1905 A.W. Brown letters - Jan.17

Two letters from A.W. Brown to his family 1n 1905 indicate that he was in Charleston WV and had something to do with the senate.  According to biographical information (which follows the transcriptions) A.W. had retired as editor of the New Cumberland Independent in 1903.  Perhaps he was in Charleston as a reporter?  We can also infer that he was not in the best of health.  He died 16 May 1906 in his early 50s.  A list of other blog posts about the Brown family follows the biographical information.

1905 A.W. Brown Letter to family - Jan.17 page 1

1905 A.W. Brown Letter to family - Jan.17 page 2

[Hotel Ruffner]

[Charleston, W. Va] Jany 17, 1905

Dear Ola, Bert and Lucie,

This is a beautiful day charming sunshine  and I spend a great deal of time walking in the open air.  I have not done any work of any kind yet, not lifted my hand, but I hope to be strong enough to draw my pay.  The senate so far has simply met at 10 each day for a few minutes and adjourned until the next morning.  The committees will soon report some bills and get down to work in a day or two.

I am feeling very much better and am looking better.  If the scales are right, I have gained two pounds in the past 12 or 15 days.  I was weighed on depot scales at home and weighed 135.  Was weighed here last night and weighed 137.  However I had a heavy pair overshoes on, which would weigh a pound, that I did not have on at Cumberland.  But if I have gained a pound, I am doing well.  If weather continues so pleasant, think I will get a livery horse & take a horse back ride every day for a half hour.  They say it is the best exercise.

Affectionately

A.W.B.

You don't say who you collect money from to live and run the paper.

Better watch supply of news print.  I should think you should order some right away.  I forgot order the 5,000 laundry slips, better have them sent and such other goods as you need.

I won't need to have second check cashed.  Have plenty of money to do until I draw some.

1905 A.W. Brown Letter to wife - Jan. 17 p1

1905 A.W. Brown Letter to wife - Jan.17 p2

[Hotel Ruffner]

[Charleston, W. Va] Jany 17, 1905

Dear Ola,

Wish you would go to [East] Liverpool [Ohio] and order a 100 piece dinner set not to cost over $10.00 and have them ship from the factory by express to Mr. Richer, Gen'l Pass District Passenger Agt.  There is probably some correspondence whereby you can get his full name.  I wrote to him I would have it made & sent by express.  Anyhow, go right up and see Harry.  You can select the combination for $10.00.  I selected for decoration a sort of border of flowers, but you may find something prettier.  I will leave it all to you.  I would suggest you put in coupier [coupe] soup instead of the shallow soup plates.

Bert, if you have not sent rollers yet, I guess you had better put have the boy put in the two big rollers back of old job press, also.

 Affectionately

A.W.B.

I rec'd invitation to Gov's reception Thursday night.  I will mail the invitation.  It is for A.W.Brown & wife.

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Biographical Information about A.W. Brown
Adrian Wilmer Brown was born at Wellsburg, Brooke County, Ohio, in 1854 [24Nov1855 per other sources], his parents being John Danforth and Lucie (Hewlett) Brown. John D. Brown, who was born in what is now West Virginia, was a merchant for some years at Wellsburg, where he died aged thirty-nine years, while his wife who survived him to the age of sixty-three years; was born at Richmond, Virginia. Adrian W. Brown passed his boyhood at Wellsburg, where he received a public school education and as a young man secured a position with the Wellsburg Herald. In 1877 he came to New Cumberland, where he founded the New Cumberland Independent, the first issue of which appeared January 10th of that year, from the same building in which it is now published. This republican weekly, published on an old-fashioned Washington hand press, at once gained a good circulation, due to its general worth and excellence and to its championing of all worthy movements in the way of modern progress and advancement. Mr. Brown remained as editor of this newspaper until 1903, when he retired from active affairs and turned its management over to his son. He died three years later, greatly mourned by those who had come to know his numerous fine qualities of mind and heart. Mr. Brown was circuit clerk for Hancock County from 1890 to 1896. He was a member of the Episcopal Church at Wellsburg, and services were held in his own home at New Cumberland once a month. At Pughtown Mr. Brown was united in marriage with Miss Mary Virginia Morrow, daughter of Alexander and Sarah (Wilson) Morrow, of Pughtown, Mr. Morrow having been proprietor of the old Virginia House at that place when it was the county seat. He was also a justice of the peace for many years. Mrs. Brown died in 1890, leaving two children: Robert Morrow; and Lucie, now the wife of N. W. Ballantyne, a sketch of whose career appears elsewhere in this work. Later Mr. Brown married Ola M. Moore, who survives him, but they had no children.  --History of West Virginia, Old and New; published 1923, American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York p.253 (Hancock County section)


Other blog posts about the Brown Family include:

1752 Capt. Oliver Brown

1902 A.W. Brown's birthday letter to daughter Lucie - May 22

1934 Thomas Stephen Brown Obituary includes story of Capt. Oliver Brown -Feb 1

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The letters are written on stationery from the Hotel Ruffner which was located in Charleston on the corner of Kanawha and Hale Streets in 1885.   At the time it was the biggest building in the city (180 rooms) except for the state capitol which was also built in 1885.  The Ruffner was demolished in 1970.  -- Charleston History Through Postcards, The West Virginia Encyclopedia


East Liverpool, Ohio became known as "Crockery City." During the early twentieth century, the Homer Laughlin China Company was the largest pottery manufacturer in the world. --Ohio History Central