Letter from Lee Norman Shahan 1909

     This is a letter written by Lee Norman Shahan, father of Maxwell Lee Shahan, to his father, James A. Shahan who lived in Villanow. Dated September 25, 1909,  Daddy would have been about four months old at the time.

     In the 1912 Engineering Directory, page 127, Mill Supplies, Vol 1, Shahan Corley Co. is listed as having been incorporated by J.W. Cavender, Lee N. Shahan, A.J. Corley, W.J. Shahan, and W.B. Garvin with a capital of $30,000 to manufacture and sell saw mills, pea hullers, hay presses, and other farming machinery and mill supplies.

     Today Corley Mfg. Co.'s website says FOR OVER 100 YEARS CORLEY HAS SUPPLIED RUGGED, UP TO DATE, dependable machinery to the sawmill industry and backed it up with fast reliable service. Since 1905 we have focused our efforts exclusively on serving sawmillers. This experience has enabled CORLEY to develop sawmill machinery that is uniquely suited to your needs. CORLEY is carrying on this tradition today with our skilled and experienced team of engineers, service technicians, sales reps, production workers and management personnel.

Dear Father:-

     Could not get the painted roofing and just had them put all in of the Galvanized, think it cheaper any way in the long-run, my experience with the painted is that it is poor roof to put on especially in town may be a litter better in country where not so much acid and gasses from smoke, any way did not think (you) would want to leave it off for the few dollars difference in the price and they say will be Monday before could give it to us, hope will be all right.

     The pumps they have only the one size and made in wood and steel frames or body and say they sell more of the wood so am sending the wood, price of it is $8.00 complete, will bring bills of pump and roofing when come down, have not got the roofing figured out yet, will look after check soon as can get to bank and think it is all right.

     We have been trying to get ready to get off down there for two or more weeks and think will make it perhaps last of next week if weather is favorable, have had some matters to look after here and could not well get off last week or this week,  but think have it in shape where Jap can handle it a few days and we will try to get off next week sometime if weather is favorable.

     Cotton keeps climbing, reached highest yesterday think 13.60 for some of the future months, looks like would bring 15 cents if crop is as short as some of them claim, however do not think it will go much higher now rather think it will go down after a little this rise has been on account of the Storms over the Cotton belt and too soon for a permanent rise and would not be surprised to see it take a slump next week if weather continues good.

     We are all well and the Boy is getting along fine weighs 15 pounds and never been sick except the Colic and that seems to make him grow, Martha is all right and wants to go to Villanow, hope to see you soon,