28 Nov 1872 Letter of James F. Smith to his first cousin James M. Smith, all of Union Parish LA

Submitted for the Union Parish Louisiana USGenWeb Archives by Robert S. Hendrick, 4/2005

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Materials from the Personal Collection of Dr. Robert S. Hendrick, Jr.
Transcribed and submitted by Robert S. Hendrick, Jr.

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28 Nov 1872 Letter of James F. Smith to his first cousin James M. Smith, all of Union Parish LA
     Residents of Farmerville, Union Parish Louisiana
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Farmerville, LA  
November 28, 1872 
 
 
My Dear Cousin, 
 
   I now have an opportunity of answering your kind letter, which I received a 
few days ago; and it is with much gratitude that I avail myself of it. Jimmie it 
is impossible for me to come to the University this year, even if I could go as 
a cadet. I prefer remainding here provided we can secure a good teacher, which I 
think we will have if the patrons succeed it getting Mr. Hodge of Spearsville. 
He has been here to look at the situation of which he is very well pleased and 
says he would like to build a large school at Meridian. Both pupils and patrons 
were highly(?) hope up with the idea of getting Mr. Hodge to teach for us. But 
this morning his articles reached here, and the patrons are not very well 
pleased with the rates. He is to be here on the second of December and I don't 
know yet whether he will be employed to teach or not. If he will reduce the 
rates of teaching he probably be employed. John Robinson has been speaking of 
going to the University, but I think he has decide on trying our little country 
schools one more year. Tommie Andrews is going to start (???) in  a few days. He 
has been trying very hard to get me to go with him, but he has not yet 
succeeded. Since Mrs. Goldsby's school ceased we have had a writings school, 
which I attended. Our teacher improved us very fast. Mr. Hill was our teacher. 
His school was limited. He only had ten pupils, only two out fifty which 
attended Mrs. Goldsby's school.  As it is very cold I am writing by my little 
fire on a large book, and my pen being very bad you can not easily perceive the 
improvement in my penmanship between this and my last. Jimmie your Uncle 
Thornton [Manning] is going to New Orleans to a phasic(?) school. He is to come 
back to Meridian as soon is out which I understand to be a short time. We are 
all well at present and the few lines will find you in the same state of health. 
I must close as it is now Ten O'clock, for it will be late by the time I go to 
town and return home. Writ me soon. Believe me, 
 
Your Affectionate Cousin, 
 
				James F. Smith 
 
P. S. Please excuse my mistakes for it was wrote in a hurry. 
 

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Note: 
James F. Smith was the son of Samuel Smith, a brother to William C. Smith. Thus, 
James F. Smith was writing to his first cousin.


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