Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1955-09-29
BY Esther Il. Stabler

TO 81. JOnn Episcopal OlluTCIl.
In 1887, he built a new store,
which is still standing at the
crossroads in the village.
4 The Olney storekeeper served
THE farmers and their families
for miles around. BarnSley be-
came sort of neighborhood
factotum, even to playing bank
er for his customers. There was
no bank for the country people,
few of whom ever saw a check.
Farmers were accustomed to
trading their home products for
certain commodities at the store.
Gold money was in common use.
One local man paid Sc in gold
and 50 cents in silver for a head
stone some SO years ago.
AS far away as Burnt Mills,
James Bond the miller was ad-
dressing the Olney merchant
thus: "Mr. Barnsley will please
pay Percival Palmer the sum of
500. Again please give Mr.. j. w,
Clagett $39."
An amusing note from Wash
ington Bowie reads Dear iona
athan, please pay the black boy
S. until harvest is over and /
can get to town."
An astonishing bit of CORE
spondence comes from Barns
ley's bill collector, w. Henry
Stabler of Sandy Spring, or
Lower Henry" as he was called
10 distinguish him from a rela-
Wive of the same name who lived
at Roselyn near Brighton, known
as Upper Henry. The note
reads:
Friend Jonathan:
Thee knows that if that mule
over across the river were not
such jackaSs, would have thy
money for thee by now.
"Thy friend,
"W. H. S."
Friend Jonathan" and his
wife were prepared for any even
tuality from curing the sick to
playing the host for stranded
Wayfarers. From a crumpled slip
of coarse paper comes this item:
Dear Sir and Mrs. Barnsley:
Would you have any objection
for a young lady who wishes to
take the stage on Saturday week,
staying with you the night be-
fore? The stage leaves so early
she might have some trouble
getting over in time from here,
please send word if you can and
your price.
"Mr. P. H. Robertson
December II, 1862"
n Another strange request dated
Vie same year reads:
Dear J. B.:
II have not been able to go to
town today as 1 expected with
the cattle. Will be obliged to get
you to keep them until Monday
morning. BY doing so you will
greatly oblige me.
HAZEL B. Cashell.
"P. 81 am busy butchering."
Most of these orders cover
period of about Is years.
A sad message from John w.
Bell addressed to our store
keeper requests " A nice little
coffin for my infant child, two
months old and a half. You will
oblige by having it here by 2
o'clock tomorrow afternoon, as
we propose to have the funeral
at pm" Some months later
Mr.. BarnSley bills the same man
for a coffin and care of wife, $50.
\ Thomas Lea of Walnut Hills
Z SKIS for his old Franklin stove
md a bundle of lathes. He lived
Lear Brighton.
EWashington Bowie, of Bowie
Mill Road, writes, Dear iona
yan please send a paper of
tobacco and fill this bottle, if
possible. l have to sit up. with
Nh. White tonight"
y, request from an old custom
err, James Stabler, near Mt. Zion,
reads:
Jonathan D. Barnsley, ESQ.,:
Please send me by Charles, one
half gallon of whiskey for the
Dutchman, who is better.
Another customer sends for
clay pipe, black tar and 5 cents
worth of snuff.
A further request from James
Stabler reads, please give me
little whiskey to put in my
camphor bottle, also a little
Dutch cologne, and please send
me one bar of your best tobacco.
ct is the staff of life.) p. s.
Capt. Strain is much better this
morning"
Thomas Bowie writes: "Mr. B.
Please let me have a gallon of
extract of rye and a box of black
ing So enclosed"
Mr.. Holland writes:
A"Dear Mr.. B.: Capt. Owens
void brother of a plaster, Mr.. w.
w. Owens used for neuralgia
which relieved him very much.