Tavern Ledger, Jonesborough, Greene County, Indiana, 1850 -- 51. This tavern offered liquor both by the drink and by the bottle, as well as an array of other goods, including liniment, bars of lead, day books, and plug tobacco as well as food, including cheese and crackers, mackerel and candy. There are also notations for "cash loand." Given this relatively early moment in the settlement of this region, it seems that this establishment served a much broader purpose than that of a traditional tavern. The book is arranged chronologically, with a entries by name for each date, followed by what that person purchased, and what the price was. The entries run from August 10th 1850, to May 2nd 1851.

Since entries include date, customer, and the type and size of purchase, it is possible for the historian to deduce the patterns of alcohol consumption during this period. Whisky is by far the most popular choice, with Brandy and "cidar" following; one Solomon Carmichel purchases at least a pint for most days that there are entries; and frequently an accompanying glass. There are two Jonesboros in Indiana, one just south of Marion in Grant County, and the other a hamlet in Greene County near the border with Monroe County. Since a Lemuel Sexton, a William Martindale, and a Jesse Rainbolt show up in both the tavern records, and in the 1840 census for Greene County, it appears that this Jonesboro is the one in Greene County. There is an entry for "Lemuel Sexson" in the History Of Greene And Sullivan Counties, State Or Indiana, From The Earliest Time To The Present; Together With Interesting Biographical Sketches. Reminiscences. Notes, Etc. (1884), identifying him as a prosperous farmer, and the proprietor of the Sexson Flouring Mills. Joel Sexson was a veteran of the Civil War. Jesse Rainbolt served as an associate judge for Greene County in 1849, and had a son who fought in the 43 Indiana regiment; his father, Adam, was a veteran of the American Revolution. Thomas, Andrew and Samuel Ferguson, identified as patrons, were sons of Thomas Ferguson, a veteran of the American Revolution. William Martindale, identified as a patron, appears to be the revolutionary war veteran buried in Miami County, Indiana. James Buffalo, identified as a patron, was a Civil War veteran. The county was named after Nathanael Greene, the Revolutionary hero; the preponderance of veterans here suggests that this area may have been settled by them. Acquired from Catalogue Seventy-Three, M & S Rare Books, Providence, RI, July 2002. Above description taken from the bookseller's catalogue.