Carthage, Texas

The following letters were written by the mother of Mrs. Frances Frasier of Carthage, Texas. These were some of the last letters written by Emma Jordan. She died of the flu September 25, 1919. Little Frances was 15 months old.

(Note: Some punctuation was added to the letter making reading easier. Also, the blanks in the letters were put there by Emma to announce that someone was "pregnant" or in "family way".)

Click on the thumbnail to see larger version of wedding photo of Edgar B. and Emma Elliott Jordan. The couple married in 1911.

Carthage, Texas

Have been looking for a letter from you for a long time. Thought maybe some of you were sick. Have been uneasy and decided to write. Am afraid you are all down with the flu. Lorine taken sick Tuesday, Ima Thursday and Maggie Ruth, Saturday.

Friday — Maggie Ruth stayed up most of today but since she has gone to bed is so restless. Is just talking about everything that happened today. Ima sat up some but Lorine said she didn’t feel like getting up. Edgar had the flu two weeks ago and has got it again. I am so uneasy about him. Mr. Ritter died last Thursday. They sent after Edgar and it was raining. He made several trips to different places in the rain that night and got wet. He was the only one except kinfolks and he had it all to do and it just simply made him sick again.

The children and I think are getting along very well. They have so far if we can just keep them in now for a while. Me and the baby haven’t had it yet. I don’t know of hardly a family around that hasn’t got or already had the flu. And we can’t hardly get a doctor. Mr. Colquitt’s stepdaughter is pretty bad off (they live in our house) and they have tried to get a doctor everyday since Wednesday and have failed so far. Mr. Colquitt has had to do all the sitting up at night alone until Friday night. There are six children in the family. They all had it. Mrs. Colquitt has been up for three or four days. They have a house full of company tonight. I haven’t got to go on account of my children. Maggie Gholston’s have all had it. Syble the oldest (she is seventeen) married New Year’s night. She married a Mr. Pinkard. He’s about 31 or 2 years old. I guess he was the only beau she ever had. He has boarded at Maggie’s for two years or over. I never know much about them. We live in three miles from them. I see them about two or three times a year. I used to go there lots but just decided to quit going as I had to do all the going. She was here about two months ago. I went to her house in August. Pearl and Clarence were here last Sunday. First time she had been here in six months I never go anywhere except to see Edgar’s people and to see my neighbors.

The children got the garters last day December. Were so proud of them. I am going to send you a little piece of tatting. It is as dirty as a pot though (excuse the dirt my hands sweat so when making tatting I get it so dirty). I made this for to trim a bonnet but got a percale with blue figures and lined with the solid blue and trimmed with bias ruffle. Pearl wore a white bonnet Sunday trimmed in white tatting. Was so pretty. She makes tatting so much evener than I can. I am making some blue now. The way I work I can make a yard in about three or four weeks. My time is taken up mostly with caring for babies and other things. This I am sending I made nearly a year ago had more time then. I made enough double to hem the baby undershirt. Used it for insertion and edging for bottom also. I haven’t crocheted in a long time. Never did learn to knit. Did you? Do you hear from Letitia and the rest? I wrote Letitia and Helen since Christmas. Vernie owes me a letter sent a Christmas card. Helen and Letitia sent my girls all a Christmas card. We ate our Christmas dinner alone. Pearl was coming but was to cold for babe. Well, I will close this. I had decided to go to bed tonight but guess I’ll set up a while for Maggie Ruth is so restless. Hope you all haven’t had and don’t take the flu for it is sure bad several around here have died with it.

Mon. 20^{th --}All are up this morning. All went to the table for breakfast. I am feeling rough myself.

Carthage, Texas
January 25, 1919

Read your letter yesterday. Glad to know you are up and getting along alright and know you are proud of your little girl. You must like the name

Frances

too. That’s all the name our baby has. I have thought of adding Eddie for Edgar.

Edgar is in bed again. Had the doctor with him Wednesday night. He has been real sick but I think is getting along alright now. I have been so uneasy about him. I am giving three kinds of medicine every 4 hours but just one kind at a time. Clarence sat up Thursday night. Some boys came last night and stayed until 12:00 but I am alone tonight. There is so much sickness in the county that there isn’t anyone real close to sit up. I have been ironing tonight . I don’t get anything done in daytime but nurse the baby and wait on Edgar. Baby has the flu too. She was pretty sick Thursday night. Is better now coughs quit a bit I haven’t taken it yet. Maybe I won’t. Elva I got a letter from Maggie Ellis yesterday and want to tell you the news. They had the worst snowstorm just before Christmas that was ever known. Snowed Sunday night Monday and Monday night without stopping. Emet Smallwood and wife Eva and Man, Maud and Man, and also Lonnie M. and wife are there at Tulsa. Lonnie married Jewell Mitchell Christmas day.

Carrie Merritt died 20 December. Had the flu. She went to camp with Drew. When she married had the flu. Went home took next day with the back set. Allinett Ellis is dead she was in ______ way. Had the flu. Maggie and Jesse have had it. Ed Melvin’s wife died with flu. Will Ellis married Hilda Shrieck. Fred Smalts married Ethel Montgomery. Syntha Spink (nee Linirlle) is ________. Case Cox married Josie Blackman. She is too. Jim Smalts wife is too. Viola Bloomir (nee Proctor) has another girl.

Did you see Sadie Hagen’s name in the honor roll in Dallas News or do you take it? I noticed it. Maggie said he came back on the first ship that sailed from

France

after war and now is married. Was wounded in leg. Lee Orgain (Bloomer) has a little boy Orgain. Mr. Cox’s sold out for $450.00 dollars. Now lives on Collette’s land. She said she sure would like to see you and children, said seemed as tho you was only a little girl. Seems that way to me too. I sure will be proud if you all can come to see us next summer. No I hadn’t heard about Uncle Tom’s death. Just asked Letitia in my last letter where he lived at now.

Where does old Bill make his home at? Does he look much old? Yes Edgar helped me wash before

Frances

arrived. I was so poorly and when I was in bed he taken the bedclothes and washed them. Done alright too.

Well I am getting sleepy. Will just quit this and iron some more to wake up. I haven’t slept in a gown for 10 nights. When I lie down I keep my clothes on. But don’t get to lie down much. Nath Ritter told us Maggie Lamar spoke of coming tomorrow. Mrs. Jo Law come twice but was afraid to come in.

Thurs. Morn. - All are up this morning. Clarence came to haul cross ties for Edgar. Edgar hasn’t done anything yet is all I can do to keep him from work. He looks so bad yet. I am still going yet. Maybe I won’t take flu.

Hats Off! to Mrs. Frances Frasier for sharing her mother's letters with the Online Panola County Texas Research Center.

Carthage, Texas

Carthage, Texas January 25, 1919

Carthage, Texas
January 25, 1919