Trouble on the River: A 150-Year-Old Letter from McKendree

“it is of no use to let him Go on & have his own way”

Pull up a chair, friends, because I’ve got something special to show you today. Nestled in our archives is a little scrap of history from July 1, 1874, that feels just as personal as a neighborly chat over a picket fence. It is a handwritten note from W. D. Weir to Mr. Laban Guinn, and it tells a story of a stubborn ferryman and a boat that needed to come home.

When you hold this letter—or even just look at it—you can feel the weight of time. The paper is lined and heavily aged, having turned a deep, warm yellow over the last century and a half. There are dark brown stains splashed across the top and right side, maybe from a stray cup of coffee or a splash of river water from long ago. The ink is dark and steady, though the edges of the page are worn thin from being folded and tucked away for generations.

The message inside is a bit of a local drama. It seems a fellow named William Smith was still out there operating the ferry boat in McKendree, even though he wasn’t supposed to be. Mr. Weir sounds a bit exasperated as he writes to the boat’s owner, Laban Guinn, telling him he better come get his property. He notes that it is no use letting Smith have his own way, especially since he wasn’t in their employ anymore. It is a classic tale of a man who just didn’t know when to quit!

Back in the 1870s, a ferry was the lifeblood of a community like McKendree, serving as the only way for folks to get their wagons and goods across the water. A dispute over who was running the boat wasn’t just a private matter; it affected everyone’s daily commute. This letter captures a moment where the formal business of the river met the messy reality of human nature and workplace disagreements.

Looking at this stained piece of paper today reminds us that history isn’t just about big battles or famous speeches. It is built out of these small, gritty moments of life—the headaches of running a business, the persistence of a stubborn worker, and the simple need to get a boat back where it belongs. It connects us to the people of 1874, showing us that while our technology changes, our human stories remain very much the same.

Original Transcription

McKendree
July 1 74
Mr Laban Guinn
Dear Sir
Wm Smith is Still
ferrying you had Better
Come up & take your
Boat down it is of
no use to let him
Go on & have his own
way he Certainly see
that we dont want
him any longer in
our employ
Yours & c
W D Weir