The Carthage (Indiana) Cook Book was found in an heirloom highboy offers fascinating reading. Page 1 is missing so the publication date is a mystery, though clothing ads suggest early 20th century (I suspect 1908-1910).

Here’s a sample recipe:

Fruit Cake

1 pound butter, 1 pound sugar, 1 pound flour, 3 pounds raisins, 2 pounds currants, 8 eggs, spice, ½ teaspoon soda in a little water, ¼ pound citron.

That’s it. No time, no temperature, no sequence.

Also intriguing is a big ad that boasts a bank with total capital of $25,000.