Published online by Cambridge University Press: 24 July 2012
While “higgling” always occurred to some degree in most country stores, this article establishes evidence that, for many basic commodities, a system of standard prices existed in some country stores long before the Civil War.
1 Tappan, Lewis, The Life of Arthur Tappan (New York, 1870), pp. 70–73.Google Scholar
2 Atherton, Lewis E., “The Pioneer Merchant in Mid-America,” University of Missouri Studies, vol. XIV (April, 1939), pp. 43–45Google Scholar; ibid., The Southern Country Store, 1800–1860 (Baton Rouge, 1949), pp. 42–66.
3 Ibid.
4 Entries, August, 1831–August, 1832, T. S. Yates Store Account Books, 1831–1836 (Western Historical Manuscripts Collection, University of Missouri).
5 Ibid.
6 Entries, January, 1832, Moses V. Payne Papers and Account Books, 1811–1898 (Western Historical Manuscripts Collection).
7 Ibid.
8 Entries, September, 1844, George W. Garriott Account Book, 1844–1845 (Western Historical Manuscripts Collection).
13 Entries, September-October, 1826, Day Book IV, Lucy Wortham James Papers (Western Historical Manuscripts Collection).
14 Entries, August, 1831, Ledger VI, ibid.