What’s in the box?

My late uncle was a philatelist, a stamp collector. I recently went through a few boxes with the burned remains of his collection to reorganize and preserve what I could. To my surprise I found a few letters. This one pierces the essence of post-Civil War Texas; a search for stability.

The letter:

Bryan, Brazos Co., Texas, March 25, 1874
Mr. Jno. R. Shook,

Dear Sir :-

I obtained License to practice Law from the Supreme Court of North Carolina in January last; and came immediately (with my parents) to this state. We are temporarily located in Bryan, and are taking advantage of every opportunity to look around and decide upon some point in Texas for permanent location. We have pretty well concluded to go to San Antonio to settle; and, as I am quite young and would not like to undertake just now a practice on my own responsibility, I have thought that perhaps my best plan would be to write to you & learn whether you would have any work for a Junior partner or even an employee. I hope that you will let me learn from you, either with reference to an opening with yourself or with any other Attorney in the city of whom you may know of desiring to make such an arrangement __ to take effect in the Fall or as soon early before that time as convenient.
Yours truly,

Roth E. Royall

Who is Roth E. Royall?

Roth is most likely the son of the Reverend Dr. William Royall, a noted Baptist minister and professor. NCpedia states of William that, “In 1874 he moved to Texas and became president of Baylor Female College in Independence. While in Texas, Royall also taught in seminaries in Bryan and Calvert. He moved to San Antonio in 1878 and remained there until 1879, when he accepted the presidency of Jonesboro College, Tenn. During his eighteen-month stay he also served the Baptist church in Jonesboro.” So it appears that the Royall family did after all make it to San Antonio, but only for a year before moving back East.

This doesn’t really answer who Roth is though, and from some brief research, I can’t seem to find any record of Roth available. William Royall’s children are not all listed. Maybe this letter will help shed some light on the family. I doubt he got the job. I can’t help but admire the young man for his well written attempt–well in both the sense that it was wonderfully legible (most 19th century letters are not) and his request is concise.

Proud of you, Roth!

For what? Trying to step out of daddy’s shadow and make your own. Know sir, that your name is now in the record.

PDF copy of 1874 letter from Roth E. Royall of Bryan, Texas to Jno R. Shook of San Antonio, Texas