Correspondence/Letters #3 (Miller/Redden)

The letters were sent to Mrs. George (Amy) Redden. I believe this to be Amy Agnes Miller, second wife of George Redden. Her parents were Isaiah Miller and Margaret (Mosher) Miller.

The letters were written by Mankin L. Miller, her parents were John Levi Miller and Hannah Amelia (Fish) Miller. Mankin’s siblings included John Sedley Miller, Ivan Goetz Miller, and Edna Miller who had a son Courtney Miller.

“Dear Amy Mother passed away last Thursday evening she was only sick from Wednesday. We had the Dr Tuesday morning but we did not think she was any worse only that he had not seen her for quite a while and she had a bad cough has had one all winter. She got more cold on Christmas day. It did not get much better so we had the Dr come over and see her. He said that she was not as sick as she was four years ago when he came to see her that time. But in the afternoon she got weak and went to bed she seemed sleepy all of the time

in the mornings and in the afternoon she would be light headed. We thought she was better on Wednesday morning, and she thought herself that she was. The Dr said that it was pneumonia at the last her heart gave out. The Dr got here just as she died he said he could not have saved her or done anything more than we were doing. He said to give her Brandy and water every hour till he could get here. The road was overflowed out by Sterlings and he had to wait till the tide run down a little before he came through it. Dad is well and we are all well. How did you get Agnes. Scott told us you were sick. How is Mary Jane & Hattie. Good Bye Mankin”

“Dear Amy Perhaps you have heard before this that we have lost Dad. He was only sick a fort-night. He has been ailing all winter, indigestion I think it was. You know that he had a bad sick spell last spring, pneumonia and bronchitis but got quite smart again. Last summer was up to Edna’s and stayed a week so you see he felt

pretty smart. He died of heart failure his heart got so weak that his lungs filled, he suffered terribly towards the last. Ivan and I took care of him. Dr Reid was over on Sunday and said he saw no hopes of him, he died Wednesday morning March 12th. I have had a heavy cold since so I have not felt much like writing before but it is some better now. Dear me, everybody seems to have trouble this winter don’t they. How are you all. I have been talking of going over to see you all but have not been any where since Christmas. I might get over sometime this spring. Edna wants me to go up there to Easter but it is not likely I will go. How is Mary Jane and Hattie. I suppose Hattie is busy farming. I suppose you saw in the papers that Frank Miller was dead. He came home to Allens last summer and has been there ever since, he died of consumption.

We have had a case of smallpox in the place. Newtons Hanes folks have had it but got over it alright. And most every family have had the flu. We got off pretty easy only Courtney had it. Sedley was pretty sick with it, pneumonia set in and almost made an end of him. I must close now. Good Bye Mankin L. Miller Newport R.R. No. 2 You see we have a rural free deliverly.”