Adwen, Stephen W., 1832-1903. [Stephen W. Adwen account books], 1868 - 1896.
Title:
[Stephen W. Adwen account books], 1868 - 1896.
Account books for Stephen W. Adwen's grocery, provisions, and commission merchant businesses on the Erie Canal in Rochester from 1882-1896 include cash accounts, merchandise accounts, and alphabetical listing of customers, suppliers, and agents. The years 1882-1885 mostly cover trade in paper, metal, bones and rags between Rochester and regional companies. Adwen concentrated on hay in the 1890's. BMS 8, 11-13 include all these years. Wage and commission payments are shown to various workers. George N. Adwen, in BMS 13, pays rent and collects weekly wages in 1892. Erickson, Jennings & Co. was one of Adwen's bankers in BMS 12 and 13. BMS 8 (June 12, 1882 - May 30, 1893) is an account book recording daily sales and expenses and yearly summaries (1/25/1883, 1/22/1884) for his grocery and provisions business on the Erie Canal at Lock 1. Accounts for 1882-1884 include trade in paper, metals, bones, rags. From 1888-1892 his business was mostly hay and straw.In 1893 a note says a fence was removed to allow the east side sewer to pass through. Other notes detail bank drafts, mortgages and life insurance payments (1890). Company accounts include several railroads for freight expenses, paper mills, fertilizer companies throughout New England. An attached document, handwritten and signed "S. W. Adwen, my age is 65 years,10th Dec, 1897" states the valuation of this property $22000, total encumbrances $7700. BMS 9 (1894-1896) is a daily account book used perhaps by Wm. J. Appleby to record daily grocery and sundry purchases. The prices of some 7-10 items per day are listed along with people's first names. The Rochester Directory lists his wife, Margaret as a grocer and William as a salesman in these years that Stephen Adwen was a commission merchant for hay. The book title is "House ???? Book, Wm. J. Appleby 1894-5 S. W. Adwen 1894- , Always bring this book" and Adwen's name appears at the top of every page. Included is a temperance leaflet "Dialogue Between Ellen E. Eldred and a Cranky Saloon Keeper". BMS 10 (1868-1876, mostly 1868-9) This account book begins with an alphabetical list of accounts, mostly personal names of customers of the provisions store. Some Erie Canal Boat names are included. A note says that accounts are carried over to the book of 1884. In addition to the grocery, liquor, boat supply provisions are "telegraffing" fees. During 1875-6 accounts are mentioned "in account with Johannah Adwen". BMS 11 (mostly 1881-4, a few 1884, 1886-7) This account book begins with an alphabetical list of accounts from Rochester throughout New York, to Newark, N.J., and Boston. Accounts include Cunningham Son & Co., Rochester Axle Works, Rochester Paper Co., Rome Merchant Iron Mills, Preston Fertilizer Co., Miller Brewing Co., Herkimer Paper Co. The grocery and provisions store on the Erie Canal sold "goods and sundries", tobacco and cigars, lager, ale and whiskey, hay, rope, and sacks. Adwen also dealt in paper, bones, metal, rags.Two pages list music lessons given by Adwen to two Rochester ladies. In addition are a listing of fire insurance policies for 1892, and mortgage, fire and life insurance as of Sept. 21, 1895, S. W. +J. Adwen. A Schenectedy address for George N. Adwen is written inside the front cover. BMS 12 (June 12,1882-April 30,1884 and 1889 - 1891) includes daily debits and credits, much business with Oswego Paper mill ;and 1889-1891 hay accounts, commissions, railroad expenses, payrolls, barn and warehouse rent. Many cash entries are to E. J. & Co., the Erickson, Jennings bankers. An alphabetical listing of accounts is included. A letterhead from 1889 lists Adwen & Barnard with S. M. Barnard crossed off. BMS 13 (mostly 1882-1884,1888-1893 hay accounts) includes an alphabethical listing of companies and accounts from Rochester to Philadelphia, Boston, and Ontario. Expenses are listed for many kinds of goods from rags, wool, bottles and glass, iron, bones. Pages 80-85 are for "Adwen & Bidwell expenses" , and "Nov. 18, 1888 turned over to C. H. Bidwell" who is listed in the Rochester Directory as running the Haymarket. Hay accounts are added at the bottom of many pages without dates but most dates are 1892-3. S. W. Adwen Jr. & Co. expenses are listed for 1889-1900. Page 181 is a statement of sales and money received by D. B. Nichols who is listed in the Rochester Directory as a "collector" in 1889. Several pages list expenses, board, and wages for George N. Adwen in 1892. William J. Appleby and other commissions for oats, feed, and hay are listed for 1892. A large number of Rochester individuals and companies are hay buyers. Erickson Jennings & Co. bankers are noted.
ArchivalResource:
6 v. ; + e 4 folders of associated papers with BMS 8, 11, 12, 13.
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