A Race Against Time in Fayette County: A Glimpse into Our Shared Past

“It is really of importance that you go at once, as I understand that other parties are trying to get the land from Dicks heirs.”

Gather ’round, friends, because I’ve found something truly special tucked away in our archives. It’s a handwritten letter from way back in 1873, penned right here in Fayette County. When you hold it, you can almost feel the weight of the years. The paper has turned a lovely shade of golden-yellow, and those crisp fold lines tell us it was tucked away in a pocket or a desk for a long, long time. The blue ink, though a bit faded, still flows across the lined paper with the kind of elegant penmanship you just don’t see much of these days.

The letter was written by a man named H.W. Brazie to his friend Laban Gwinn. It seems there was a bit of a rush to get a land deal settled. Brazie was sending over a deed for the ‘Dick heirs’ to sign, and he was acting as a bit of a guide for Laban. He even included a bond for $300, which was quite a sum of money back then! You can sense the excitement and perhaps a little bit of anxiety in his words. He was worried that other folks might swoop in and grab the land before they could get everything legally squared away.

What’s really interesting is how Brazie wanted to get the land advertised in the newspaper as soon as possible. He was confident that every inch would be sold before spring arrived. It reminds us that even back then, our corner of West Virginia was a place of opportunity and movement. People were looking to build futures, settle families, and make their mark on this beautiful, rugged landscape we call home.

Looking at this letter today, it’s more than just a business transaction. It is a heartbeat from the past. It shows us the trust between neighbors and the hustle of a growing community. It serves as a gentle reminder that we are all just stewards of the land for a little while, part of a long chain of stories that stretch back through the generations. It is a piece of our collective memory, written in blue ink on yellowed paper, waiting for us to listen.

Original Transcription

Fayette C.H. WVa
Nov 24″ 1873
Laban Gwinn
Dr Sir:
Enclosed you will
find the deed I have prepared for
the Dick heirs to sign. You will
also find my bond for $300. which
I want you to sign as trustee, and
give to the Dick heirs when they
execute the deed. I have drawn the
deed to you as trustee for the heirs of
John Gwinn Decd. for the reason that
it will not require the signature of
all the heirs, when we come to sell.
I want you to go at once and
have the deed executed. and I will
pay half the expense. It is really
of importance that you go at once,
as I understand that other parties
are trying to get the land from Dicks
heirs. and another reason for haste
is that as soon as we get the deed
on record we can sell. There a great
many who wish to buy, but will
not until we get the deed,
As soon as we get the deed I
will advertize the land in some
News paper, and I am sure we

before spring we will sell every inch
Let me hear from you at once,
I will leave the amount in the
note blank so if you can get the
land for less than $300. you can
fill in the blank
Write as soon as you get back
and send bill of expence and I
will remit the money at once
Respectfully
H.W. Brazie