24 August 1897 Letter from James M. Smith, Sr. to Eva Slaton - of Union Parish Louisiana Submitted by: Dr. Robert S. Hendrick Date of Submission: October 2009 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ ================================================================================== ================================================================================== 24 August 1897 Letter from James M. Smith, Sr. to Eva Slaton Materials from the Personal Collection of Dr. Robert S. Hendrick, Jr. Transcribed and submitted by Robert S. Hendrick, Jr. Smith 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. ================================================================================== ================================================================================== James M. Smith Sr. to Eva Slaton (Addressed to Miss Carrie Manning; c/o T T Slaton) ================================================================================== ================================================================================== Jas. M. Smith, Clerk Edward Everett, Deputy Clerk’s Office Parish of Union Farmerville, LA August 24, 1897 9:00 P. M. My darling sweet little girl: Your short but most welcome note bringing me the glad news that you have returned came a few hours ago. I must say that I was much surprised for I had no idea that you would return earlier that the 1st. I wrote you a long letter Sunday addressed to Ocean Springs, Miss c/o Alice House as you directed. It will reach its destination I suppose about tomorrow if no delay in route. I reckon it will reach you about the last of this week, as no doubt you arranged for your letters to be forwarded to you. Darling the address of that letter being in your name will be a sure give-away to the Postmistress at Ruston. Don’t you think so? Suppose we address our letters from this on to each other, giving our names for people know about our affair any way, and it makes no difference with me. I will leave this question for you to decide, it alright with me either way. Darling I am so glad & happy that you have improved so much though you failed to write me to what extent, except that had gained 5 pounds. You didn’t say whether or not you have entirely recovered from you nervousness. I do hope you have & entirely well again. Yes dearest, no doubt you did talk & walk & dance & play cards too much thereby impeding your improvement perhaps. I am glad you had such an enjoyable trip & hope it has been instrumental in your permanent recovery. I reckon besides seeing your Cousin Belle, you saw your Cousin May S- from Baton Rouge too. I judge you both sized each other up “muchly”, each wondering what kind of a kinswoman the other will be, how I will like her & how she will like me, didn’t you? Darling, I wrote you that I would attend the Camp meeting Fair at Calhoun on the 8th, 9th & 10th of Sept. & if you had returned by that time I would visit you while there. I reckon the trains will run each way during Fair so I can go to Ruston in the evening & return in the morning. If so I will visit you a time or two while there. Darling I never did want to see my sweet, precious little girl more than now, it seems so long. Well I reckon as you have improved so much there is no reason why we might not marry about last of Sept., what say you? Dearest, I would be the happiest man living if I had my little darling with me all the time & am so unhappy without you. I think the sooner we marry the best for both of us. Well I suppose you & Belle had a good old fashion talk on the situation & had some funny things to tell. Of course you told her all about that “farewell” you gave me. My health is first class. As I have written you a long letter which will reach you in a few days, telling you all I know will have to stop here. Write me a long sweet letter soon. I feel so happy over your return. With lots of love. Devotedly as Ever, James ########################################################################################## File posted at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/la/union/history/letters/smith/1897-08-24.txt