A Neighborly Request from Hinton’s Past

“two or three days might make no difference with you but it might make 1% to me”

Come sit a spell and look at this treasure I found in the archives today. It is a letter from way back in 1884, sent from the general store of John Cooper right here in Hinton, West Virginia. The paper itself feels like a piece of the past—it is yellowed and lined, with deep fold marks where it was likely tucked into a pocket or a ledger over a century ago. The dark ink is still clear as day, showing us the hand of a man who took his business seriously but spoke with the directness of a neighbor.

This little note tells a story of the delicate dance of business in a small town. It seems Mr. Cooper had been holding onto a promissory note for William Prince and Laban Guinn since February. But with spring arriving, Cooper found himself in a bit of a pinch. He had his own spring bills to pay and needed to take advantage of discounts that would expire by the 10th of April. He wasn’t being mean; he was just trying to manage his own shop. He even nudged Mr. Prince, saying that while Laban Guinn was the one expected to pay the debt, he was still holding Prince responsible for making sure the money arrived on time.

Back in the 1880s, your word and your credit were everything. A merchant like John Cooper acted as a sort of local banker, extending trust to his neighbors so they could get through the winter. But when spring arrived and it was time to restock the shelves, that trust had to be repaid. The mention of a mere 1% difference in his costs shows just how narrow the margins were for these early shopkeepers and how important a few days could be in the life of a general store.

When we look at this yellowed scrap of history today, we see more than just a debt collection. We see the threads that held a community together. It shows us that even 140 years ago, people were navigating the same worries we have today—trying to make ends meet, keeping their businesses afloat, and relying on their neighbors to do what is right. It is a quiet, human moment frozen in ink, reminding us that we have always been looking out for one another in our own way.

Original Transcription

OFFICE OF
JOHN COOPER,
DEALER IN
GENERAL MERCHANDISE

Hinton W. Va. March 28 1884.
Wm Prince Esqr

Dear Sir
Mr Laban Guinn made
arrangements with me about
the 4th of February last to
hold up a note of yours

• his Until the 11th of April
  I now write to Say that I
  will not be in a condition
  to extend the time again
  I will need the money to
  discount Some bills on the
  5th to the 10th of April
  Mr Guinn Said he might
  pay me before the 11th of April
  If you could let me have it
  about the 5th to the 8th April

[Page 2]
it would Suit my arrange
-ments as the 10th is the last
day of discounting on my
Spring bills two or three
days might make no differ
-ence with you but it
might make 1% to me
at any rate I will Con-
-fidently expect it promptly
on the 11th
Mr Guinn Seems to be
the party who is to pay the
note nevertheless I look
to you as much as to
Mr Guinn
Very Respectfully
John Cooper