« Previous Item      Next Item »

 Discussion of alledged debts owed by Rutherford in Wythe County.

  • » Date: 1841-11-04
  • » Subject: Discussion of alledged debts owed by Rutherford in Wythe County.
  • » Written By: Calvin M. Rutherford
  • » Addressed To: Major James Turk Gleaves Sr
  • » Transcriber: Pen Bogert
  • » File # 404

Page 1 Image
Click to see the full image
Page 1

LOUISVILLE KY NOV 4 (Postmark)

Free

Via Cumberland Gap

Majr. Jas. T. Gleaves P. M. (Postmaster)
Buffalo Ford
Wythe County
Va.

Page 2 Image
Click to see the full image
Page 2

Louisville Ky November 4th 1841
Majr. James T. Gleaves
Dr Sir – I have this moment recd your letter of 19th of Octr in which you state that you saw Henry Hoppess and he informed you that I owed him a debt for Cast Irons I owe Mr. Hoppess nothing to my knowledge I bought of him Some Iron which I paid him for he gave me an order to D. Graham for the Iron and I paid Mr Hoppess every Cent that I ever owed him the only debts that I owe there to my knowledge is a due bill or note to William Newland for about twenty seven Dollars I believe and one to Addam McKee for between ten and fifteen Dollars I owe David Grayham for those castings for the machine about I believe twenty two Dollars which is an account that he has against me if I owe any other debt there I do not know it I will write to Mr Hoppess I wish you to Call on those persons that I have named and get the Correct amount of each debt and if you have any funds in your hands that may be coming to me from the estate of my Father I want you to pay them if not write to me the sum total of those three debts to New Orleans and I will send you the money as to any other Claims that may be presented to

Page 3 Image
Click to see the full image
Page 3

you do not settle them in any way for they are illegal I know of no other if there should be presented to you any account whatever defend it for me to extent of the law – rest assured that I have paid every cent but the named debts. there has been several debts sent out here against me and every one of them paid when presented and I am ready to pay every legal demand that may be presented I shall leave for N. Orleans before this reaches you where I hope to hear from you the particulars – I have paid Coln. (Colonel) Leonard Straw a debt which he endorsed for me to A. S. Fulton for Sixty Dollars he to (too) told me that he had paid the debt that he had been sued on the debt by Shepherd Brown. I have his receipt for the money – I have written to my brother Randolph and have not recd any answer – I would have been there this summer but for being Compelled to go South again this Winter you will please say to mother that I am well

Respectfully
yours
C. M. Rutherford

P.S. I would pay the postage if you was not the Post master and a thorough Tylerite
R

Transcriber Notes

Once again, Rutherford apologizes for not returning to Wythe County. The reason Rutherford could not visit in the summer of 1841 was because it was during the summer and early fall that slave traders purchased their slaves. Slave traders like Rutherford would begin their travels down the river to the Southern slave markets in late fall. They would normally return to their places of business in late spring.

Rutherford and Gleaves had a close enough relationship for Rutherford to tease Gleaves about his political leanings toward President Tyler, who took office April 4, 1841, upon the death of President Harrison.

It seems apparent that Gleaves acted as Rutherford’s power of attorney in Wythe County.

Henry Hoppess was a Wythe Co. blacksmith.

David Graham owned an iron works and his Wythe Co. house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Editor’s note:
Mary B. Kegley in her book “Early Adventurers on the Western Waters”, Volume III, Part 2, page 500, mentions Shepherd Brown vs. Calvin M. Rutherford, Box 71, 1839

« Previous Item      Next Item »