Ageneral store in the times of the pioneers sold a variety of goods. Some thingswere homemade and some things were ordered. Pioneers bought things like coffee,fabric, candy, medicines and cooking appliances. Pioneers usually also met up ata general store. They went there to get new information, too. Most peoplewouldn’t use money to buy things. They would usually use a bartering system, inother words, trading.
Ageneral store was usually a family business. Once a child was old enough, he orshe would help out around the store. When a family grew, the business couldalso grow. A general store also served as a post office. When the storekeeperbrought in a sack of mail, everyone would gather around. Most early generalstores were supported by the Hudson Bay Company. These general stores couldn’tmeet the needs of growing settlements.