware: bolts, window latches, etc.
Printed billhead: agents
for Utica gimlet point screws, Seymour, Bros. & Co.’s gate hinges and
fasts, patent blind butts, &c
.61 from William Howes, Dunbarton Glass
Works, Verona, October 5, 1857, for boxes of glass (including flint and plate
glass).
Printed billhead:
manufacturer of window, coach, sheet & double-thick glass
.62 from G.F. Mills & Co., November 10,
1857, for gloves and mitts.
.63 from Vincent, Clark & Co., New York,
November 27, 1857, for velvet ribbon and cotton.
Printed billhead:
importers and jobbers of silk and fancy dry goods
.64 from Salter, Lord & Co., New York.
November 27, 1857, for textile fabrics and gloves: eagle denim, sheeting,
knitting cotton, linen thread, boys buck mitts, ladies gloves, etc.
Printed billhead:
commission merchants and jobbers [specializing in textiles, yarn, blankets,
etc.]
.65 from Claflin, Mellen & Co., New York,
November 28, 1857, for textile fabrics and sheeting, with attached slip
indicating that the payment was received.
Printed billhead:
importers and dealers in domestic and foreign dry goods, German and English
hosiery;
Receipt is printed form
.66 from William Howes, Dunbarton Glass
Works, Verona, N.Y., December 10, 1857, for panes of glass.
Printed billhead:
manufacturer of window, coach, sheet & double-thick glass
.67 letter from Townsend Van Buren & Co.,
New York, October 7, 1859, regarding the late arrival of an order of plated
ware, and details of a consultation with Mr. Toby regarding the minimum weight
of fancy silver goods (as would be permitted by the addition of raised
decorations). Includes note added in
pencil about shipment via railroad and steamboat
.68 from Townsend & Crane, New York,
January 18, 1860, for marcelline and broche shawls.
Printed billhead:
importers and jobbers of silk and dress goods
.69 from Townsend & Crane, New York,
February 17, 1860, for linen handkerchiefs, hoops skirts, and serpentine
braids.
Printed billhead:
importers and jobbers of silk and dress goods
.70 from Sutphen & Weeks, New York,
February 22, 1860, for wallpaper: brown and white hangings, satin, borders, and
shipping charges,
Printed billhead:
manufacturers and jobbers of paper hangings, borders, fire screens, &c
.71 from Steele & King, Albany, March 20,
1860, for curtain papers.
Printed billhead:
manufacturers and jobbers of paper hangings,
.72 from James Bell, Johnstown, March 26,
1860, for buck gloves, with short message at bottom of page.
.73 from S.P. Smith, Newark N.J., May 10,
1860, for varnish: drying Japan, hard drying body, etc.
Printed billhead.
.74 from Pomeroy, Walker & Co., Utica,
May 11, 1860, for floor oil cloths.
Printed billhead:
manufacturers of … floor oil cloths
.75 from Partridge, Pinchot & Warren, New
York, May 21, 1861, for curtains.
Printed billhead:
manufacturers and importers of paper hangings [and other goods]
.76 from Richard Decker, New York, August 3,
1861, for china and tableware: bowls, screw-top peppers, nappies, jugs,
tumblers, etc.
Printed billhead:
importer and dealer in china, glass and earthenware
.77 from E. & C. Wood, Vernon, September
24, 1861, for brushes: tooth brushes, shoe brushes, scrub brushes, stove
brushes.
.78 from Richard Decker, New York, October
18, 1861, for lamps, burners, chimneys, and wicks.
Printed billhead:
importer and dealer in china, glass and earthenware
.79 from Partridge, Pinchot & Warren, New
York, November 23, 1861, for window shades (to order).
Printed billhead:
manufacturers and importers of paper hangings [and other goods]
.80 from E.T. Manning & Co., Utica,
December 23, 1861, for carpet, skirts, crash, etc.
Printed billhead:
foreign and domestic dry goods, embroideries, carpets, hosiery, ribbons, Yankee
notions, &c. …
.81 from Partridge, Pinchot & Warren, New
York, May 12, 1862, for paper hangings: wallpaper, curtains, and shades.
Printed billhead:
manufacturers and importers of paper hangings [and other goods]
.82 from T. Pomeroy, Jr. & Co.,
Utica, N.Y., June 2, 1862, for floor oil cloths,
Printed billhead:
manufactures of floor oil cloths
.83 from Partridge, Pinchot & Warren, New
York, June 5, 1862, for paper hangings: curtains, wallpaper, shades, tassels, pendulum
fixtures;
Printed billhead:
manufacturers and importers of paper hangings [and other goods]
.84 from Partridge, Pinchot & Warren, New
York, June 6, 1862, for paper hangings: satin paper, border velvet, etc.
Printed billhead:
manufacturers and importers of paper hangings [and other goods]
.85 from Partridge, Pinchot & Warren, New
York, June 16, 1862, for screw rings, etc.
Printed billhead:
manufacturers and importers of paper hangings [and other goods]
.86 printed form letter from Ackerman &
Skinner, Syracuse, N.Y., April 24, 1884, indicating payment received.
.87 printed form letter from Kennedy,
Spaulding & Co., Syracuse, N.Y., April 24, 1884, indicating payment received.