Augusta County: D. V. Gilkeson to Gilkeson's brother
(probably Hugh Gilkeson), August 31, 1867
Summary:
Gilkeson discusses the year's crops and resignedly mentions that labor is "all to
hire." He delivers news about the family and suggests that his brother try the
nursery business, to avoid the bad luck often attached to farming.
August 31 st /67
Brookfield
My Dear Brother
Yours written and mailed wednesday 21
st
and postmarked same date reached Staunton Saturday the 24
th
that shows the importance or advantage of living near the Railroad where we could hear from one another so quick.
My dear brother I am very sorry to hear of your having another dry season and
another failure in crop. You have been truly unfortunate in that respect for the
last few years I don't wonder at your having an desire
to leave. It seems to me were I in your place though I don't like to advise I would try and rent out my land to some good
reliable man that would take care of the place and keep it up and would try and
get into some safe and honorable
business for a few years, some business that would pay better than farming, I think I told you
when I was there that I thought you had a turn for the nursery business if that would suit your taste you might pay
us a visit and get an insight into the business and
see what you could do this man Davis who has a nursery near Staunton has made a
great deal of money. he and Tom Calbreath went into the business
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together below Richmond were raising peaches
and sending to the New York Market I think before the war and were making money
at it by the way [unclear: J.] Calbreath has turned out badly is
carrying on a distillery on the old place and is in the habit of drinking
himself A great many persons think there is nothing to be made here farming now
when labor is all to hire but when we are so
successful in cropping as we have been this year I think we can make something
although our expenses are very heavy there was finer crops of wheat made in this
country [added: this year] than has been made before
I suppose for ten years and then we may calculate again for ten years more there
won't be near as large crops of corn made as there
was last year My crop started very badly in the spring and I had almost
despaired of a corn crop this year but rains set in about the right time and has
been showery so I will make a good-deal of corn having cut about 40 acre if
frost keeps off long enough though last night was very cool and so is tonight I saw John Hamilton today and he said there was frost last night said there could be no mistake
about it that he examined closely and saw some on clover but there was certainly
none to do any damage, but I don't like to hear of it am
afraid it may come before corn is out of the way
of it
The health of our family is generally good though I have been suffering for a few days past with one of my spells but hope it is now wearing off Willie has been unfortunate of late snagging his feet on nails has been poulticing them some they are now better they don't keep him from running about all he can if he has to limp, he and Emma were both terribly long about writing I have been at them all week about but they never done it until this morning when I told them they must do it today so they went at it Sallie has not taken up her school yet as she wanted to visit some while not teaching but will take up in a few days I suppose, talking of going up one day next week to [added: see] [unclear: Frank] Gilkeson and his new bride he was married a few week ago some day who lived near him in Culpeper said to be quite intelligent and refined but not rich, A letter a few days ago from Carrie to Sallie she writes quite discouraging is anxious for William to leave I don't wonder at her, I believe it will be all the same to James he will get along by himself about as well as with any lady he can then have everything his own way. My paper is full give our love to all friends and write soon to
your affectionate brother
D. V. Gilkeson
P.S. This is a great fruit year here peach and apples in abundance will be a quantity put up [illeg.] the winter I think Andrew & Woods have sold upwards of 20 cider mills and Price somewhere in the teens and apple pealers a great many
