LETTER
(August 14, 1879) WRITTEN BY JOSIAH WARE TO
PRESIDENT RUTHERFORD B. HAYES CONCERNING
SOME ITEMS BELONGING TO GEORGE WASHINGTON
Transcribed
by Judy C. Ware
©
Judy C. Ware February 2009
Original
copy of letter on file in RB Hayes Library in Ohio
His
Excellency the President
My
Dear Sir,
I regret very much you all could not spend some time with us,
though I could not hold out much inducement. I
return to you, your favor to me, with many thanks. I
intended then to return it on reaching home but was disappointed, then to give it to you
on your hoped for visit, then was promised the “continental” and thought I would
delay until I got that and would send it altogether, but although assured it was there put
up for me & would be sent very soon to me; it has not yet come, and I will not wait
longer. I enclose the $10.00 and with it - two
Confederate notes. They may add a little to
your cabinet. The boots have been stolen. I go to Winchester before mailing this (it is only
15 miles from here) to try for them again, if found. I
understand they belong to a female branch of the family and fear she prizes them; also of
the Washington letter in the hands of a lady in her dotage & if I have any success in
this trip, I will add a p.s. after this goes. I
will get on my horse and go after the continental notes; it is only 10 miles. I will get them, the boots, the letter if possible,
and as such as I cannot get to you before, I will bring when I come to bring any claims up
at the meeting of Congress. I have the
autographs of some of the former statesmen; Clay, Calhoun, Webster, Tyler, Taylor,
Buchanan, Leigh, King, and others. You can
have any of them.
My wife says I must, before sending you the old Fairfax
screen, give you a description of it or you may be disappointed in it. It is large; several folds. I think it is about 6 ½ feet high, the pictures of
olden times cut from newspapers and journals. I
have not had an opportunity of sending it to the Round Hill Depot. I was in hopes you would see it here and judge. If you still wish it, I will send it. Shall I direct it in your name?
M. Willis of Orange or Culpepper requests me to write you about
his application for supervisor of census. I
cannot recommend a drinking man for anything. I
do not wish to hurt his feelings. If he asks
of me, please say you received a communication from me without mentioning its contents.
I must beg you to excuse my delay in returning your favor to me
and the haste in writing this. Please make my
grateful regards acceptable to Cousin Lucy and present me to your household
Yours
truly,
J. W. Ware
Aug.
14, 1879
**
There are actual letters written to Josiah from the great statesmen he mentioned; Henry
Clay, Daniel Webster, John C. Calhoun, President Tyler, President Taylor, etc. |
