November 18, 1918 - Sweet Agnes Succumbs to Influenza

Whenever I run across young family members from past generations who never got to live a normal lifetime I like to take special note of them.  While WWI was the headline news  around the world, up in Vermont a distant family had to pass on the sad news of their personal casualty in the never ending battles of between life and death.  For those who never had a chance to grow up and pass on their stories to another generation, I love to give them a moment's recognition that they loved and were loved by their own families.  Agnes M Richardson was born in 1903 and died at age 15 in 1918. George's mother Ella Jane and William the writer of this note were first cousins and George and Agnes were the next generations in each family.   Rest in peace sweet Agnes; you are not forgotten.

West Topsham, VT

Nov 18^th --- 18

Dear Cousins,

            I do not know whether I owe you a letter or you me one but we don’t want to forget each other.  How are you folks.  I hope you are well.  We have been very sick here. The children have been sick with the Influenza[1], our youngest child, Agnes, died four weeks tonight with pneumonia. She was 15 years last spring, it is awful to part with her. She was always so gentle and sweet all the time, but God’s ways are not our ways, it seems to take all joy out of our lives. The others are better but gain very slow. I saw your Uncle James Welch the day of elections.  He asked me to write you.  He said he was coming out and see you and wanted you to send him a card.

            Our second daughter Christia was married the 12^th of Nov and started for Minneapolis, Minn.  Dora will remember her. And she will remember Agnes too, she was a baby when she was here.  We may be out to see Christia in the spring and stop and see you.  How is Aunt Eva, tell her to write us.

                                    Love to you all,

                                                W. C. Richardson

                                                West Topsham

                                                RFD1   Vt

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[1] Likely the “Spanish Flu” as it was known.  See interesting Wikipedia article http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_flu