Augusta County: John Quincy Adams Nadenbousch to
Hester J. Nadenbousch, March 9, 1864
Summary:
Nadenbousch writes his wife, alarmed by reports that necessity has compelled her
to do her own work. He urges her to hire help, and revives the idea of moving
the family to Staunton. He instructs her on making arrangements and mentions
items he needs. He also reports on the management of the hotel and discusses his
pending resignation from service.
March 9/64
My Dear Hester
I have just seen M r W- who says that he seen you last Friday. he gives me some information which pains me much. he states that you have no one to do your work, & that morning you were compelled to go out in the snow & milk your cow That some scoundrel had turned your cow entirely out from shelter This is too hard for me to bear
Do try & get some one to do your work. never mind the cost I think I will
be able to make smart money now & if loose all these we will still have
plenty here. do make yourself comfortable if possible And if you can't get along comfortable put some
one in the house & come on out to me bring the family & such
things as you can work out & come here I can fix you comfortable here You might from time to time send
things to the country, & when get some of most important out get Aunt
Peggy or Uncle Jim- to move in the house with you, and a few days after you
start & come out, & we can still send for some of the things
& get them out
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You must not allow yourself to be imposed upon
or suffer exposure there, for the sake of our little property. let it go
& you take care of your self & family. I have not yet heard from
my resignation but expect to daily, & so soon as it is accepted I will
write you and we will try & make some [added: arrangements] for our future course I assure you I am sorely tired of this life
I want some [added: bleached] Muslin for sheets & pillow slips & some calico for servants dresses and some [unclear: boned] or plaid cotton for bed spreads is there any chance by which any or all of these things can be gotten I could get some funds here such as will pass there
Louise is furious at the idea of your doing your own work & says the
first chance she get she will come home & fight the yanks through we are
doing a good business here and making some money I received cousin B- letters
& delivered them. John is well PS is walking about on crutches I have
sent several letters to you recently by ladies going through lines hope you will
get them all. I say more to persons to tell you than I write but I fear you
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don't get one half I send. I don't like to write some things &
tell them verbally but suppose they don't even see you.
So soon as my papers are heard from I will make some better arrangement for us
The people here are busy funding their money under the new law My funds are all right in property, Bond s & Tobacco but little money on hand s we take in at Hotel from One thousand to twenty five Hundred Dollars per Day. Captain Brown is still with me here. I regret to hear of [added: the] death of his son Clarance. Thearfett is here with us M r [unclear: James] assists us in the Hotel office. I conduct the house direct the eating sleeping and all other arrangements all persons say we keep the best house in C. S. We have a number of our friends passing here daily have house crowded every night rather slack during the day
Things here high & scarce but we get plenty to do us
Cousin Mary Might make some arrangements to take our house & to keep
others out or aunt Peggy either by moving in it some
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days previous to
your moving out
M r W- proposes to take the mill if Harry will give it up & he & Henry run it on shares for us I write to Henry & Harry on subject M r W- says if you desire he would board with you at home or if could get the house at mill which Henry is in you could move there & he would board with you there & you put some one else in your present house. But first of all I want to hear from my resignation & if get out of service I want you here [unclear: or] me to be there & if can't do this the next best to do I think is to make arrangements to have some reliable person to live with & take care of you & the interests He will tell you fully what I say on the subject & if necessary he will come out & see me again in the mean time I hope to hear from My papers & be able to decide what is best
Write & give him a letter for me & say what you think best to do you know your situation best & can best Judge what to do. for some reasons it might be best in town for others best out at mill Consider well & let me hear from you before moving
If you need money I can get some such as you can use there & will send to you
be sure & write
Yours ever
John
