Wood, Kasey, and Wood Account Books
Scope and Content
The Wood, Kasey, and Wood Account Books document the transactions of a general store and zinc distributor in Max Meadows, Virginia, during the mid- to late nineteenth century. Materials include two detailed ledgers, three day books, and one cash book. Customers and suppliers named in these account books include (but are not limited to): Lehigh Zinc Company, Mercer Zinc Works, Union Lead Mines, a school house, Virginia and Tennessee Railroad Co., Palmer Hartsook & Co. (commission merchants), Ogelsby & Robinson, Jolen Rhodes, Columbus Smithers, Polley Hubbard, Charles Holliday, Robert H. Crockett, and J. M. Brower and Bro. Cotton. The proprietors' names, Thomas Wood and sons, along with A. M. Kasey, also appear in accounts. Examples of common transacted items include: coffee, eggs, tobacco, sugar, oil, butter, a pack of cards, soap, perfume, cotton, candy, potatoes, shoes, whiskey, zinc, and "sundries." Some loose letters to Thomas Wood concerning business also appear, affixed within the ledgers.
Dates
- 1864 - 1891
Creator
- Wood, Kasey, and Wood (Max Meadows, Va.) (Organization)
- Wood, Thomas, 1812-1891 (Person)
Language of Materials
The materials in the collection are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use
The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials.
Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction. Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.
Administrative History
Wood, Kasey, and Wood Company (sometimes referred to as Wood Kasey and Co.) served Max Meadows, Virginia, as a general store during the mid- to late nineteenth century. While dealing largely in foodstuffs, clothing, alcohol and common household items, Wood, Kasey, and Wood also shipped zinc ore from local mines to the Lehigh Zinc Company of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and Mercer Zinc Works of Trenton, New Jersey. According to Wythe County Virginia, A Bicentennial History, iodized zinc ore was hauled to Max Meadows from local lead mines because it was the closest shipping point.
Biographical Note
Thomas Wood, the elder proprietor of Wood, Kasey, and Wood, appears in the 1880: Wythe County Virginia Census as a 67-year-old merchant-placing his birth year around 1813. Born in England, Wood immigrated to Virginia and married Margaret Elizabeth Crockett in November 26, 1841. This union produced many children: William, Robert, Grafton, Bamford, Mary Agnes, Margaret Louise, Elizabeth Graham, John, Ann, and Josie Wood.
Wood is likely the Thomas Wood (June 20, 1812-March 29, 189[1?]) buried in Crockett Cemetery in Wytheville, Wythe County, Virginia. His tombstone states "Born in Cumberland Co. Eng."
Several of Thomas's sons appear in the ledger books and G. C. (Grafton) and William Wood sometimes appear as Thomas's partners. Daughter Margaret Louise Wood married Alexander Marion Kasey, likely her father's business partner.
External sources:
U.S. Census, 1850-1880
"Thomas Wood", Virginia Compiled Marriages, 1740-1850, Ancestry.com, https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/discoveryui-content/view/144572:3723, accessed March 29, 2023.
Findagrave.com, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/70982170/thomas-wood, accessed March 29, 2023.
Extent
0.7 Cubic Feet (2 boxes)
Abstract
The Wood, Kasey, and Wood Account Books document the transactions of a general store and zinc distributor in Max Meadows, Virginia, during the mid- to late nineteenth century. Materials include two detailed ledgers, three day books, and one cash book.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged by material type.
Source of Acquisition
The Wood, Kasey, and Wood Account Books were purchased by Special Collections in 1985.
Rights Statement for Archival Description
The guide to the Wood, Kasey, and Wood Account Books by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 (https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/).
Processing Information
The processing, arrangement, and description of the Wood, Kasey, and Wood Account Books commenced in June 2008 and was completed in July 2008.
- Title
- Wood, Kasey, and Wood Account Books, 1864-1891
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Emily Cook, Student Assistant
- Date
- 2008 (CC0 1.0)
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech Repository
Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries (0434)
560 Drillfield Drive
Newman Library, Virginia Tech
Blacksburg Virginia 24061 US
540-231-6308
specref@vt.edu