Raleigh N C Henderson County N C
Gov. Z. B. Vance July the 13 day 1863
Honored Sir. it has become my duty
to let you know. that the hooper Creek Company. has no
Publick black Smith Shop in it. nor any person that
has s Shop, will allow any work done in their Shops. The
people of hoopers Creek has had to got to Hendersonville or
Shufordville in Buncombe County, and take Corn or Cash _
with them or not Get any work done, and when done at an
enormous prices, Such as Soldiers wives and widows Can
not Stand, Joseph Gentle’s wife has paid J.E.Reed at
Shufordville 6 Bushels of Corn out of her allowance, that _
her naked children is now Suffering for, while Gentle is in
the 25 NC Regiment battling for the pitiful Sum of Eleven
Dollars per month, this is one Case out many too numerous_
to mention. My Son not quite Eighteen years old has been
working at the Black smith trade for himself and a few of his neighbors
Some three or four years, opened his Shop in June last by
Advertisement and Gone to work for the Hoopercreek Company
and Surrounding Country, at low prices, 10 cts for Sharpening
and one Dollar for finding Iron and laying a plow only half price
[page 2]
-of other Shops here. )
-Soldiers wives and widows work is done with neatness and Sent
home, whether paid for or not as they must live and be Seen
to, he make plows, and plowstocks, Swingletrees, Stocks Sythes
for mowing and Cradling purposes, mends waggons & Carts,
or any thing belonging to farms, or kitchens. at low prices.
I dont know how he is to keep up at such prices, as the
Iron Costs him as much as he Charges, But he Says that he
will Sink his Capital or do Right By Soldiers wives & families
He is my youngest Child out of Seven Children the Rest
all Girls, and has to maintain and See to his Father &
Mother and three of his youngest Sisters, And to his oldest
Sister and Eight young Children as her husband has gone
to the army. I have not Been able to make a Support in_
the last four. years, from a fatta tumor on my Right shoul
=der and a Dropsical affection of the Legs, and old age has
broken me down. My Son is Very hard of hearing, from
Earache when Seven or eight years old, and not fitting for
army Services, And he wishes you to Give him Some acclear_
=ance from army Servis if in your power so to do, his name is
Joseph .F. N. Livingston. you will pleas write Soon about the
Matter, and Send him some assurance of his Case
[page 3]
There is one thing, I wish you to have done, in the Call Session
of the Legislator, and that is all entrys made from the Beginning
of 1850 to Stand good till the 1 day January 1865 So that all
Soldiers wives and widows and all Concerned Can Get Rights for
Land while money is flush, and women have Bad Chances to
Get Land Run out, the Ladies will thank you, and hollow
hurrah for Vance. There is another thing the Citizens__
wish you to do for them, they petitioned to Richmond for
a Post office at Capt W.R. Murray in place of Shufordville
And one at C. G. McDowell’s in place of Meed Creek, they Give
Murray and office, and Lef the one at Shufordville, And _
there is no office from Hendersonville to Shufordville, a poor Looking chance, we was ___
promist a post office By petition, for which we Got 120 petition
ars for McDowells, And yet no post office, you are acquainted
with the locality of the Country, and Can acquaint the master G
of the injustice he has done to the County Henderson, and
Soldiers in the field, And the inconvenience to their wives
and families in Geting, and Sending of Letters to their _
friends &c write Soon. As Ever truly yours &c _______
to Gov Z B Vance John S. Livingston
Shufordville N.C.