APPENDIX. 5-3 



ingdon, Bedford and Somerset in the State Senate in a manner highly 

 satisfactory to his constituents, and then resumed his professional duties. 



He was married at Lancaster, Pa., on the 7th day of May, 1804, to 

 Miss Letitia Nixon Coakley, the marriage ceremony being performed 

 by the Rev. Joseph Clarkson, at the house of William Montgomery, Esq. 

 Then returning home, he settled down at the place he had selected for 

 his future residence, on the bank of the Juniata, about half a mile above 

 the town of Huntingdon, and well known as " Cypress Cottage." Here 

 he continued to reside until his death, which occurred suddenly, on the 

 ist day of October, 1823. 



The ''cottage" stood upon elevated ground, a short distance from 

 the river, surrounded by shade and fruit trees, as well as shrubbery, 

 with its several out-houses and fences, all neatly whitewashed, present- 

 ing an air of comfort, and making it a most inviting spot. To the 

 right of the cottage a handsome lawn extended down to the bank of the 

 river, well shaded by large buttonwood and other trees, and which 

 became the resort of the young people of the town for their pic-nic 

 parties, and where, on each annual return of our national birthday, it 

 was duly celebrated in a most patriotic manner. Here the military and 

 citizens of the town marched in procession to hear the reading of the 

 Declaration of Independence and the usual oration, and then all par- 

 ticipated in a good dinner spread on a long table erected under the 

 shade of the grand old trees. The farm attached to the cottage as well 

 as the one on the island were both well cultivated, and about thirty feet 

 to the right of the dwelling stood a two-story building called "The 

 Study." In this was a large and well-selected library, and here, amidst 

 his books, Mr. Smith spent many happy hours, either quietly attending 

 to his business or perusing his favorite authors. 



The walk along the river bank was a very pleasant one, and much 

 used by the young people. Calls were almost daily made (especially in 

 summer) at the cottage, where all were hospitably welcomed, as the 

 " latch-string was always out." And in return, it is but just to say that 

 "Uncle Richard " and "Aunt Lettie," as they were familiarly called 

 by all, were respected and loved by both old and young in the town. 



Thus time passed on. Mr. Smith had inherited and also acquired 

 much landed property, but eventually, from various causes, found him 

 self financially embarrassed, and had to see much of his property sacri- 

 ficed to satisfy his creditors. The hard times following the war in 181 5, 

 the worthless paper currency then in circulation, and the depreciation 

 in real estate, can only be appreciated by those who witnessed the 

 scenes occurring at that day. 



In February, 1821, Mr. Smith was appointed, by Governor Heister, 



