Ledger # 2 of Walter B. Gwyn

pages 300 - 399

O.E. Edwards Esq., Asheville, N.C., May 9^th, 1896
Blowing Rock, N.C.

My Dear Mr. Edwards;

This morning I had a call from the miller of one A.B.Shepherd, who has a little corn mill at the old Alexander homestead, ten miles below Asheville, the retreat of “Our Zeb”, you know.  They want only the small wheat mill- the one in the corner of the house that has sunk down with the said corner by the flood. They also want the smutter, and they want both for nothing on time. The miller did not exactly say that his boss could not pay for any of the price down, but the idea was to pay half the profits of the mill towards the debt until it should be paid. I told him to come back at one o’clock, and in the mean time I spun around and got all the information I could about such machinery. J. E. Dickerson said that he had used to deal in French Hurr mill machinery, but that, of late years that kind was being so completely supplanted by roller mills that he had not begot any for a long time, and had misplaced his catalogues; his best recollection was, however, that they cost from $175.00 to $400.00. He referred me to Henry Poland, who told me he had a mill, but had just taken out the stone and had put in rollers, and that the stones were for sale, but he had not decided what to ask for them. W. E. Breese was in the same fix. I then went to see Gen. Vance, and he said that the large stones had cost $300.00 new, but that they had bought them second hand at $200.00. The small ones, the ones these people want to buy, had been purchased by the General before the large ones, at a time when the tariff was high, and had cost him between $500 and $600. The smutter, he said, had cost either $150 or $160.

I then went to see T.S.Morrison about Shepherd, and he said he was a reliable man, who would do what he promised, if he could, but that he is involved, and nothing can be made out of him by law.
The miller came back to the office at one o’clock, and declared that new stones can be now bought for $60, and that some body of his acquaintance had recently purchased a smutter like this one for that.
I told him I wanted Shepherd to make an offer, but he did not tumble to that, and insisted on my prizing the property- I took Shepherd’s address, and said he might hear from me.

I will make further efforts to ascertain the ruling prices for new machinery of this kind. I can get it definitely by writing for it, but that would involve delay.

Yours Truly,

May 13/96

Mr. M.. Elvath
Orange St., City
May 13/96
Dear Sir;
I am sorry to say that Mr. Pack will not rent the Central Ave. Lot. He says he is preparing to build a cottage there. I will return you the two dollars any time.
Yours Truly

R. M. Ramsey, Esq.

City

May 15, 1896

Dear Sir;
Mr. Pack complains that your flour men have achieved the maple trees are as the need by and …Please see about it.
I advertise today for bids for that grading seated bids received ref. to noon of Tuesday next- see Lee for specifications.

Yours Truly,
W.B. Gwyn

W. E. Wolfe Esq.
City
Dear Sir;
Mr. Pack says something must be done right away about that lot matter. Please call. See me right away.
Yours Truly,

W.B. Gwyn

 

C. C. Cortland…

May 16, 1896

Mr. St. John-

Portsmouth, Va.

May 18^th, 1896

Dear Sir;

Replying to your inquiry about Dr. Karl Von Ruck, I have known him for some eight years, having located him on his arrival at Asheville.
The people of Asheville, as a general thing, hardly know Dr. Von Ruck, even by sight, as his practice is largely among visiting invalids who come to him for special treatment for lung troubles.
He goes out very seldom on call, but his neighbors speak well of him and I think it is quite generally admitted that, in his specialty, he stands second to no physician in the State.

He is a man of strong personality, and great intellectual force and, while somewhat blunt, has the reputation of coming bearer telling just what he thinks about a patient's prospects than some other physicians have.
On the whole, to the best of my knowledge, I would sooner go to him than to any other here for an intelligent and honest diagnosis.
Yours Truly,

Col. John W. Hinsdale
May 18, 1896
Raleigh, N.C.

Dear Sir;
My friend Mr. W.W. Jones here, thinks you might sell me a set of N.C. Reports on long time, and advises me to write you. I am utterly insolvent, having over-bought myself in real estate in 1890, at which time I was very well off. I would really prefer to hire the books at a good rental per annum, with privilege of purchasing at a fixed price, within a fixed time, upon terms stated. Mr. P.H. Busbee and the Haywoods, particularly A.W., and Dr. Hubert, know me very well.
Yours Very Truly

H.B.[L] Esq.
Yadkin Valley, N.C.

May 21/96

Property of Starnes, Hargan and Heist
Asheville, N.C.
B.M.L.
Book 72- pge. 438

H.A.Heist Esq.,
East Germantown, Ind.
May 23, 1896
Dear Sir:
Yours of the 18^th received. As for reference, I can refer you to Mr. J.E. Rankin Cash’s, or J.P. Sawyer Prest Batter Park Bank, or W.W. Barnard Pres. National Bank, or any of our best citizens. I suppose I found the map you speak of, on record in Register’s office. I made a tracing of it which I inclose. There appears to be 37 numbered lots on West Side Pearson’s Drive, and three small on East Side that are not numbered. I would like to have your prices first on the lots fronting on Pearson’s Drive, as there is where to make a beginning. Hardly any one is buying on speculation- only for improvement, and it will be very difficult to sell all to one party. By selling as people want them, and getting improvement started, you will, in the end, get more for your property. There appears to be about enough land for one good lot on the East Side. Let me know your price for that piece and for the front lots on the West side, by numbers. My (?), is five per cent.

W.E.Wolfe Esq.,
May 26, 1896
City.
Dear Sir;
Mr. Pack is preparing to leave Asheville to be gone a good while, and he wants you to come and see me immediately about the lot matter. Mr. Pack thinks, in view of past transactions between you and him that your neglect of my requests as to this matter is unaccountable. If you desire to throw up the trade, you can at least say so, and I will see what Mr. Pack is willing to do about it. If you wish to carry out the trade, it may be it can be done on some better terms as to payments than originally proposed, though as to either proposition I am not authorized to speak for Mr. Pack- What I want, is to know what you want to do, not having complied with the agreement, and it ought not to be necessary for me to do more or say more than I have said, tog et you to come in and see me. So please come in, not later than tomorrow.
Yours Truly

S.C. Cortland Esq.,
City.
May 26, 1896
Dear Sir;
Lots Nos. 4, 5, and 6 of Block No. X of the Pack property are withdrawn from market for the present, pending improvements in the way of grading.
Yours Truly,

Lots 29, block 9 is also withdrawn until further notice.

Capt. T. W. Patton
May 26, 1896
City.
Dear Sir;

Mr. Pack is preparing to leave for Europe, to be gone a considerable time, and if you would like to sell him your land on the Richmond Hill road, please let me know at once what price you have set on it, whether you have been able to get McIntyre’s price or not.
You see it, takes a long time to get an answer from Europe, and then Mr. Pack might have to send me the money to pay you for the land, in case he should be willing to pay you what you ask.
It is probably that a knowledge of what McIntyre asks would enable Mr. Pack to make up his mind much quicker, as he would prefer to have both tracts if either.
Yours Truly.

J.A. Tennent Esq.,
City.
May 26, 1896.

Dear Sir;

I have seen Mr. Pack- he wants the posts boarded up to the tops. Any kind of old boards will do, he says. Yours Truly,
W. B. Gwyn
PS. I suppose cracks between might be as wide as 8 nickels, and I suppose the brands need to come nearer the ground their 2 feet. Yours, W. B. Gwyn.

Asheville, N.C. May 29, 1896
Dear Mr. Pack;

I have just heard from heist, he says he will not sell his lane except as a “hole.” He will not do that soon, in my opinion, at his price. May it not be pretty surely counted on that he or whoever he sells to will have sense enough to consider a proposition of exchange so that both you and he will have lots in good shape. I think it can be. I have just been put there. I think you need the Patton lot very much. From something that Lee said, I… need that it is from Patton that they are expecting to get the $1,000 to pay on the joint note, and also that Patton is hoping to get he money form you, for his lot, for that purpose. That house is a good deal larger than I thought it was. Of course it is quite roughly built, but it would not be such a powerful outrageous looking affair. What I want to suggest to you is that you will take the balance of Patton’s land at $500 if he will sell it for that, or offer him $1,300 or say $1,350. for the “hole” property. I think it would be better for you and for the neighborhood that you, rather than Patton should own the house, and it is just possible that you might regret not buying it even at $1,500. Mr. Cowley has agreed to take lot No:1, in block [F1?], and I have prepared the deed for Merrimon to sign as att’y.

Hope you will come over in the morning- would have come over to see you a while this P.M., but Mrs. C. is ailing some, and I ought to go hum(?).

Dear Sir;
Lot No. 18 and 17 of Block VI are sold- the price of lot No. 16 of…Block No. VI is raised to $600, by Mr. Pack.

Asheville, N.C., May 30^th, 1896

Messrs. J.G. Merrimon and W.B. Gwyn
City.

Gentlemen;

In case a purchaser should appear for the whole of my property bought of W.B. Gwyn Trustee, on both sides of the river, and some subsequent purchases I made of small lots adjoining it, for the purpose of getting it into better shape, I authorize Mr. Gwyn to sell and Mr. Merrimon to make title, at a discount of twenty five per cent on list prices as to the lands on this side of the river, and of thirty three and a third per cent on the lands west of the river, on the usual terms of one fourth cash down, and the balance in three equal annual installments at 6 per cent interest payable semiannually. Provision may be made for my release of any lot afterwards on the payment of the present list price of the lot, including 1^st. Payt. In case the purchaser should want only the lands on the other side of the river, I will deduct only twenty per cent off the price at which the lands are now listed. In case the purchaser should prefer to pay all cash down on either of the proposed trades, I will make a further discount of two per cent.
In estimating the price of the lands on this side of the river it will be necessary for Mr. Gwyn to put a first price on Block XII and the other small pieces named in the list as to be priced by him and adding such price to the sum of the prices of the lots and land priced by me in the said list, and then taking off the discount from the whole. Mr. Gwyn is also authorized in such case to price a lot recently bought by me from Menson McIntyre, and one I may buy from T.W.Patton, and may contract for my conveyance of it to the purchaser, if it should appear that Mr. Merrimon’s power of attorney does not cover those lots.
In case Messrs. Sawyer and Powell should accept a proposition for the opening of an alley along the south side of the Whitson lot from Pearson Drive to Montford Ave., I authorize Mr. Merrimon to convey in any manner decided upon for the purpose of dedication to public use, eight feet off the south side of the Whitson lot, when Mr. Sawyer shall have conveyed twelve feet off the North side of his lot and Messrs. Sawyer and Powell shall have worked out the alley or street to the satisfaction of Mr. Gwyn.
The case of either of the trades above referred to being made, Mr. Gwyn must accept a commission of less than five per cent to wit, three per cent.

Mr. W.B.Gwyn, City.
Asheville, N.C., May 30^th, 1896
Dear Sir:
I hereby authorize and empower you to release and discharge Mr. R.W.Girdwood from all liability against him, J. H. Lee, B.M. Lee and J.B. Cain, on the payment of one thousand dollars within thirty days from this date, provided that the other parties to the note are ere willing that I should release Girdwood as aforesaid.

S.C. Cortland Esq.
City.
May 30, 1896
Dear Sir;

Lot No. 1. in block No. 2 is sold. Mr. Pack requests me to say further that lots 12 and 13 in Block 1, and lots 5,6,7,8,9 and 10 in block No. V are withdrawn from market until lot No. 11 of  Block V is sold.

Yours Truly

J. M. Raymond, Esq.
Fulton St., City.
May 30^th, 1896
Dear Sir:
I would like to see you.
Yours Truly.

Asheville, N.C., May 30, 1896

My Dear Mr. Pack:

I have seen Capt. Paton, and he says the he cannot accept the proposition of this morning, to take in payment for his land a credit of fifteen hundred dollars on the Lee and Girwood note, for the reason that they cannot, in any way that he can see, pay or secure him for the five hundred dollars excess of one thousand that he is trying to arrange to advance them. In fact, he says, iti s not settled yet that they can make satisfactory arrangements with him as in the thousand. He suggests that you make up another paper authorizing me to pay him five hundred dollars in cash and credit the (?) note with one thousand, and that he will do that, provided he and they can make satisfactory arrangements as to that matter.
I tried him on a reduction of price in case you had to pay him all (?) (the other Arrangement failing of accomplishment), but he was a stiff as Tom Patton on fifteen hundred net. Leaving out Gwyn.
I inclose a second authorization with you can mail me or cast into your waste basket, as the Court may decide when it knows itself.
I also inclose Cowley’s notes for lot 1, Block 2-  “ “ your letter J. G. Merrimon and myself, which I rather think I was to go, to enable you to mail it to Merrimon. But for the fact that you have spoken to him on the subject, it might be better for me to keep it until needed, as we have not been giving out anything in the way of weakening or discount on prices, and you know three is 111, just as 11 is 11, S'pose you return it to me, do write J.G.M. that you have written his and me a joint letter for him to see in case it is necessary for him to see. I have interlined this word “unsold”, in pencil, which you can put in ink, or rub out, as the Court(?).
Yours Very Truly

Asheville, N.C., May 30, 1896
W.B. Gwyn
City.
Dear Sir;
I authorize you to purchase for me T. W. Patton’s property on the East side of Pearson road at the price of fifteen hundred dollars, five hundred dollars cash, and one thousand dollars in a credit of the notes you hold for collection against J.H. Lee, B.N. Lee, J.B. Cain, and N.W. Girdwood. Or you can pay him five hundred dollars cash for all of said lot except 70 feet front on Pearson road, including the house thereon, which he may retain, the lines of the said reserved or retained lot to be run back in parallel lines at right angles to Pearson road, or, preferably, parallel with the lines of the lots fronting on Montford. Especially in case the lines of the reserved lot can be run to do-inside with the lines of the Montford lot, and include the house as aforesaid. I do not understand that I am to give Patton any land, so that, if the North line of the reserved lot, to Pearson road, exactly at Ruist’s corner. On further reflection, it is apparent that the only proper way is to make the reserved lot commence at Heist’s corner, extend 70 feet on Pearson road, and run back in lines parallel to the Montford lots, and I so decide.

Geo. W. Pack in…With W.B.Gwyn

By Balance

Asheville, N.C., May 30^th, 1896
Dear Mr. Pack;

I inclose you herewith, statements of account from myself individually and as trustee for you of the fund in the Battery Park Bank to my credit as Trustee.
I had intended to ask your advice about what course we ought to take about certain proposed improvements by purchasers of lots in Block XIII. We represented verbally and in writing (warranty deeds), that your title was perfect and indefeasible. Such we believe it to be at this moment; but we did not know then what we know now, that there is some uncertainty about a dower right as to part of that land. Your warranty extends only to the land, and not to the improvements, though recovery might possibly be had for damages on your covenant of seizing. But the question in mind is as to whether, having had the question raised and presented to us since Campbell and Hoke bought, both saying to me that they would take my word, and your warranty, we should fail to disclose to them just what Mr. Sondley has disclosed to his client, Miss Lee, giving them an opportunity to decide whether or not to defer making valuable improvements until further consideration, or Future developments; or, if you should as decide, making each of them the same offer that you proposed that I should make Miss Lee, i.e. to pay her back her money and take back the land.
It is only the latter purchase of Campbell that comes within the shadow, but from what I see in the papers, he contemplates building several houses there. The lower lot of Judge Hoke, upon which he is proposing to build, does not come within the dower shadow, but is included in that part of the 15 acre tract that was improperly and (may be) insufficiently described in one or two of the deeds as I myself discovered, and which is so far, within only yours and my personal knowledge. I shall consider myself fortunate if I get this dower matter straightened out, considering the people I shall have to deal with. I am quite uneasy about the same.
Judge Hoke’s case is not hurting, as he is in no hurry to build but Campbell’s case we ought to decide on forthwith before he goes, or talks, or thinks too far in his building plane.
Yours Very Truly.

Dear Sir,
I want to see you right away, at your earliest convenience.
Yours Truly.

[I did not send this letter, because Mr. Pack telephoned me to come and see him about another matter. I went, and carried this letter with me, and spoke to him of its contents- he said he was too tired to discuss it, and could not have time to write me from New York before sailing- he said I must do whatever I thought right about the matter.]

Chas H. Campbell Esq.,

City.
Dear Sir;

Please call and see me at my office at your first opportunity, as I want to have a talk with you on an important matter.
Yours Truly,

 

P.S. Do not let other business keep you- will explain when I see you.
W.B.G.

June 1^st, 1896.

S.C.Cortland Esq.
City.
Dear Sir;

In writing you about the withdrawal of certain lots I omitted to mention that lot No. 12 in block No. VI is also withdrawn for the same reason until further notice.
Yours Truly

C.E.Graham Esq.
June 1^st, 1896
Greenville, S.C.

Dear Sir;

Mr. Geo. W. Pack left with me for collection a note of fifteen hundred dollars made by J.H. Lee and wife to me May 16, 1889, and I am instructed by Mr. Pack to advertise the land for sale on the 10^th of this month, unless the full amount of principal and interest due on it is paid before that date.
My instructions are positive, and I have no discretion whatever.
Yours Truly

PS. I learned through Abernathy that you had gone to Greenville- hope you are improving in health.

June 1^st, 1896
A. Cowley, Esq.
City.
Dear Sir;

I want to see you right away, at your earliest convenience.

Yours Truly

Resolved that the matter of the erection of the monument on the land in front of the Court House to the memory of the late senator Vance be turned over to a monument association to be formed and legally incorporated for that purpose, said organization to consist of the following name person, to wit, J.A. Nichole, J.P. Kerr, H.A. Gudger, Geo. S. Romell, W.B. Gwyn, J.P. Sawyer, T.W.Patton, and J.E. Rankin, and such other person as the association may hereafter add, which association, when so formed and legally incorporated, shall have the right and power to collect, receive and disburse all subscriptions and contributions to the above purpose, including the subscription of Geo. W. Pack.

June 4^th, 1896

H.A. Heist Esq.
East Germantown, Ind.
Dear Sir;
I have not found any one disposed to buy out your whole property, and I regret that you are not disposed to sell separate lots. My experience has been that far more is eventually realized in that way than anybody will give for the property in bulk, for purchasers naturally expect to make something on the investment.
I can get you $400.00 cash for the three small lots East side of the read; or, if you do not want to sell, and are willing to exchange some frontage for some back land to make all the lots run back at right angles, a trade might be worked up in the interest of all, and certainly to nobody’s injury. Maybe you would prefer to buy some land back of the lots to straighten them out. Look at the map- you will see the need of something being done there.

Asheville, N.C., June 2, 1896.
Geo. W. Pack Esq.,
Holland Rouse, N.Y.
My Dear Sir;
I send you a copy of yesterday’s Citizen, showing something about the monument matter. In the afternoon Powell and John W. Starnes came in and had me to draw up a petition to the Board, to which Powell afterwards got about a hundred names, expressing appreciation of your offer, and requesting the Board to accept it. Later, when we presented it to the Board, I discovered that an interlineation had been made, and for other like purposes, which I did not stall like, and felt sure that you would not. I therefore said to the Board, and to the crowd, that while I of course did not know what view you would take of other possible monuments being erected in the square in future, I did know what view I myself would take of it, and that I did know one thing about you, and that was that you were quite capable of expressing your meaning in words, and that I believed you had done so, and meant exactly what you said to them, and that they had that down in black and white before them, and that that was all they had to act on, so far as you were concerned. Rankin saw the point, and was quite willing for others to see he saw it, and, in the end, by the help of Joe Adams, it came to pass that a written acceptance of your proposition by the Board was put on the same paper your proposition was written on. The resolution provides that the said land is dedicated for that purpose, and that this Board will, and its successors shall execute such deeds as may be or may become necessary to carry into effect the true intent and meaning the resolution.
I inclose you a copy of a resolution that has just passed this Board this morning. I have no advice to give as to the better way to do as to sending the money subscribed to some one here now, but you will excuse me for brining to your attention the possible removal of all doubt as to its bona fides, from the minds of those who know not Joseph, by sending the money to Rankin, who can turn it over to the treasurer of the Assocation after it shall have been formed.
Suppose Heist would buy your triangle back of him- what shall I sell it to him at? Patton, I think, will not sell to you the fragments at $500, though he has not yet said positively- he seems quite disgruntled.
Yours Truly

June 5 Geo. W. Pack
Holland House New York
N.Y.
Patton trade solid if Girdwood released from endorsement Bearden note. Wire authority

W.B.Gwyn.

John B. Culpeper Esq.,

June 2, 1896.
Richmond Va.

Dear Sir;

Do not keep these little oil cans that go into a hollow wooden stick, like the pocket ink stands people used to carry before fountain pens came into use? If so please send me one.

June 2, 1896
Alfred Williams & Co.

Raleigh, N.C.

Gentlemen;

Please write me at what price you can deliver me here Battle’s Digest, 4 vole., Bailey’s, 1 vol., Seymour’s, 2 vols., and Comack’s, the 2 cols. Bound in one.
As I may not take all, you can please state any difference in price there may be for a smaller order accordingly.

June 2^nd, 1896.
Lawyer’s Co-operative Pub. Co.,

Rochester, N.Y.
Gentlemen;

I am informed by a brother attorney here that you sell the four volumes of Battle’s N.C. Digest second hand, for ten dollars. If he is correct, and you have such on hand now, kindly write me as to their condition, and state terms of shipment.
I would like also to know if you have Seymour’s digest, 2 vols, and Bailey’s.
Yours Truly,

W.B.Gwyn

June 4^th, 1896

Hon. Secretary of State-

Raleigh, N.C.

Dear Sir;

I herewith inclose certified copy of articles of agreement files in the office of the clerk of the Superior Court of Buncombe County, as per laws of 1893, in order to secure letters of incorporation for the Vance Monument Association, which proposes to erect a monument to the memory of Senator Vance on the Public Square in Asheville.
I suppose that the letters should include all that is material in the articles of agreement, and besides, give to the association the usual corporate powers, such as the capacity of making contracts, supping and being sued, having a corporate seal and so on.
I inclose the statuary fees. If preferable to you, and you so write me, I will myself draw up the letters. We are anxious that there shall be no delay, which is my reason for not having prepared and forwarded to you the proposed letters.

Very Respectfully

Mrs. C. O. Weber

June 6^th, 1896.

275 Harmony St.,
New Orleans, La.

Dear Madam;

Your esteemed favor of the 1^st Inst., reached me only a day or two ago- I think it was yesterday.

You are correct in supposing it was the Hartshorne house advertised in “The Citizen”. I think this house would exactly meet your requirements. There is ample room for two people, and enough for one or two more. The rental has been heretofore $60.00 per month for short terms, $50.00 for yearly terms, though the last tenant, Dr. Moore of the U.S. Army, got it at $480.00 for a year, by doing all needed repairs. I could not think I was doing the owner justice to let for a short term, say four months, for less than fifty dollars per mo. And, as you will not need it before July 1^st, I could not hold it for you without charge, as I am having daily applications for houses. So I will let you have it until the first of November for two hundred and thirty dollars, and you can take possession whenever you please. As you are a stranger to me, I will expect a remittance of seventy five dollars on acceptance of this proposition, not later than the tenth of this month, with telegraphic notice of acceptance and remittance. This, you will readily understand, is nothing more than my duty for my client, as the time for renting houses for the summer is at hand, and I must not lose any opportunity, or I would be remiss. Until the 10^th Inst., I will hold the house for you.

Hoping to hear favorably from you in the matter I remain, yours…

P.S.—I have made out a copy of the inventory made out when Dr. M. went into possession a year ago. It was carefully gone over when he left the other day.
Yours

June 8^th, 1896
S.C. Cortland Esq.
City.

Dear Sir-

Lot No. 4 Block XIII is sold. I have given option for this week for lot No. 11, block IX.
Yours Truly,

W.B.Gwyn