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Clinton Co. MOGenWeb

Mary Adell Yeck Griffy Family

The following letter was written by Mary Adell YECK GRIFFY (Mollie) to her mother Melissa PATCH YECK. Mollie was living in Lathrop, Clinton Co. MO at the time. It tells of her families feelings after they had lost 3 children, ages 10, 7, and 3 to scarlet fever in a two week period in January of 1897. The Gertie mentioned in the letter is the children's 5 year old sister. It also tells of other general family and area news. The original letter is held by Mollie's gr. grand daughter, Jean Kelley. With her permission, I have transcribed the letter and sent it to you. If there is a place for this letter, we would like to have it posted on the Clinton Co. page for the viewing of others. Thank you very much for your time.

Submitted by Benjamin Kinsey

Dear Mother & Family Lathrop MO, March 19, 1897

I seat myself to answer your kind letter of March 3. We are tolerable well. Anthony is some better. he went to town Tuesday & got Medicine from the Doctor. James is not homesick or if he is he dot appear to be. You must Write to him & tell him all the news. he wants to know what Will done with his cow. We got Hatties letter Tuesday. I was very sorry to hear you had been sick & that Wilson had one of his spells. I was pleased to hear you was going to send a white Piney for the Childrens graves. I went to see them Saturday. Anthony went Tuesday. We can not live with out them. It would make your heart stand still to hear Gertie long for them, she can hardly wait to go to them, she would be Willing to die to be with them and little Major especialy but Oh we lost our dearest earthly treasure when we lost our baby & I have mourned myself almost to death, I imagine I can hear him crying someplace sometimes I cant help but listen! Anthony says it is wicked the way I mourn for them children. I am heart-sick all the time I can hardly cook our meals sometimes. I have been putting their things away today & can see all their little treasures every place I go! I know that they are at rest for-ever but the time seems so long to be away from them! but Oh Mother dear you will get there before I will. love and pet them for me. tell them that momma will be there by & by. God bless their sweet-little souls! I have not heard from Aunt Hat. Mrs. Stockton & Nanine was here yesterday. Mrs Riggs was over one day this week. I sold six dozen hens this week. we caught them and put them in the wagon & the first thing I knew we smothered 8 of the bigest hens I had. I was never so sick over anything. I never have heard how old Mr Stevens is. Jim tried to find Arthurs grave the other day when we was up to the cemetry but could not-they have not got him any grave stone yet-I guess.

We will send the potatoes soon. Jim is most afraid to send them till it gets a little warmer. When you write Jim he wants to know how that case went that burnt them children to death if you have heard. one of old Mrs Harringtons girls run off & married last week, the second one she is not sixteen yet. I guess the old lady is quite sick over it Well I must close for this time Write soon. I will write to Hattie before long.

Love to all

Mollie
P.S. excuse mistakes for I am near blind all the time

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