Fire, Latin, Macbeth and Thank you for the Money Feb 14 1899

Jim Moran III
St Albans School 1899

Gustave Toutant Beauregard
St Albans School 1899

As much as I enjoy Moran letters I love it when they are written on letterhead giving additional information. For instance, this letterhead tells me Jim was an associate editor with his friend Gustave Toutant Beauregard on Promus '99 which might be the yearbook for St. Albans School.

page 1

Malcolm J. Taylor, Editor-In-Chief
Ray Jones, Business Manager
PROMUS '99
Associate Editors:
Henry G. McCall
Charles S. Brent
James H. Moran
James B. Faulkner
Gustave T. Beauregard

Radford, VA    Feb 14, 1899

Dear Papa:

Your letter with the check enclosed was received a few days ago and I was very glad to hear from you.  The check could not have reached me at a better time, for it will now come in very handy.  Last night one of the main buildings caught fire from the furnace and it took us over an hour to put it out.  I never saw such a cold night in all my live, the water would freeze in ten steps of the fire.  I ruined my shoes and pants but otherwise come out alright.  The weather is moderating somewhat and I think it will be a great deal warmer tomorrow.

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page 3

Tell Sister (Fannie) that the book which I wrote for was the Latin book Livy and if yo she can find it to please send it at once, she can also send me her notes on Macbeth.  I must bring this letter to a close.  Write soon, with much love to all.

Your son,

J H Moran

page 4

1911 "Smoker" for James H Moran

"SMOKER."

On the evening of Nov. 21st (Tuesday) the young men of Newbern entertained Mr. James H. Moran and his out of town friends with a "Smoker."  Covers were laid for nineteen and a most delightful menu was served by Mrs. Delle JONES.  Mr. L.G. NORVELL acted as Toast Master and acquitted himself with much credit.  The following responded to "toasts"; James H. MORAN, Harry JONES and Mr. THOMASON of Dresden, John M. DRANE, Prof. BRIGHT, J.H. GENTRY, F.E. SCOTT, B.F. GRISHAM and Wm. A. SHIBLEY.

A Dyersburg Orchestra furnished the music.  After a four course dinner had been served, all present accepted an invitation to the dance which was in progress at the Opera House.

Among others present at the "Smoker" were Mr. James MORAN, Harry JONES, Harold (sic) MORAN, Mr. THOMASON, J.V. THOMAS, Q. SHUMATE, L.G. NORVELL, N.B. GENTRY, J.H. GENTRY, B.F. GRISHAM, Jno. M. DRANE, T.A. JONES, Kirby MOORE, H. Parks TIGRETT, W.S. RIDENS, Prof. N.H. BRIGHT, F.E. Scott, Wm. A. SHIBLEY and Dr. MAYO.

Newspaper clipping, unknown source.

What is a "smoker" I wondered.  After dissecting the clipping I decided that it had to be something similar to a bachelor party or a "roast" and the HyperDictionary confirmed it for me. James H Moran III and Virginia Shumate were married November 22 1911 in Newbern, Tennessee.  The Smoker was held the evening before and was given in honor of the bridegroom, Jim Moran, by "the young men of Newbern" which just happened to be where the wedding was taking place and where his bride Virginia, lived, with her Uncle Quincy Shumate's family.  Many of the attendee's at the Smoker are also mentioned in the wedding announcement which can be found here. 

I wonder what time everyone made it to sleep that night since they also went on to dance at the Opera House after the Smoker.  It's a good thing the wedding didn't begin until 7pm the following evening!

Dresden Men in the News, July 1879

If the state debt is compromised and the property taxed to pay the interest who will it fall upon--the owners of taxable property.  We have seen and conversed with quite a number of this class of men--for instance, A.M. BOYD, G.R. BRASFIELD, B.D. IRVINE, G.W. MARTIN, M.P. MARTIN, Alfred GARDNER and J.W. MORAN--worth in the aggregate about $600,000 and owning about 30,000 acres of land.  These men are all warm supporters of the compromise measure, and if such men, who pay largely of the taxes, are willing to vote this tax upon themselves, ought not the poor man who will not pay one dollar of the taxes (for the poll tax goes to the school fund) vote for the compromise?  Can you find ten men in the county worth as much as the seven above named who will vote against the compromise?  We think not.

--Dresden Our Country

Posted in The Milan Exchange July 17 1879, page 1.