JOHNSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE - MISC - Letter from Rhoda Lavenia Crockett Berry to Mrs. Callie Eggers, 23 May 1905 File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Linda L. Viel viel@home.com ************************************************************************ USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ************************************************************************ Transcriber's Note: Linda Viel has the original letter. [info added by L.Viel is enclosed in these brackets] Names/dates are from History of Johnson County 1986 revised 3-21-98 [From Rhoda Lavenia Crockett Berry 1862-1924] Mountain City Tenn. May 23 - 1905 [To] Mrs. Callie Eggers [Callie Louisa Shoun 1876-1942, dau. of Samuel E. Shoun and Mary R. McQuown, m. 1898 William Delaney Eggers] Dark Ridge, N.C. My Dear Callie - It was a little surprise Eckie [?Alexander Thomas Berry 1858-1935] gave me when he handed me a letter from you, yet - I assure you it was a pleasant one, as I have often thought of you and wondered how your were getting along especially at this present time, as I knew you were expecting to be a mother again. I am glad to know it is all over and that your health is good as usual. You never told me the baby's name [Irma D. Eggers 1905-1918]; or how many children you had [5]. We are not at all well at this writing. I have been a great sufferin for over a year from what the Drs call "neuralgia of the stomach." I had been better through the latter part of the winter, but this spring it returned on me and we have now called on the fourth Dr. and hope to get some relief from his knowledge. The attacts come on very sudden, start in the center of my chest or on the joint of breast bone, extend round to the spine. They last from one hour to three. The suffering is intense. Had to have morphine injected in my arm Sunday evening. I usually have one each day and then one at night, but yesterday I failed to have an attact, but had one last night. I never got up until 8 o'clock this morning as I feel so weak after having an attact. The aged ones in our home are very feeble. Grand-ma Berry [?Rachael Ann Wills (McQuown) Berry d. 1908] has not sit up a whole day for weeks. She just seems to be so weak, and it is telling in her mind. She has not the mind she had when you knew her. Grand-pa [?Robert Edmondson Berry d. 1906] cough has turned to consumption and it is only a matter of time with him. If it was not for his energy he would have been dead a year ago. What he spits up is just what Dick [Peter Dick Shoun, Callie's brother] spit up when he died [1905], just so thinck it is almost green. He was not able to go to town yesterday, but went this morning. We expect him to get down in town for he is not able to go there. He complains all the time with a pain in his side. Should pneumonia set in he could not survive many days. Grandma's sister Aunt Becca Faw has been in our home over six years. She is two years older than Ma (82 yrs old) but she is stronger than either of them. She is visiting in town this week. Our oldest son (Bruce [Robert Bruce Berry] age 21 in July) has been in Tacoma Washington for 18 months. He has a good position there, but says there is no place like home. Margaret [Margaret Gertrude Berry 1886-1974] is 18 yrs old. She is now visiting relatives in Bristol and Johnson City. We miss her so much. She does all the sewing for the family and has since she was 12 yrs old. She made herself a dress when she was only six years old. It seems perfectly natural for her to sew. Ray Crockett [Ray Crockett Berry b. 1891] is 14 yrs old and is a bright boy, but we fear will be blind in one eye. His little sister threw up a chinquapin dart last fall and it stuck in his right eye. We are having it treated but have not much hopes of having it restored. My baby, Mina Lou [Mina Lou Berry 1893-1917] is nearly 12 yrs old weighs 105 lbs, weighs more than Ray. They would pass for twins in size. She is a great domestic girl. likes to be out at work, never sits in the house and sews, it is too confining for her. She is the picture of health. She had a severe case of Typhoid fever in the winter but you could never tell it by looking at her now. She had such lovely hair but it is falling out fast. Deslie Hearper [Destamona Harper 1871-1948] lives with us. She has been here over six years. She is a good girl, though not very strong. Her sister Mary [Mary Victoria Harper 1877-1948] married Ferd Gentry's [Ferdinand Gentry m. Louisa Gentry] son Elbert [I. Elbert Gentry 1882-1958] last fall [11-30-1904] and had Typhoid fever this spring. Deslie went and stayed a month with her. We see some of Make's [Macon L. Shoun 1869-1950, Callie's brother] folks nearly every day. Cousin Mary was down yesterday. She and I are great friends. She comes to see me often and always cheers me up so much. She is a splendid good woman. They have four interesting children, cute and sweet. The baby Carl Judson is very pretty. Make [Macon L. Shoun] is superintendent of the Baptist Sunday School in town. They both go when they can. Their girl is home on a visit now and they took all the children with them to Sunday School last Sunday. Her sister Susie [Susan Dougherty b. 1877] came up Sunday to stay until her hired help comes back. Ollie [Olive C. Shoun, Callie's sister] was down at Makes last week. Mary [Mary Dougherty Shoun, wife of Macon L.] made her a black silk waist. She and your father [Samuel E. Shoun] are going to Jefferson City to the close of the school. Dave M. [David M. Shoun, Callie's brother] will graduate with high honors. Your father took dinner here a few weeks ago. He is not very well, is breaking fast. Guess you have heard Uncle David M. Stout was dead. Ald Mrs. Jenkins (Smith's mother) died Sunday. She had been sick a long time. Laura Murphy [Lura J. McQuowm m. Elbert R. Murphey] still has a bad cough. She and her son Elbert [Elbert, Jr. b. 1884] both had bad cases of Typhoid fever last summer and fall. We were all so sorry you could not come to see Dick [Peter Dick Shoun] before he died. I went to see him often, always found him glad to see me and would try to talk with me. He was a great sufferer at times though he was patient and submissive to Gods will. He spoke of you and wanted to see you, he cried when he found out you could not come. I think Ollie [Olive C. Shoun m. Milburn Cornett] only came once to see him. He was a great care. Make and Mary did everything they could for his comfort. They had to hire a man to help care for him, and then the neighbors went when they could. Eckie would go two or three nights out of the week and sit up with him. They had lots of company all the time he was there which made it so hard on them, but they seemed to do it all cheerfully and never complained. I have given you about all the news, so I will close with love to you all. your Friend Venia C Berry [Rhoda Lavenia Crockett Berry 1862-1924]