Rufus Morgan to Thomas Jefferson, 21 May 1809
From Rufus Morgan
Speedwell Iron Works Wythe County Virginia May 21t 1809
Dear Sir
Your retiring from public1 life will I hope enable you to attend to matters of small importance, which still may leed to public utility.
I have it in contemplation to establish a Nail Manufactory, and knowing that you once carried on that business, I have taken the liberty of requesting your Idea of it. Whether it is proffitable, and if you are disposed to sell your tools and Machinery, if so, your price.
Rufus Morgan
RC (MHi); between dateline and salutation: “Mr Thomas Jefferson”; endorsed by TJ as received 4 June 1809 and so recorded in SJL.
Rufus Morgan (1781–1826) was born in Connecticut but settled in Virginia before moving to Roane County, Tennessee. In December 1808 he began a brief involvement with the Speedwell Iron Works as foreman under the firm of King, Trigg, & Morgan (John A. Whitman, The Iron Industry of Wythe County from 1792 [1935], 5–7; Mary B. Kegley, Glimpses of Wythe County, Virginia [1986], 126; Walter H. Cunyus, “Morgan and allied families records” [1969 typescript at Vi]).
1. Manuscript: “bublic,” here and later in sentence.