A Bit of Neighborly Advice from 1889

“Squabble those fellows out of all you can.”

Well, hello there, neighbors! Pull up a chair, because I have stumbled upon a real treasure in our archives today. It is a letter dated March 14, 1889, written by J.W. Davis to his friend Laban Gwinn. This little piece of history has held up remarkably well over the last century. It is written on two pages of cream-colored, lined paper that still shows the fold lines from when it was tucked away long ago. If you look closely at the corner, you can even see a faint embossed stamp, and the dark ink of the cursive script is as clear as the day it was penned in Lewisburg, West Virginia.

In the letter, Mr. Davis is giving some very practical, albeit slightly humorous, advice. It seems Laban was dealing with some folks who were causing him a bit of trouble. Instead of heading straight to court, Davis tells him to just squabble with them to get the best deal possible. He wisely points out that a lawsuit over small matters is usually more trouble than it is worth and rarely pays off in the end. It is the kind of down-to-earth wisdom that reminds us that folks back then were just as concerned about common sense as we are today.

But it is not all business in this letter. Mr. Davis shares a few personal notes that really tug at the heartstrings. He mentions that the weather is far too poor for him to travel down for a visit, and more touchingly, that his son Louis is quite ill. Even in the middle of a legal dispute, he takes the time to send his best regards to Laban’s wife. It is a beautiful reminder that history isn’t just about dates and battles; it is about the quiet moments, the rainy days, and the way neighbors looked out for one another. It teaches us that while the world changes, the value of a good friend and a bit of honest advice never goes out of style.

Original Transcription

Lewisburg W. Va.
March 14th/89/.

Laban Gwinn Esq:
Dear Sir:
Your letter of 12th came
to day. Squabble those
fellows out of all you can.
A suit about a small
thing is troublesome and
never remunerative.
The weather is too
bad for me to come
down now.
I will abide by what
you do.
My son Louis is quite
ill. The rest well

I am glad to learn that
you and yours are
well
Give my best compliments
to your wife.
Very truly yours
J.W. Davis.