| Quantity: | 7 boxes (3.0 cubic ft.) |
|---|---|
| Access: | Open to research |
| Acquisition: | Purchased by the New York State Library from Donna L. Reston, September 1989. |
| Processed By: | Fred Bassett, Assistant Librarian, Manuscripts and Special Collections, September 1989; revised May 2014 |
Azel Hough (ca. 1796-1856) was a proprietor of general stores first in Ephratah, Fulton County, New York, from about 1828 to 1841, and later in Saint Johnsville, Montgomery County, New York, from about 1839 to 1856. Hough was also involved with other business enterprises as well, including a gristmill and a sawmill.
These papers consist chiefly of bookkeeping records and other financial records kept by Azel Hough detailing transactions at the general stores he operated as well as his interests in the operations of a gristmill and a sawmill. The records also reveal he operated his business in partnership with other individuals over the years. Those identified in the records are Philip Erckenbrack, John W. Riggs, and Henry Adams. After Hough passed away in 1856, the records indicate his son, Walter Hough, had taken over the management of the general store.
Daybooks of the general store contain single entries noting the customer's name, items purchased, quantity, cost, and receipt of payment. They also give the page number for corresponding ledger books, which, for the most part, have been lost or destroyed, except one ledger that is posted to the Ephratah daybooks, 1833-1841. Corresponding ledgers that are available summarize the financial transactions of a particular individual or party as well as detailing debits and credits to their account.
The records indicate that the majority of Hough's customers were farmers or laborers, who were employed at one of the small factories in the area and were of Palatine German origin. Also evidenced in these records is a shift of business from the Ephratah general store to the Saint Johnsville general store after 1839. Hough may have sought to cash in on increased business activity along the Erie Canal occurring at that time.
Ancillary papers in this collection include numerous bills and receipts detailing goods and services purchased by Azel Hough, as well as deeds, insurance policies, and other legal papers related to his business and real property holdings.
| Box | Volume /Folder |
Description |
|---|---|---|
| Ephratah General Store Bookkeeping Records, 1828-1841 | ||
| 1 | 1 | Daybook, May 1828-May 1829 (240 p., 40 cm.) |
| 1 | 2 | Daybook, June 1830-May 1831 (336 p., 38 cm.) |
| 1 | 3 | Daybook, May 1831-April 1832 (ca. 360 p., 39 cm.) |
| 1 | 4 | Daybook, May 1832-May 1833 (ca. 300 p., 40 cm.) |
| 2 | 1 | Ledger no. 2, 1833-1841 (530 p., 41 cm.) |
| 2 | 2 | Daybook, May 1833-June 1835 (360 p., 40 cm.) |
| 3 | 1 | Daybook "A", June 1835-August 1836 (ca. 375 p., 38 cm.) |
| 3 | 2 | Daybook "B", August 1836-May 1837 (340 p., 38 cm.) |
| 3 | 3 | Daybook "C", June 1837-December 1838 (400 p., 38 cm.) |
| 3 | 4 | Daybook "D", January 1839-May 1841 (400 p., 38 cm.) |
| St. Johnsville General Store Bookkeeping Records, 1839-1845 | ||
| 4 | 1 | Daybook, May-December 1839, "A" (316 p., 39 cm.) |
| 4 | 2 | Daybook, May-October 1841, "C" (350 p., 39 cm.) |
| 4 | 3 | Daybook, May-November 1841 (320 p., 39 cm.) |
| 4 | 4 | Daybook, December 1843-May 1844 (318 p., 39 cm.) |
| 4 | 5 | Daybook, November 1844-June 1845 (240 p., 39 cm.) |
| Hough & Company Account Books, 1847-1862 | ||
| 5 | 1 | Daybook, July 1847-February 1848 (290 p., 39 cm.) |
| 5 | 2 | Daybook, March 1848-1862 (ca. 290 p., 39 cm.) |
| 5 | 3 | Daybook, 1857-1862 (ca. 120 p., 39 cm.) |
| 5 | 4 | Ledger, 1840-1848 (360 p., 40 cm.) |
| 5 | 5 | Ledger 1840-1848 (240 p., 20 cm.) |
| 5 | 6 | Daybook, 1840-1847 (120 p., 32 cm.) |
| 5 | 7 | Invoice Book, 1842 (ca. 100 p., 32 cm.) |
| Hough & Erckenbrack Bookkeeping Records, 1830-1844 | ||
| 5 | 8 | Ledger, 1834-1844 (ca. 120 p., 19 cm.) |
| 5 | 9 | Memoranda Book, 1830-1840 (ca. 120 p., 19 cm.) |
| 5 | 10 | Sales book, 1834-1835 (ca. 100 p., 19 cm.) |
| Financial Papers, 1825-1864 | ||
| 6 | 1 | Bills and Receipts, 1825-1829 |
| 6 | 2 | Bills and Receipts, 1830-1834 |
| 6 | 3 | Bills and Receipts, 1835-1839 |
| 6 | 4 | Bills and Receipts, 1840-1842 |
| 6 | 5 | Bills and Receipts, 1843-1844 |
| 6 | 6 | Bills and Receipts, 1845-1849 |
| 6 | 7 | Bills and Receipts, 1850-1859 |
| 6 | 8 | Bills and Receipts, 1860-1864 |
| 6 | 9 | Orders, ca. 1825-1840 |
| 6 | 10 | Insurance policies, ca. 1852 |
| Land and Legal Papers, ca. 1830s-1850s | ||
| 7 | 1 | Deeds, mortgages, and other land papers, 1830s-1850s |
| 7 | 2 | Land surveys, land titles, etc., 1830s-1850s |
| 7 | 3 | Letters and papers related to litigation, 1830s-1850s |
| 7 | 4 | Letters and papers related to litigation, 1830s-1850s |
| 7 | 5 | Assorted Financial, Land, and Legal Papers, 1830s-1850s |
| 7 | 6 | Miscellaneous |