24 March 1898 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 ************************************************ ================================================================================== ================================================================================== 24 March 1898 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 c/o Mrs. M. L. Brooks) ================================================================================== ================================================================================== Farmerville, LA March 24, 1898 My precious, angel wife, Your sweet, precious little letter came this evening & you don’t know how happy I was to get it & find that my sweet precious wife & children are well & having such an enjoyable time. I had just returned from a long tramp over the field when I rec’d your letter & the pleasure of reading your letter had a tendency to relieve my fatigue. I have been looking after my farm closely. I can’t stay at home much. I am too lonely without my sweet precious darlings. I am well but tired somewhat from my tramp tonight, but couldn’t forego the pleasure of having a talk with my angel wife & send her a goodnight kiss before retiring. The weather was quite cold & pinching last night & this morning & I was fearful the change nightly make you or the children sick. I am glad darling you wrote me that you are well prepared for the change. You must take good care of your darling sweet self & our sweet little ones. I am so glad the children show their all how fondly they love their sweet, model mama, for you are so sweet and fond of them darling. I know it makes mother happy to see them so devoted to you & makes her love you dearly. Mr. Everett is about the same as when I wrote you. I am fearful he may never recover. At times his mind is as bad as ever & at other times he talks very well. Poor fellow should he ever get up I am fearful his mind will be seriously injured. Nothing new to write. If nothing prevents I will start to Ruston Saturday morning & get there about the time you did. I am so anxious to see you darling. I can hardly wait for the time to go. Now take good care of my precious wife & little ones till I come. With a heart full of love & kisses to my angel wife & kisses. Love to all. Your Devoted Husband, James ###################################################################################### File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/la/union/history/letters/smith/1898-03-24.txt