A Penny Saved and a Word from the Women: A Lesson from 1874

“the first payment two heave for our purse & another our women folkes think that it is two mutch out of the way”

Step back in time with me for a moment to a spring day in May of 1874. I was just looking through some old papers from Alderson Depot and found this little gem from William A. Pobst. He was writing a quick note to a Mr. Gwinn to let him know that a deal they had been discussing just wasn’t going to work out. It seems the price was a bit too steep and that first payment was just a little more than the family could manage.

The paper itself tells its own story before you even read a single word. It is a bit worn and stained, with that soft, brownish ink that has faded over the last century and a half. You can see the creases where it was folded up tight, maybe tucked into a pocket or a ledger. William’s writing is a bit rough around the edges—he spelled things just the way they sounded—but his message is as clear as a bell.

What I love most about this letter is how it mentions the women folkes. Back then, just like today, big family decisions weren’t made alone. William and the ladies in his house sat down, looked at their purse, and decided to stay sensible. It is a small, quiet moment of history, but it reminds us that folks have been trying to make ends meet and looking out for their families since the very beginning.

Looking at this old scrap of paper today, it feels like a handshake from the past. It shows us that even when times are lean, there is a certain dignity in being honest about what you can afford. It is a gentle reminder from Mr. Pobst that being careful with what you have is a tradition worth keeping.

Original Transcription

Alderson Depot
May . 13 . 74.
Mr. Gwinn..
Sir yours is at
hand & I hasten to answ
wer in the first place
we think that your
price is two high the
the first payment two heave
for our purse & another
our women folkes
think that it is two mutch
out of the way we
wish you suckeiss
Yours
Respt
William A.
Pobst