Obituaries:  P. W. "Uncle Pete" Smith, 1974, Winn Parish, LA.
Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483
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From:  April 10, 1974 Winn Parish Enterprise-News American

"Uncle Pete" Smith Dies At Age 98

P. W. Smith, 98 year old early Sikes teacher, farmer, merchant, died April 7 in
a hospital here following a long illness.

He was the son of the late John F. Smith who helped build the second school in
Sikes, the Crain School, located on the present site of the Sikes First Baptist
Church.

Smith, known to most people as "Uncle Pete", was one of the early teachers in
that school taking classes when he was 20 years old in 1896.  He had 75 students
and taught until about 1897-98 when the family moved to six miles southeast of
Sikes on the place now occupied by one of his sons, Stanley Smith, merchant and
member of the Winn Parish School Board.

"Uncle Pete" farmed, ran cattle and hogs, and in 1924 moved to Sikes and opened
a general mercantile store which was finally closed in 1940 following the death
of his first wife, Tennessee James Smith.

The familly had a contract with Milam's Wholesale Grocery and Monroe Wholesale
Grocery to can tomatoes, an operation which began in 1932 and continued through
about 1938.  

When "Uncle Pete" taught at the Crain school he was 8th teacher.  The school was
built in 1891 with Alfred Emmons its first teacher, followed by Dr. J. B. Parker,
C. B. Gates, John O'Neal, Chester Adams, Mrs. May Waller, Mrs. Mattie Simmons,
then "Uncle Pete", followed by Lizzie Adams, Merle Womack.  Uncle Pete had 75
students and drew $ 20 a month.  

He continued very active in the hog and cattle business and as late as 1955 when
he was 80, he broke a new horse to ride.  His activity continued through about
1960 when he retired from farming other than gardening.  He had in the meantime
married and his second wife, Mrs. Alice McCartney Smith, died in 1964.

Since 1966, "Uncle Pete" had been keeping pretty busy inside, but got out to the
James Family Reunions each year except the past two. He had been confined to bed
for about the last year.

Funeral services were held Monday at 2 p.m. at Sikes Baptist Church with the Rev.
Willie James, the Rev. C. T. Smith, and the Rev. Henry Stakes officiating.

Burial was in the Sikes Cemetery under the direction of Southern Funeral Home of
Winnfield.

Survivors include two sons, J. Wayland Smith of Oak Grove and Stanley J. Smith
of Sikes; one sister, mrs. Beulah McCarty of Monroe; eight grandchildren and 14
great grandchildren.