Jefferson County AlArchives Photo Document.....Lewis William Herring's Letter To Isaac Mitchell Pool (1833-1867) - Dated: Oct 27, 1860 (3 Pages - 1 Of 3) October 27, 1860 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Shirley Mellon Dewberry dewberry@cableone.net April 22, 2010, 8:53 pm Source: Personal Document Photo can be seen at: http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/jefferson/photos/documents/lewiswil10671gph.jpg Image file size: 233.5 Kb Full Letter - 3 pages Springville (Alabama) 27 Oct 1860 I M Pool Esgn (Isaac Mitchell Pool 1833-1867) Dear Cousin As I have some desire to hear how you are getting on. I have concluded to drop you a line in hopes of getting an answer. I have nothing that could interest you much more than we are all well. I find that trade is very dull, although we recd on last week our fall stock about $1500.00 worth consisting of dry goods, clothing, ___ & shoes. I ordered nothing else. I find goods about as they were last spring and fall. Money is more scarce than usual, I likely to remain ___. I think you would do well to buy all the seed cotton that you can get in discount at 2 1/2 cts ___. Sell all the goods you can at a very low percent for cash or on time to undoubted customers. I think you had better jew a little. At any rate never refuse money if you can save cost and charges. I respect (expect) to come down about the 15th Nov. and remain until the entire stock, is disposed of in some way. So you must have it all planned out before I come in order that no time may spent in preliminaries. Consult Uncle Mitch (Mitchell Pool 1801-1862) and ascertain what disposition would suite him best. If he is contended, I think it best for you and Bro. William to merchandise these together, as he and I are getting old. My health is now as good as ___. Though I had one bad spell since I was down at your place. Gus has gone to Blount to a Methidis (Methodist) Camp meeting and on a collecting loan. There is a great deal of corn to sell in this neighborhood, most of the farmers are asking $1 per bu. Though some few are now offering it at 75 cts. As yet not one seems willing to sell pork at any price. Some say they will not fatten for less than 10 cts. Though I do not think that pork will command more than 8 cts. Neither do I think that it can be had for less. We have a good prospect for a school at our Academy next year. We have nearly raised the salary, desired, for the Rev. Willoughby and his 2 daughters say $1500.00. This salary we think will secure his services with two and three assistants. POLITICS HERE SEEM TO FAVOR MR. BRECKENRIDGE, BUT AFTER ALL, I BELIEVE THAT IF ANY ONE IS ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE, IT WILL BE LINCOLN. IF BY THEN HOUSE BRECKENRIDGE WILL STAND THE BEST CHANCE. I AM CONFIDENT THAT DOUGLAS WILL NEVER GET TO THE HOUSE. (NOTE: JOHN CABELL BRECKINRIDGE WAS A REPRESENTATIVE AND A SENATOR FROM KENTUCKY AND THE FOURTEEN VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.) (LINCOLN - ABRAHAM LINCOLN) N.B. hard times is all the better for a merchandiser if he be only able to weather through this liability safely. It is always considered the best time to commence business when times are hard from the fact the customers are not apt to run in to speculation, but on the contrary they will use all their available means in paying debts. I paid in Selma 17 cts. for coffee in Sept, in this month 18 ctS. in Montevallo. I am selling at 20 cts. cash. Sell more than ever did in the length of time, I sell at $3 per sack. We have no sugar on hand. I expect to send my wagon down for a load of groceries as soon as I sow wheat. I must close this yarn, as I have already intended it far beyond what I first intended. Have on hand about $30.00 Respect Fully, L.W. Herring (Lewis William Herring) Additional Comments: Lewis Willam Herring Born: February 6, 1813 South Carolina Died: March 3, 1873 St. Clair County, Alabama Father: James Herring Mother: Susannah Pool (Brother: Mitchell Pool (1801-1862) Spouse: Hepsiabeth "Epsey" Worthington Isaac Mitchell Pool Born: January 18, 1833 Alabama Died: March 24, 1867 Leeds (Cahaba Valley), Jefferson Co., Alabama Father: Mitchell Pool (1801-1862) Mother: Mary Elizabeth Gilbert (1796-1862) Spouse: Martha Strickland Pool (1843-1920) File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/jefferson/photos/documents/lewiswil10671gph.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 4.8 Kb