Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
Register of the Stockton (Calif.) 19th c. Business Ledgers, 1878-1894
Ms7
No online items
View entire collection guide
Search this collection
Table of contents
Title: Stockton (Calif.) 19th c. Business Ledgers,
Date (inclusive): 1878-1894
Collection number: Ms7
Creator:
Extent: 0.5 linear ft.
Repository:
San Joaquin County Museum.
Lodi, CA 95241
Language:
English.
Collection is open for research by appointment only.
The library can only claim physical ownership of the collection. Users are responsible
for satisfying any claimants of literary property.
[Identification of item], Stockton (Calif.) 19th c. Business Ledgers, Ms7, San Joaquin
County Historical Society and Museum.
Dorrance, H.T. (1820-1895)
Easton, Andrew
Dorrance Saddlery (Stockton, Calif.)
Andrew Easton Company (Stockton, Calif.)
Merchants -California -Stockton
Business enterprises -California -Stockton
House furnishings -California -Stockton
Stockton (Calif.) -History
H.T. Dorrance (1820-1895) was a wealthy businessman, Republican and Episcopalian who had
come to Stockton in 1850. Dorrance was active in community affairs, serving as a member
of the Board of Directors of, and writing several articles for, the Stockton Daily
Independent newspaper (1867-1869). He was also a Stockton High School Trustee (1864-72;
1887-89) and a member of the Board of Directors of the Stockton Insane Asylum (1887-94).
The Dorrance Saddlery was located at 185 Hunter Street, opposite the Courthouse, for
approximately thirty years (c1865-1895). It imported and repaired goods for teamsters and
farmers.
Andrew Easton began his professional life in Stockton working for E.L. Houche & Co.
selling groceries, crockery, etc. on the corner of Main and Center (c1870). By 1873 the
company name was changed to Houche & Easton and, five years later, Easton had opened his
own home furnishings business at 184 Main and 361/363 El Dorado (1878). In 1893 Easton
entered into a partnership with his nephew Gilbert Stewart Easton, moved the company to
270/ 272 Main, and changed its name changed to A. & G.S. Easton. The two disposed of this
company the following year. Easton was apparently involved in Populist Party politics,
for the last few pages of his ledger are filled with newspaper clippings and Easton's
letters to local newspapers regarding San Joaquin County People's Party affairs
(1891/1892). San Joaquin names that appear in the clippings include those of: J.M.
Benson; E.N. Pierce; J.A. Anderson; J. McCann; George Hogan; C.A. Campbell; D.A. Learned;
Charles Belding; Wm. Inglis; I.S. Bostwick; George West; and, Philip Fitzgerald.
The Dorrance Saddlery Ledger contains records of sales (including lists of items bought
and sold, their price and names of clients and suppliers), deposits, refunds and expenses
(1878-1886). It is 579 pages in length, dark brown in color, and measures approximately
14" x 8". It has suffered water damage. The Andrew Easton Ledger (1890-1894) is entitled
"San Francisco and Eastern Ledger" and contains business transactions with companies in
northern California and on the East Coast. The Ledger contains an alphabetical index of
clients as well as a debit/credit running totals for each patron's account. Easton had
clinets in Modesto, Oakland, Sacramento, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, and Stockton,
including the Goodyear Rubber Company, Southern Pacific Railroad Company, the Stockton
Courier, the Stanislaus News, and the Lodi Sentinel. The ledger also lists clients in
fifteen eastern states. It is more than 200 pages in length, dark tan with maroon leather
corners, and measures approximately 13" x 8".