7 May 1897 Letter from James M. Smith, Sr.to Eva Slaton Submitted by: Dr. Robert S. Hendrick Date of Submission: 11/2008 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ ================================================================================== ================================================================================== 7 May 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 Mrs. M. L. Brooks;) ================================================================================== ================================================================================== Jas. M. Smith, Clerk Edward Everett, Deputy Clerk’s Office Parish of Union Farmerville, LA. Dec. 26, 1897 My Darling Little Girl, I made a safe arrival home Thursday. I suppose you heard that my horses got out of the lot that night while I was visiting you & skipped for home. They were at home for breakfast that morning. The ferryman told me they were at the ferry at or before daylight that morning & knowing them to be mine he crossed them on the flat. You see they had too much good horse sense to try to swim the bayou, but waited for the flat. We were packed like sardines in a box coming home in Emmet’s buggy, but made it all right & got home in good time about 4 o’clock. I have just written sister to know what day she will come to Ruston this week as mother (Mrs. Kidd) will go home & she come back in my buggy. Darling I hardly expect any of my relatives to attend our marriage except sister & Emmet. Alice (Sarah Alice Kidd- aunt of James’ first wife??) & Brother Wharton & may be Jimmie Thornton (possibly a Manning 1st cousin by Aunt Anna Manning Thornton) & Mrs. Lott (Maternal Aunt Virginia Manning Lott). I had a letter from Billie Heard (William W. Heard- Gov of Louisiana 1900-1904; in 1897 serving as State Auditor of Public Accounts; Gov. Heard appointed James to the State Land Office during his term as Governor) last night saying he doesn’t see how he can come at that time being the first of the year. He didn’t say whether Belle (Isabelle E. Manning- daughter of “Uncle Gus” by 1st marriage) intends coming or not. As he didn’t say I infer that she won’t if he doesn’t. He intends being here on the 11th at the election, but to come so as to be here on 6th & stay until the 11th would probably be to long a time away at such a busy time. I enclose you this letter. Ed Everett doesn’t know yet whether he can go or not. I doubt if Uncle Gus (James Augustus Manning- maternal uncle) & Aunt Addie (His second wife) go. Well my sweet little Doll, our time to become one is getting near at hand very fast, only 11 or 12 days off. Darling it is indeed a most happy thought to me to feel and know that when another Sabbath shall have passed the next I shall have with me the dearest, sweetest & loveliest little woman on Earth as my angel wife, our Heavenly Father permitting. Darling I am anxious for that time to come & I shall be supremely happy & fully contented & satisfied wife life- it’s sur-rounding & prospects for the future. All I want darling is your whole heart & love and I believe I have it. It is more to me and my happiness depends more on that than all things else. You have surely been & are a dear, sweet, true little darling to me and I love you as ardently, tenderly and devotedly as I believe it possible for man to love woman. Our campaign speakers are to start out on a stumping tour of the parish this week in the interest of our state ticket & local candidates to the Constitutional convention & are very anxious for me to join them. I tell them I don’t see how I can possibly do so, as I am going to marry next week & will be too busy from now until then. I promised if I had any spare time I would try to join them at some point. Have you told any of your friends about our affair since I left? I have told good many since my return. As it is now getting late will close. If you have any suggestions to make or wish to know my views about anything write me. Write me a long, sweet letter. With a heart full of love as ever man gave woman. I am always. Devotedly, James ###################################################################################### File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/la/union/history/letters/smith/1897-12-26.txt