Credit Guide & Directory of Kent, Cecil & Harford Counties, MD, December 1912 Transcribed and contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Cyndie Enfinger < cyndiee@tampabay.rr.com > *********************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this mater representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net *********************************************************************** Abbreviations of Ratings (on inside cover of book): Estimated Worth aa $20,000 and over bb $15,000 to $20,000 dd $10,000 to $15,000 ee $5,000 to $10,000 gg $2,000 to $5,000 hh $1,000 to $2,000 jj $500 to $1,000 kk $300 to $500 mm Less than $300 rr Request report Rating Key P. Prompt Pay. F. Fair Pay. S. Slow Pay. C. Cash Customer with me. U. Considered honest but unfortunate circumstances prevented paying me. X. Would request Cash. Z. Request Special Report. Figures indicate number of firms making like rating. * Indicates Colored People. Examples of Rating “P” signifies a rating by one firm who says the party rated is prompt pay. “3P” would mean that three firms say the same. “P-F-2S-3X.” This shows very doubtful credit. It indicates one who pays his first bills promptly, becomes slow, and then does not pay. Security advised. “2F-S-C-U-3X.” This should be translated as 8X. The 2F-S-C-U have little bearing in the case, would request cash. “X” Alone or when preceded by figures indicates that the firm or firms making the rating would request cash in future transactions. ================================================================================ CREDIT GUIDE AND DIRECTORY OF KENT, CECIL AND HARFORD COUNTIES MARYLAND SEPTEMBER, 1912 =============== MERRICK SECURITY & TRUST CO. WILMINGTON, DEL. ================================================================================ ABBREVIATIONS Abstrctr-abstractor Cshr-cashier Acct-accountant Ct clk-court clerk Actnr-auctioneer Cttn-cotton Adtr-auditor Cy frmn-city fireman Advt-Advertising Cy mrshll-city marshall Agrl impl-Agricultural implements Cy mrshl-city marshal Agt-agent Cy treas-city treasurer Appr-appraiser Aprntc-apprentice Dec-decorator Archtct-architect Dep-deputy Artst-artist Dep clk-deputy clerk Asst-assistant Dep shrff-deputy sheriff Atmbls-automobiles Dep treas-deputy treasurer Atty-attorney Dept-department Awngs-awnings Desnr-designer D G-dry goods Bdg hse-boarding house Dis-district Bkbndr-bookbinder Dlr-dealer Bkkpr-bookkeeper Dlvry-delivery Bkr-baker Dntl sppls-dental supplies Bldg-building Dntst-dentist Bldg mtls-building materials Dom-domestic Bldr-builder Dr-doctor Blksmth-blacksmith Drftsmn-draftsman Blr mkr-boiler maker Drggst-druggist Bnk-bank Drmn-drayman Bnk clk-bank clerk Drssmkr-dressmaker Bnkr-banker Drvr-driver Brbr-barber Drymn-dairyman Brcklyr-bricklayer Dsptchr-dispatcher Brckmsn-brickmason Dstllr-distiller Brdg wkr-bridge worker Dtctv-detective Brkmn-brakeman Brkpr-barkeeper Edtr-editor Brkr-broker Elct lght-electric light Brm mkr-broom maker Elctn-electrician Brsh mkr-brush maker Elctrcl engr-electrical engineer Brtndr-bartender Emp-employee Brwr-brewer Engr-engineer Brwry-brewery Engrvr-engraver Btchr-butcher Exp agt-express agent Btlr-butler Exp drvr-express driver Bttlr-bottler Exp nsbgr-express messenger Byr-buyer Exprsmn-expressman F & F-flour and feed Car rep-car repairer Cbnt mkr-cabinet maker Fce mkr-furnace maker Cgr mftr-cigar manufacturer Fctry-factory Cgr mkr-cigar maker Flrst-florist Cgrs-cigars Flrwalkr-floorwalker Chf-chief Fmr-farmer Chfr-chauffeur Fndry-foundry Chmn-coachman Fnshr-finisher Chmst-chemist Formn-foreman Chnmkr-chain maker Frm hnd-farm hand Cigt fctry-cigarette factory Frmn-fireman Civ engr-civil engineer Frm wkr-frame worker Clk-clerk Frt-fruit Clo-clothier Fshr-fish Cmpstr-compositor Fshrmn-fisherman Cmt wkr-cement worker Fur-furrier Cndtr-conductor Furn-furniture Cnfctnr-confectioner Cnstbl-constable Gas ftr-gas fitter Cntr-contractor Gents furn-gents furnishings Cnvsr-canvasser Glss blr-glass blower Co clk-county clerk Gnsmth-gunsmith Coll-collector Gov emp-government employee Com mcht-commission merchant Gran ctr-granite cutter Com trav-commercial traveler Grdnr-gardner Comsnr-commissioner Grn brkr-grain broker Cor-coroner Gro-grocer Core mkr-core maker G S-general store Corp-corporation Co treas-county treasurer Hdwe-hardware Cpntr-carpenter Hkstr-huckster Cpr-cooper Hrnss-harness Cpt wvr-carpet weaver Hrs-heirs Cptlst-capitalist Hrs dlr-horse dealer Crrg mkr-carriage maker Hrsher-horseshoer Crrg trmmr-carriage trimmer ------------------------- Hrsmn-horseman Plmbr-plumber Hse furn-house furnishing Plng mll-planing mill Hse mvr-house mover Plstr-plasterer Hsptl-hospital Pltcn-politician Hstlr-hostler Pltry-poultry Htl P M-post master Pnsnr-pensioner Impls-implements Pntr-painter Ins-insurance Pnts-paints Inspctr-inspector Ppr hngr-paper hanger Invntr-inventor Pres-president Iron wkr-iron worker Prntr-printer Prod-produce Jantrs-janitress Prof-professor Jnk dlr-junk dealer Propr-proprietor Jntr-janitor Prtr-porter Jobrs-jobbers Prssmn-pressmen J P-justice of the peace Pstl clk-postal clerk Jwlr-jeweler Pttr-potter Pub-publisher Lab-laborer Lith-lithographer Qrrymn-quarryman Lmbr-lumber Lnch cntr-lunch counter Rbr wkr-rubber worker Lndrss-laundress Rep shp-repair shop Lndry-laundry Res-residence Lnmn-lineman Rest-restaurant Lqr-liquor Ret-retired Lthr-leather Rev-reverend Lvry-livery Rl est-real estate Lvstck-livestock Rmg hse-rooming house Rprtr-reporter Mbl wkr-marble worker Rvrmn-riverman Mchnc-mechanic Ry-railway help of any king Mchnl engr-mechanical engineer Ry clk-railway clerk Mchnst-machinist Ry frmn-railway fireman Mcht-merchant Ry ml serv-railway mail service Mdse-merchandise Meat cttr-meat cutter Saw ml-saw mill Med stdnt-medical student Schl supt-school superintendent Mftr-manufacturer Sctn hnd-section hand Mgr-manager Sec-secretary Mine opr-mine operator Sec hnd-second hand Mkt-market Sdlr-saddler Ml crrer-mail carrier Sgn pntr-sign painter Mldr-moulder Shmkr-shoemaker Ml hnd-mill hand Shopmn-shopman Mllmn-millman Shp clk-shipping clerk Mllnr-milliner Shppr-shipper Mllr-miller Shrff-sheriff Mng engr-mining engineer Slctr-solicitor Mnmts-monuments Sln-saloon Mnr-miner Slsldy-saleslady Mrshl-marshal Slsmn-salesman Mscl instr-musical instruments Sltr-slater Msc tchr-music teacher Slvrsmth-silversmith Mscn-musician Smstrss-seamstress Msngr-messenger Spclst-specialist Msn-mason Sptg gds-sporting goods Mtrmn-motorman Srvyr-surveyor Sta engr-stationary engineer News dlr-news dlr Stck-stock Ntns-notations Stck brkr-stock broker Ntry-notary St com-street commissioner Nwsppr-newspaper Stdnt-student Stl wkr-steel worker Ofcr-officer Stm fittr-steam fitter Oil dlr-oil dealer Stn ctr-stone cutter Optcn-optician Stngphr-stenographer Stn msn-stone mason Pat med-patent medicines St ry-street railway help of any kind Paymstr-paymaster Suprv-supervisor Pctr frmg-picture framing Supt-superintendent Pddlr-peddler Swng mchns-sewing machines Photo-photographer Swtchmn-switchman Piano dlr-piano dealer Swyr-sawyer Pipe fittr-pipe fitter Plcmn-policeman Tanr-tanner Tchr-teacher Tel oper-telephone operator -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PREFACE In placing this book in the hands of our subscribers, we feel that a few words regarding what we have striven to attain with an explanation of the system followed will gain for it a share of the appreciation it merits. Our purpose has been to afford an authentic guide to those extending credit and produce a comprehensive directory of the district covered. Were we have exercised every effort to secure accuracy we do not claim that it is absolutely so and should it contain errors either as to names, addresses, or ratings, we ask that indulgence of subscribers and their co-operation in correcting same. The names appearing herein have been secured by a house to house and farm to farm canvass and is supposed to contain every person 15 years and over in the Counties of Kent, Cecil and Harford. The credit ratings are based upon information furnished by merchants and professional men in the Counties named and is an expression of their experience, as shown from their books, with the parties rated. The gathering of this data has not been confined to subscribers but has been secured from nearly every one doing business in these Counties. We believe that our system is the true plan of establishing credit. It is information gained by actual experience as distinguished from mere opinion formed by observation. We hold that actual experience in real transactions better qualifies a person to state what credit should be given to a party dealt with than the opinion of any person unaided by experimental information. The common plan of rating business men based upon the opinion of bankers, attorneys and others without reference to recorded transactions has been proven to be vague, uncertain and indefinite. In arriving at the pecuniary worth of those listed we have supplemented the information given by local business men by referring to public records, such as assessment lists, judgment dockets, mortgage records, etc. Notwithstanding the fact that we have used every effort to secure accuracy we cannot guarantee the ratings to be absolutely correct as this would be out of the question in a pioneer work such as this, however, in giving our subscribers the benefit of both the credit standing and estimated pecuniary worth they will have a double guide in determining whether to extend credit or not and should prove of invaluable benefit to them. In extending credit it should be borne in mind that many people of small means are worthy of full credit while others of abundant capital should be credited sparingly. It is not possible to entirely eliminate loss in giving credit but few mistakes will result if heed is given to the experience of others instead of depending upon mere guess work. In recommending liberal reference to this book we wish to assure our subscribers that we sincerely believe the ratings to be reliable and more to be depended upon than information from ordinary sources. It is our purpose to revise and supplement the data contained herein from time to time and we earnestly solicit information and suggestions from subscribers to the end that errors may be corrected and greater accuracy secured. MERRICK SECURITY & TRUST CO. ----------------------------- © 2003 Cyndie Enfinger