Wilson | April 30, 2008
This may be difficult to read online. This is a copy of an article from the Spartanburg Herald. The article ran in 1922, if the date applies to the letter from J.B. Cleveland. The story is a brief tale of a willow switch transported from Mt. Vernon to downtown Spartanburg by “William Smith 1751″ on [...]
Wilson | April 29, 2008
To Mary Goodwyn from “Cousin Hattie” March, 1895 I believe this is Harriet Preston Means, wife of Ralph the Dandy. This connection to the Goodwyns gets more complicated in time, resulting in an orphaned piano that we will discuss at a later date.
Wilson | April 29, 2008
No writing, no names. The only clue the LSU Cadets uniform. I think this is a photograph of three siblings.
Wilson | April 29, 2008
I find this photograph of one big boy. I’m including a scan on the backside because One: I’m not sure of the name and, Two: No one would believe this boy was only ten months old. Please websearch and offer your opinions on who this “cud’n” might be.
Wilson | April 29, 2008
Of course the original Kings Grant wasn’t found in the home. It’s housed in the South Carolina archives. Here is a scan of a photocopy of the grant. The faults on the document are those of the State Archives. Ralph’s father was William Smith, who immigrated from Yorkshire, England to Bucks County, Pennsylvania in 1684. [...]
Wilson | April 29, 2008
We’ve already a post of William F. Smith and his older brother Ralph. Here we have two more photographs of him before his first birthday. This one has written on the back “Taken Jan’y 2, 1905″ The writing on the back of the following photo is almost illegible but we can make out: “with his [...]
Wilson | April 29, 2008
Written on the reverse: “Yours in Old KA Francis T. Constant” Francis was a fraternity brother of R.H. Smith at University of the South in Sewanee, Tenn. The “Cap and Gown” of 1896 shows him as President of the Fraternity, class Vice-President, and an 1896 Graduate in Law from Illawara, La.
Wilson | April 29, 2008
Eliphas G. was the son of Elihu Penquite Smith and Christina Marie Faber. Imagine writing a letter to your mother telling that your brother, her son, has been wounded. From this letter we learn that Eliphas, Ralph (wounded), William and Eber are all serving the Confederacy as of this date. The engagements mentioned are the [...]
Wilson | April 28, 2008
There is some missing background to this painful letter. Hopefully it will come to light in ensuing updates. Dear Hattie There is a place in Susan Allibone’s life which Mother asked me to find and show to you, but I can-not, and I will try when I get to Va, and write you the number [...]
Wilson | April 28, 2008
Written in any one of several Smith women’s hand, we find this transcription of the poem written in 1861 by Ethel Lynn Eliot Beers. It was set to music in 1863 by John Hill Hewett. At this time there are at least two sons of Elihu Penquite Smith in service and an encouraging verse could [...]
