I Buy a Man .... $75.25 1923

[Indian Steve]

People that have been in my basement know that I have way too much stuff. Even I know that. I have collected books, magazines and any old paper and packed it away in boxes. Last night, I opened a box that had a bunch of receipts for everything from bee keeping supplies, medicine, groceries from 1880s to 1930s. In the pile was this dated 1923. At the bottom it says.... I buy man about 14 years old is given as security for this debt & title this man is in JM & JB Davis unless this note is paid at maturity..... The debt is for $75.25. Signed at bottom by Sam J Hairston & Harmon Hairston. My questions are What The Hell and If you could buy a man in 1923 for $75.25, How much did a Woman cost?​

 

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[creskol]

I think Davis is thee consignor for a loan to a minor.. 14 year old Sam Hairston , and unless the debt is paid back at maturity ol' Davis will have to foot the bill.

 

[against the wind]

Good analogy Creskol. It is a loan from The People's National Bank.

 

[DCMatt]

Pretty sure it says "1 bay mare".

 

[DCMatt]

Here is an abstract on Samuel J. Hairston from the UNC library:

Samuel Hairston was a dairy farmer, real estate broker, railroad director, and Virginia agricultural official, of "Oak Hill," Pittsylvania County, Va. The collection includes correspondence, business papers, and family letters of Hairston, his wife, May Jopling Hairston, and their seven children. Among the family letters are letters, 1897-1898, from Samuel Hairston to May Jopling, during their courtship; love-letters and personal correspondence, 1898-1931, between Samuel J. Hairston and his wife; and letters, beginning in 1918, many of which are undated, from the children of Samuel and May Hairston to their parents, while the children were at preparatory schools and colleges, including Salem Academy and College, Virginia Episcopal School, Fishburne Military School, Virginia Military Institute, Duke University, Randolph Macon Woman's College, Moravian Seminary and College for Women, and Columbia University. Business papers relate to Hairston's interests in dairy farming, livestock, real estate, the Democratic Party, the Danville and Western Railroad, and the Virginia Board of Agriculture. Also included are papers, 1909-1911, of James Rufus Jopling, bank president, about the construction of the First National Bank, Danville County, Va.

I'm guessing, but Homer Hairston may be Sam's nephew. If it's the same guy, Homer was from Ridgeway, VA born @ 1900 d. 1981.

As you can see from the abstract, Samuel was a big shot in the county. Likely just helping a young relative get started in a business.

 

[A2coins]

I have a mother in law for sale or Ill actually pay you to take lol

 

[Hawks88]

Interesting old document.

 

[Bruce R]

Pretty sure it says "1 bay mare".

Ain’t what she used to be !

 

[Indian Steve]

Thanks for all of the ideas. The Hairstons were a large wealthy family in the area. I think that there were 7 different Hairston plantations in the area with one having over 1100 slaves.

 

[Nick79]

Yes it's a horse. 1 bay mare about 14years old.