It’s just a check, but I’ve been fascinated by it for years. It lives on the wall of my dad’s office, but he has no idea why he even owns it.
Why was it issued to the William Thalhimer & Sons store in 1871 from Planters National Bank? What happened that was so very important that the check was kept by generations of our family? Was it an insurance reimbursement for a fire or flood at the store? I can’t find any information about such an event at 601 East Broad, the store’s location in 1871, but fires and floods certainly impacted lots of other stores in the area. There was a major flood in Shockoe Bottom in 1870. Did the store suffer damage during the Civil War and not receive insurance money until the Reconstruction Era? Was signee W.L. Cowardin related to Richmond’s jewelry store, ironically still in business after nearly 150 years? Surely he was…the jewelry store was founded by W.H. Cowardin. Did William Cowardin and William Thalhimer talk business over pints of beer?
Yes, it’s just a check…but it’s also an unknown story. Your guess is as good as mine!
Finding Thalhimers 
Elizabeth,
Your reunion has inspired the Sales Promotion team (who worked under Betty Bauder) to get together for our own reunion prior to the event at the Historical Society.
Marion, I’m thrilled you’re having a mini-reunion before the reunion! Can’t wait to see how many Thalhimers’ employees show up. I know my dad is going to be ecstatic to see everyone.
William Lewis Cowardin and William Henry Cowardin were related. W.L. Cowardin was his father.
Thanks for this info, Barry! I shop at Cowardin’s Jewelers, so there continues to be a connection between these two families!
Ironically, I have the “same” check, for the exact same amount, issued nine months apart. Mine was also signed by both William Willis and W. L. Cowardin, but it was written to R. Ryland Gwathmey. The mystery continues.