The following abbreviations have frequently been used in this work:

agt=Agent
al=Alley
bds=Boards
bet=Between
bkpr=Book-keeper
bldg=Building
Blan=Blanchard
clk=Clerk
cor=Corner
C. & B=Conrey & Birely
C. W. & D=Conrey, Wallar & Deprez
dept=Department
D'H. & S=D'Heur & Swain
e=East
fac=Factory
fur=Furniture
F. & M.=Frechtling & Morner
h=House
H. Fur. Co.=Hodell Furniture Co
lab=Laborer
mkr=Maker
mnfg=Manufacturing
mnfr=Manufacturer
McC. & P=McConnell & Parrish
n=North
ne=Northeast
nr=Near
opp=Opposite
pres=President
prin=Principal
propr=Proprietor
Rev=Reverend
s=South
si=Side
sec=Secretary
supt=Superintendent
S. & B.=Stewart & Blakely
S. B. M. & Co=S. B. Morris & Co.
Shel. Ca. Co=Shelbyville Cabinet Co.
Shel. L. & D. Co=Shelbyville Lounge & Desk Co.
treas=Treasurer
w=West
wid=Widow
wks=Works
*=Colored

The abbreviation "h." for house, in describing the residence of an individual, indicates that the individual was the head of the family. When the word "lives" is used in the same connection, it indicates that the person is a member of the family other than the head. The compiler has, as a general rule, given the occupation or business as he received it from members of the household. It is hoped that no one will be offended at the designations of "servant," "domestic," or any other title, because the compiler has only used such titles when they were given him by some member of the individual's family. Great carelessness exists in the numbering of many houses, notwithstanding the fact that the failure to number is an offense punishable by fine. The compiler, after notifying the parties that they needed to number their houses and after then being greeted by the same carelessness, has designated such houses as completely as possible; hence the reader will often find a house located between two other numbers, or, when it is at the end of a street, "beyond such and such a number." Sometimes "opposite (a given number)" is found.