The True Corners of Elton: A Brotherly Letter from 1897

“I Hope this will find you all enjoying good Health”

Gather ’round, neighbors, for a little trip back to the spring of 1897. Imagine holding a piece of history that’s as fragile as a dried leaf—a yellowed, lined sheet of paper covered in the flowing, elegant cursive of a century ago. This letter, sent from Elton in Summers County, shows its age through deep creases and a few honest stains, telling us it was likely folded tight and kept close to the heart or tucked away in a safe corner for many years.

In this message, Sam Gwinn is reaching out to his brother Laban to settle some business regarding the Skiles Land. It’s a classic story of mountain life; there was a bit of a disagreement about property lines near the old Bates farm. Sam explains that the Tyrees didn’t quite run the lines correctly, but he’s got a solution. He points Laban toward Bill Therman and his son, or perhaps Morris Harvey, men who knew the “true corners” of the earth there. It’s a wonderful reminder that before we had satellites and digital maps, history was held in the memories of neighbors and the placement of old stones.

But life back then wasn’t just about land and surveys. Sam’s letter takes a tender, somber turn when he speaks of home. He mentions that he’s been “very poorly” for two months, and his wife Cynthia is struggling just as much. Despite his own hardships, Sam still takes the time to send his love and hopes for his brother’s family to stay well. It paints a picture of a man who, even when facing his own frailty, kept his family’s well-being at the forefront of his mind.

Reading Sam’s words today, we’re reminded that the real story of our community isn’t found in law books, but in these quiet connections between kin. It’s about the “true corners” we keep in our relationships and the way we look out for one another through seasons of both health and hardship. This letter is more than just a survey update; it’s a testament to the enduring bonds of family that define our history.

Original Transcription

Elton
Summers Co W Va
May 15 = 1897.
Mr Laban Gwinn
Dear Brother
I recived your letter today
and will now try and
answer, You will find
enclosed The Platt of
the Skiles Land which
you Called for
Tyree did not run two or
three lines Correctl
opposite the old Bates farm
Bill Therman and His
Son Come and run it off
a few years ago for
Holt and Bill Tyree
and found all the true Corners
that Sam Tyree had left
out if you want to cut
that part of the Survey
you can call on
Bill Therman or his Son
or Morris Harvey

I have been very
poorly for two Months
and am not but very
little bit better Cynthia
is just as bad as she
The rest are
just tolerbly well
I Hope this will find
you all enjoying good
Health
Well I will
close from your
Brother Sam Gwinn