Unidentified Grocer Account Book, 1873, records financial activities on an almost daily basis. The volume was used primarily as a daybook to document customer purchases. Information found in each entry includes name of customer, name and quantity of goods purchased, and the monies debited or credited to the account. Examples of items sold include tobacco, whiskey, pickles, sugar, oysters, coffee, cigars, cherries, chickens, bacon, peaches, etc. Occasionally, throughout the volume, individual customer accounts were compiled. Such entries noted items purchased and payments made to the account. The grocer accepted cash as well as barter for payment.

In addition, the account book was frequently used to document the cash on hand. Business as well as the personal expenses of the grocer owner were recorded in the account book. Business expenses included such items as rent, bar fixtures, hardware, and purchasing stock for the store. Paying for horses, livestock feed, wallpaper, as well as money loans were included among the private expenses of the business owner.