J.H. Spradling & Co. General Store Invoice From Memphis: 1900

James Spradling operated a general store northeast of Mantachie near the old Barnes Schoolhouse during the 1890’s until the 1920’s. Above is an old invoice found in the store ledger from J.T. Fargason and Co. of Memphis, wholesale grocers and cotton factors. The 1900 Shelby County, Tennessee census shows Jas. T. Fargason as age 65, living on Beale Street in Memphis with his wife, son, son in law, daughter, three grandchildren and four servants. His occupation was listed as “cotton and spices.”

Noted on the invoice written during 1900 were ten pounds of pepper, one dozen four-ounce bottles of turpentine, one dozen bottles of castor oil and 250 shotgun shells.

The old store ledger is housed in the society’s Gaither Spradling Library at the George Poteet History Center in Mantachie.