Finding Aid of the A. H. Nabors, Physician and Merchant Account Book, 1870-1872, PC.AB.542

[Identification of item], PC.AB.542, A. H. Nabors, Physician and Merchant Account Book, 1870-1872, State Archives of North Carolina, Raleigh, NC, USA.

This ledger of accounts contains entries for Dr. Nabor's medical visits and for general store purchases from the years 1870-1872, with most occurring in 1871. The volume has 218 numbered pages that begin at page four (first three pages and possibly an index are missing). Included with the volume is a copy of a store advertisement that appeared in the Mountain Banner, 9 June 1882. The ad listed a stock of dry goods, groceries, hardware, cutlery, glass-ware, crockery, and featured bacon and lard, and superior family flour. Entries in the volume itself include a variety of medical treatments such as pills, cough mixtures, castor oil, dressing compresses, even spoonfuls of diced cabbage and plugs of tobacco. In the categories of dry goods, hardware and general merchandise, entries include hats, shoes, shoe strings, ribbons, papers of pins, spools of thread, yards of calico and gingham, lead powder, domestic bleach, mule shoes, curry combs, nails, looking glasses, spelling books. Groceries included eggs, coffee, sugar, flour and buck wheat.

The heading on each page of the ledger is Brittian [sic] and Rutherford, NC. Almost all pages have a name of one a patient/customer written below the heading (some page have two names), followed by a listing of doctor's visits and purchases by date. A sample of names includes the following: J.B. Groves, Alex Farnsworth, William Groves, Elizabeth Morgan, A. B. Long, Sr., Joseph Daniel, Jeff Hampton, Mrs. L.L. Hemphill, Baxter Long, George Flack, Albert Torry [?], Bettie Boon, Barrier Davis, Miss Sarah Erwin, Mrs.Malindia [sic] Groves, and Jethro Morgan,

Bound ledger is arranged by customer name.

Asbury Hull Nabors (1838-1902) was born at Laurens, Laurens County, S.C. to Alon and Martha Nabours. He was educated at the Charleston Medical College at Charleston, S.C., where he received his degree in 1860. Dr. Nabors began his first practice in Thermal City, Rutherford County, then was married shortly thereafter to Mary Ann Tate of McDowell County. One child, Mattie Ellen, was born to the couple in July 1861.

As the Civil War continued, Dr. Nabors enlisted in Company G. 50th Regiment, N.C. Troops, and was appointed 1st Lieutenant on 24 March 1862. He resigned, however, 16 June 1862, for health reasons (diagnosis of urethra blockage and prostrate disease). Following the approval of his discharge 24 June, Dr. Nabors apparently returned home shortly thereafter, resuming his medical practice in Rutherford County.

At some point he bought land and built a home near the township of Camp Creek, near Brittain Presbyterian Church and Centennial Methodist Church. This area, north of Rutherfordton toward the South Mountains, included several small communities clustered around churches and schools. In conjunction with his medical practice, Dr. Nabors operated a general merchandise store, A. H. Nabors, near Camp Creek in the community with a post office known as Brittain. There is an entry for the store in the as late as 1902.

Mary Ann Nabors died in July 1883 and Dr. Nabors remarried in December 1884 to Miss Margaret Forney. She died ca. 1901 and Dr. Nabors followed her in death, ca. February 1902. Dr. Nabors, his two wives and daughter, Mattie Nabors Young and her husband, Walter Addison Young, are buried in the Centennial Methodist Cemetery.

Received as a gift from Larry Cole, Morganton, N.C., 7 February 2011