The O.C. Simmons Ledger Book dates from 1866-1867 and documents the invoice of the hardware store, owned by Orville C. Simmons, over the year. The opening cover of the ledger is dated January 1st, 1866. Paw Paw, Michigan during this time was described as “a flourishing incorporated post village” with a population of 1300, according to the Michigan State Gazetteer for 1863-1864. It also listed other businesses in Paw Paw during this time, such as flouring mills, saw mills, blind and door manufacturers, along with professions and trades, including Simmon, O.C. & Co., which was the hardware store of Orville C. Simmons and Alonzo Sherman. The ledger provides documentation of some of the items he sold, such as various tools, coffin screws, dowels and handles, display cases, copper boilers, blank keys, shotguns, rifles, bullet molds, powder flasks, oxbows’, otter traps, cutlery, pie and cake pans, skates, blacksmith tools, cowbells, corn huskers, whips and harnesses, and several other items. This overall gives a better insight into the past of Paw Paw, Michigan during this time.