Bill, Thank you for your insight! The story is that she either delivered a baby or had a baby only a few months old - both mother and baby became ill - went to the doctor and in her weakened state, Emily gave the baby the wrong medicine. She is said to have grieved herself to death after the baby died. Alice said she thought the baby may even be buried with her. Did your grandmother leave any records or a diary of any kind. I also seek information on Sarah Cook, Emily's mother. She is listed on the 1880 census in Smith county with James Mack and Emily. Her other sons James, Hollis, William Washington and George B. lived in the Hamilton and Erath county and since Emily died in Erath ... could Sarah be somewhere near. If anyone has any info ... Please!!! Thanks for your help. Debby McDanel debbykay@hotmail.com Alexander, Cook, Head, Hightower, Pettit(any sp), Trainer(any sp) ----- Original Message ----- From: <Texasdog@aol.com> To: <TXERATH-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 1999 4:30 AM Subject: Re: [ERATH] Funeral records or funeral homes > In 1882, nearly all persons who died were buried by their families. It > would have been unusual that the deceased were not buried within the > next day after death. Friends (neighbors) would sit with the body until > the services. In Dublin and Stephenville and other communities, there would > be persons who acted as undertakers for occasional strangers. The > undertaker would usually be a local resident who was generally a farmer > and would have likely learned about dealing with the dead from dealing > with it during the Civil War. The undertaker might be the Justice of the > Peace. Death records were not kept until 1903 in the state of Texas > although some cities might have had local ordinances before then. I would > think that with Emily Cook Pettiet as buried at Turnbow.....that the > only remaining record of any kind whatsoever would be a family Bible > record if one only knew where that might be. In 1882 one of the "doctors" > there in Erath County was my grandmother whose training and > background was from experiences gained during the War in treating the > sick and wounded; from dealing with family who had Bright's disease > (diabetes); and who had a large physicians handbook that she had obtained > during Civil War times. Most of the time, her doctoring was in > delivering babies. Nearly all cemeteries in the county were family cemeteries > at that time with a few exceptions. > > Bill McCarty Odessa, Texas > > http://members.tripod.com/cindyradway/Erath/erath.html > http://members.aol.com/texastag/mccarty.html > > > ==== TXERATH Mailing List ==== > --- Author Retains Copyright --- > -- Copyright 1999 Author -- All Rights Reserved > Post to List: TXERATH-L@rootsweb.com http://www.selfroots.com > Unsubscribe request To: TXERATH-L-request@rootsweb.com > >