10 October 1872 Letter from Elizabeth Amy Manning Smith to her son James Monroe Smith Submitted for the Union Parish Louisiana USGenWeb Archives by Robert S. Hendrick, 11/2006 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ Materials from the Personal Collection of Dr. Robert S. Hendrick, Jr. Transcribed and submitted by Robert S. Hendrick, Jr. ================================================================================= 10 October 1872 Letter from Elizabeth A. Manning Smith to her son James Monroe Smith Smith was at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge at this time. He became the Union Parish Clerk of Court in 1879 and served until 1900, when he resigned to serve as a Louisiana State Senator. Smith had courted Slaton prior to his marriage to May Olive Kidd in 1885, but May had died in February 1895. Smith and Slaton married in January 1898. ================================================================================== ================================================================================== Oct. 10, 1872 Farmerville, Union Parish, LA J. M. Smith, Dearest Jimmie after a weeks time and having not received any letter from you I thought I would write you few brief lines as I thought you would like to hear from home. I spoke of writing to you several days ago but was persuaded to wait until I received a letter from you. After thinking how anxious I am to hear from you I thought you were equally as anxious to hear from home. We are all enjoying very good health and before this will reach you in the enjoyments to health. I received a dispatch from you on Monday morning and was very glad to hear that you had reached your final destination with safety. Jimmie my dear child it appears like a long time for you to be gone from home, but I hope it will be to interest your long “absence from the loved ones from home”. Mollie & Belle are studying their lessons by me tonight while I am writing to you. Willie & little Florence are both asleep. They talk Buddie Jimmie and what- he will bring them when he comes home. But alas! That is a long time off. But my sincere prayer is that we will all be permitted to meet again in good health. Jimmie I do hope that we are parted my many a mile that you will never forget the parting words of a deboled Father & Mother and relatives that you may strive to please your teachers in every respect & study hard My Dear Son “Remember thy Creator in the days of thy Youth”. Thinking you would like to hear from your Grand Pa’s family I will endeavor to say something about them although it is very late and I feel somewhat wearied had hope that you will not trouble that writing to you has wearied me. Pa [James C. Manning] left here today. Your Aunt Annie came over the day and remained until Sunday with me. She regrets your absence very much. She stated the family was all well. Jimmie you said before you left home you wanted your sister to write to you who received the prize A’s. She is so busily engaged with her studies I will state to you for her that she was honored with it by her good contact and perfect lessons during the past month. Jimmie I hope that you will also gain the prize in your studies and good conduct. I know you have always been a good boy at home and I do hope that you will continue my son to be a good boy. Jimmie since I commenced my letter I have heard that some of the boys have become very much dissatisfied and want to come home. That is a very bad conclusion I think on their part. Son let every one do as they may. You study. My son it will make a man of you if you will only apply yourself and obey your teachers and they will all love you. I believe that you will do that, but it is my duty to advise you for you are young. As I have stated all the news I will close hoping that you will act according to my request. I want you to write to me as soon as you receive this letter and state to me all the news. I remain as always Your Kind & Devoted Mother. E. A. Smith ##################################################################################