CASH BOOK

TOWN OF COLUMBIA

Photographed and Submitted by Vernon Ritter

The  Cash  Book  of  the  Town  of  Columbia  is a register of receipts and disbursements made by the town of Columbia for goods and services over a 42 year period from 1859 to 1901, The odd numbered pages contain details of the receipts and the even numbered pages contain details of the disbursements.  There are a few examples of the "receipt pages "  but for the most part they are very repetitious and contain the same names over and over because those individuals held the political offices that collected the revenue for extended periods of time.  The even numbered pages with the disbursements are far more informative, particularly in the early years.  Individuals are named and the services or goods provided are itemized. As time passed the records become less detailed but information can still be gleaned from close study. The Cash Book was found in an old desk at Columbia City Hall when the desk was to be moved to the public library in Columbia. The Cash Book is now under lock and key, as is the Justice Court Records of 1910 - 1912. To make the information available for public use I have photographed them and placed a CD at the library for use by the patrons. Images from both books are also available at    http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ilmonroe/  on the internet, thanks to the efforts of Sharon Hackworth, site coordinator, who reconfigured the files for use on the internet. 

Vernon Ritter