Neighbors, Notes, and the Power of a Promise

“Pay me the balance as soon as you can Your friend J W Davis”

There is a certain kind of magic in holding a piece of paper that has survived over a hundred and thirty winters. I was looking through our archives today and came across this lovely little note from December 14, 1893. It is written on lined paper that has turned a soft, golden yellow over the years, with dark ink that still stands out clear as day. You can see the horizontal fold lines where it was tucked away, a quiet witness to a transaction between two neighbors, J. W. Davis and Laban Gwinn.

Back in those days, things moved a bit slower, but trust was just as vital as it is now. This letter is a receipt for eighty dollars that Laban sent via a registered letter. That money was being put toward a one-hundred-and-fifty-dollar debt Laban had taken on way back in April of 1892. It was not just a business deal; it was a promise. Seeing the steady hand of Mr. Davis as he credits the account makes you think about how much folks relied on their word and a reliable postal service to keep things square.

The most touching part is not the math, though—it is the postscript. Mr. Davis adds a quick, personal note asking for the balance when Laban can spare it, signing off simply as ‘Your friend.’ It is a beautiful synthesis of business and brotherhood. Today, this scrap of paper reminds us that behind every historical record is a human story of integrity and kindness. It teaches us that even when times are lean, a little bit of patience and a friendly word go a long way in keeping a community together.

Original Transcription

$80 00 Received by registered
letter dated 2nd Decr 1893.
eighty dollars which I have
this day credited on the
note of Laban Gwinn to me
for $150 00 dated 20th April
1892 and payable one
year from date.
Decr. 14th 1893 J W Davis

Dear Mr. Gwinn.
Pay me the
balance as soon
as you can
Your friend
J W Davis