A Spirited Plea from the Summer of 1876

“the county convention was packed against me by Col Henry.”

Well, hello there, neighbors! I was rummaging through the archives today and found a real treasure I just had to share. It is a letter from the heat of July in 1876, written by a gentleman named John Roay. The paper itself is a bit tanned and yellowed, showing its age like a well-worn book, but that dark ink is still clear as day. It is written in a beautiful, looping cursive that makes you feel like you are looking over his shoulder as he sits at his desk at home, dipping his pen and pouring out his heart.

Poor John was in a bit of a fix and was reaching out to his friend, Mr. Loban Guinn, for some help. He felt the local political heavyweights—or ‘Goliahs’ as he called them—had rigged the county convention against him. He even mentions a Col. Henry, who was said to be the grandson of the famous Patrick Henry! John was not one to mince words, either. He took some shots at a Capt. Thurman, accusing him of being a bit of a political opportunist after the war. It is a wonderful, salty look at how local elections were just as spirited and personal back then as they can be today.

When we look at this letter now, it reminds us that history isn’t just about big names in textbooks; it’s about real people with real feelings and a lot of grit. John was just a neighbor trying to stand his ground and find a fair path forward in a changing world. It is a little piece of our shared story that reminds us how much our voices, and our friendships, have always mattered in the places we call home.

Original Transcription

At home 31st July 1876
Mr Loban. Guinn Dear Sir I take this
method to announse myself an independant candidate for
reelection. the county convention was packed against me by Col
Henry. who it is said is the grandson of the immortal Patrick Henry
and the hon Capt Wm D. Thurman & that water Set generally
hence you see the fearful political Goliahs which I have to
contend with. I am sure that it will require all of my power
& all of all my friends power to succeed. for John George
used to give Col Henry a good name because he said that
he knew that Mrs H would not live with him unless he
was a chaste Christian gentleman. And Capt Thurman
you know lived on the war and politics during the four years of
the war. done all he could to defeat the confederacy. and
succeeded but it left him poor. he now wants to succeed
by loud professions of democracy. packed conventions &c &c
please announce me an independant candidate. and
be assured that any thing which you may do for me will be gratefully
rec’d & promptly returned I expect to see you at circuit court
yours with respect John Roaz