A Friendly Note from the Courthouse, 1896

“I enclose you spa’s, in your case vs Geo Bowers.”

Pull up a chair and let me share a real treasure with you. This here is a letter from August 27, 1896, and it is like a little time capsule you can hold in your hand. It is written on cream-colored paper that has got that lovely, soft aged look, complete with the grid of creases where it was folded up tight for delivery. You can still see the fancy printed letterhead from the Clerk’s Office in Fayetteville, and the handwriting is still remarkably clear after all these years. It is a sturdy piece of our history that has managed to survive the journey from the 19th century right into our laps today.

Inside this letter, we find A. W. Hamilton, the clerk of the courts, reaching out to Laban Gwinn in the town of Prince. It is a simple legal matter—sending over some subpoenas for a case against a man named George Bowers. Mr. Hamilton even mentions a fella named Charlie Seale who would be at the court if needed. It was sent along because Laban’s lawyer, Mr. Payne, asked for it. While it might look like just a bit of paperwork, it is really a snapshot of how our neighbors in Fayette County took care of their business and navigated the law long before any of us were around.

Seeing these names—Hamilton, Gwinn, Bowers, and Seale—reminds us that history is built by regular folks just doing their best. These were not just names in a ledger; they were people living through the heat of late August in West Virginia, waiting for the mail and tending to their affairs. This letter connects us to the grit and the routine of the past, showing us that the legal system and the community ties we rely on today have been part of the fabric of this place for a very long time.

There is something truly heartfelt about holding onto these scraps of paper. They remind us that our stories matter and that the work we do today will one day be the history someone else marvels at. It is a call to cherish our connections and to remember that we are all part of a long, continuing story here in the mountains. This little note from Mr. Hamilton is more than just ink on a page; it is a handshake across a century.

Original Transcription

Clerk’s Office
Fayette Circuit and Criminal Courts.
A. W. HAMILTON, Clerk.

Fayetteville, W. Va., Aug 27 1896

Laban Gwinn Esq
Prince, WVa

Dear Sir:-
I enclose you spa’s, in your case vs Geo Bowers. Charlie Seale will be here at Court, and if necessary you can hand him his spa. I send these to you by direction of Mr Payne your Atty.

Yours Truly
A W Hamilton