OLD HOMESTEAD 



whiskey, although I do remember hearing the matter talked 

 about and hearing him tell when he first decided to teetotally 

 abandon the use of liquor, notwithstanding that at that time it 

 was made, sold and used by everybody who pleased, without 

 unfavorable comment or criticism. 



There were several distilleries in town. The whiskey was 

 good and cheap, and its use at raisings, logging-bees and all 

 kinds of gatherings for business or pleasure was the universal 

 custom. 



The first sale of whiskey charged was November 2, 1815, to 

 John M. Williams, viz.: ''Three yards of flannel, five shillings 

 per yard, one dollar eighty-eight cents; three gallons of whis- 

 key, seven shillings per gallon, two dollars sixty-two cents." 

 There is nothing in John Williams' account to indicate out of 

 which he got the most warmth, the three yards of flannel or the 

 three gallons of whiskey. 



There are a few other charges on the book indicating that 

 rum and whiskey were sold at his store in jug quantities, but not, 

 as a rule, by the drink, although I find items in 1826 of this 

 character: "Stuff at election, twelve and one-half cents." 

 Probably this was rum, as that was the ''stuff" most in demand 

 at elections in those days, yet it indicates that even at that 

 early day he had begun to be sensitive about the trade and did 

 not care to make an entry on his books showing that it was 

 liquor, or that the customer did not want it so charged. 



Four or five years cover all the entries for liquors, and what- 

 ever he may have thought of the business then, he condemned 

 it as a curse and an abomination throughout the balance of his 

 long life, and was active in all reform measures taken for the 

 suppression of the traffic. 



I find a record of notes given for so many days' labor, and 



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