A Little News from Meadow Creek: A 1887 Winter Greeting

“I did them good work in that case; and if Flanagan did not notify them in time to give bond I could not help it.”

Gather ’round, friends, because I’ve found something special in the archives today. It’s a humble letter written way back on a chilly February day in 1887. A man named J. H. Isbell was sitting down in Meadow Creek, West Virginia, to write a note to his dear friend, Laban Gwinn. Now, Isbell wasn’t just writing to say hello; he was checking in on some legal business that needed tending to. He wanted to know if Laban was ready for his day in court against a fellow named White, or if they should push it off a bit longer. He also checked in on how a recent land survey suited Laban, showing just how much these neighbors relied on one another to get things right.

But there’s a real human touch in this letter, too. Isbell mentions a five-dollar balance still owed to him by Laban’s sons for a different case involving a man named Flanagan. You can almost feel his earnestness as he explains that he did good work for those boys, even if a bond notification didn’t go quite as planned. He’s been waiting a long time for that payment, and with the court session coming up, he’s feeling the pinch. It’s a gentle, respectful nudge between friends, the kind that reminds us that even back then, everyone was just trying to make ends meet and keep their word.

When you hold this piece of history, you can feel the years. The paper is yellowed and lined, showing its age with a bit of foxing and staining that tells of its long journey through time. The handwriting is done in a warm, reddish-brown ink that still stands out clearly. You can see the crisp lines where the letter was folded into quarters, perhaps carried in a coat pocket or tucked away in a family Bible for safekeeping. There’s even a faint embossed stamp in the corner, a tiny mark of authority from a bygone era.

Looking at this letter today, it’s more than just a legal inquiry. It’s a snapshot of life in Summers County over a hundred years ago. It reminds us that history is built on the small things—a five-dollar debt, a land survey, and the steady hand of a friend. It teaches us about the importance of doing ‘good work’ and the lasting value of clear communication. Even though the world has changed so much since 1887, the way we look out for our neighbors and settle our accounts is a story that never truly grows old.

Original Transcription

Meadow Creek W Va Feb 7th 1887
Mr Laban Gwinn
Dear Friend
I am at this place
and have been all winter. Will you be ready
to go to trial this court in the case of White
against you? If you want it tried we will try it
and if you want it continued we can do so.
I would like to hear from you in regard to the
matter. How did the survey suit you?
Summers Court commences next Monday I expect
to be there and will need some money. Please
tell your sons to please send me the $5.00
balance due me as fee in their case as I need it.
Send by mail to Meadow Creek Summers County.
I did them good work in that case; and if
Flanagan did not notify them in time to give
bond I could not help it. I made application
in time and that was all I could do: But
that has nothing to do with my fee I agreed
to attend to the case in Justice court for $10.00
which I did. I have waited a long time now
and am very much in need of some money
so please tell them to send it to me and I will
feel very thankful to them. Write to me as
soon as you get this Regards to family.
Your friend
J H Isbell