The following was found in a collection of family letters. It was written April 1, 1890 by Blanche's aunt, Nancy Ward Whitmarsh to her nephew Allen H. Ward in Minneapolis, Kansas. Transcribed by Summer Owens
Tuesday April 1st 1890
My dear Nephew,
I have been wanting to write to you for some time but have been so unusually busy that I deferred it until now when your postal of 29th came. It is one month to day since poor dear Blanche left us so suddenly. She was well when she went to bed on the Friday night. Your Father came out to see us on the following Sunday. I met him at the door when he said, "Blanche is dead" What?, I said. He repeated it and I was stunned beyond expression. "How long was she sick" I asked. For I had not heard of any illness. "About five minutes and she died in Kenton's arms" was his reply.
Your Father was up there a few nights before and she said "next Saturday it will be one year since Mom died" and she then spoke of several sudden deaths she knew of. That was the last time your father saw her alive. When your father told me that Sunday I immediately asked him if it was a premature birth for Blanche told me of her condition. He said she died of "Fatty degeneration of the heart." I told him what was her situation, he said he never had heard of it.
As I said she went to bed well on Friday night, a neighbor was visiting and staid till about eleven all chatting pleasantly. She slept until three o'clock when she awoke and told Kenton she could not get her breath. He arose and went with her to the bathroom which is nearby, she started back to bed and she said "How strange. I feel, I never felt this way before, what can be the matter with me." Before reaching the bed with Kenton by her side she fell into his arms, his lifeless wife. He aroused the boys and girl (servant), sent for their doctor but she was past all human aid. Louis wrote to your father "Come up immediately" He rec'd the word (postal I think) about nine o'clock and immediately rode up in the car having no idea what awaited him. The Undertakers wagon stood at the door, while he the undertaker was preparing the body of his daughter for the grave. Poor man, how he stood the shock I don't know. I have felt so deeply for him. He has no one now to see after him but me and I am so far away and cannot leave home often.
The funeral took place on Tuesday afternoon. Services at the house by an Episcopal Minister, also a Baptist Minister made a few remarks but I heard nothing on account of my hardness of hearing. Your father paid close attention and could hear, he said. Mollie was there and she told me that the doctor held a post mortem and that Blanche was going to have a daughter. It was dead and the Dr. took it from her and it was in the coffin covered up. Blanche was so fleshy that the pressure was too much for the heart and it was ruptured. Your father told me again that the doctor said after the post mortem that it was fatty degeneration of heart and that he made no mention of a baby. Mollie said Kenton's folks told her such was the case. (So it sounds like Blanche was indeed with child but her cause of death had nothing to do with her pregnancy)
Blanche laid embowered in flowers of the choicest kind, a great profusion. A magnificent chandelier hung above her with lighted gas partly turned off. Every where the most lavish display of costly furniture, mirrors, pictures and bric-a-brac. Another time I will tell you about her house and how everything is sold and scattered and the boys sent to boarding school near Easton and Kenton boarding at your fathers. Parlor furniture that he left have been returned and what articles I have purchased. Your father had a cold for six weeks but he is better now. He and mother have bought at sheriffs sale the two houses adjoining us for $4700. The owner asked $6500. We are putting them in order for renters and I have been very busy seeing after carpenter, plasterers, painters, plumbers, etc. George expects to go into business with your father. We have had no dinner. I was anxious to write for I know just how you feel. Am sorry you and wife are so poorly. Write some and I will do the same.
My Love, Aunt Nancy
Tuesday April 1st 1890
My dear Nephew,
I have been wanting to write to you for some time but have been so unusually busy that I deferred it until now when your postal of 29th came. It is one month to day since poor dear Blanche left us so suddenly. She was well when she went to bed on the Friday night. Your Father came out to see us on the following Sunday. I met him at the door when he said, "Blanche is dead" What?, I said. He repeated it and I was stunned beyond expression. "How long was she sick" I asked. For I had not heard of any illness. "About five minutes and she died in Kenton's arms" was his reply.
Your Father was up there a few nights before and she said "next Saturday it will be one year since Mom died" and she then spoke of several sudden deaths she knew of. That was the last time your father saw her alive. When your father told me that Sunday I immediately asked him if it was a premature birth for Blanche told me of her condition. He said she died of "Fatty degeneration of the heart." I told him what was her situation, he said he never had heard of it.
As I said she went to bed well on Friday night, a neighbor was visiting and staid till about eleven all chatting pleasantly. She slept until three o'clock when she awoke and told Kenton she could not get her breath. He arose and went with her to the bathroom which is nearby, she started back to bed and she said "How strange. I feel, I never felt this way before, what can be the matter with me." Before reaching the bed with Kenton by her side she fell into his arms, his lifeless wife. He aroused the boys and girl (servant), sent for their doctor but she was past all human aid. Louis wrote to your father "Come up immediately" He rec'd the word (postal I think) about nine o'clock and immediately rode up in the car having no idea what awaited him. The Undertakers wagon stood at the door, while he the undertaker was preparing the body of his daughter for the grave. Poor man, how he stood the shock I don't know. I have felt so deeply for him. He has no one now to see after him but me and I am so far away and cannot leave home often.
The funeral took place on Tuesday afternoon. Services at the house by an Episcopal Minister, also a Baptist Minister made a few remarks but I heard nothing on account of my hardness of hearing. Your father paid close attention and could hear, he said. Mollie was there and she told me that the doctor held a post mortem and that Blanche was going to have a daughter. It was dead and the Dr. took it from her and it was in the coffin covered up. Blanche was so fleshy that the pressure was too much for the heart and it was ruptured. Your father told me again that the doctor said after the post mortem that it was fatty degeneration of heart and that he made no mention of a baby. Mollie said Kenton's folks told her such was the case. (So it sounds like Blanche was indeed with child but her cause of death had nothing to do with her pregnancy)
Blanche laid embowered in flowers of the choicest kind, a great profusion. A magnificent chandelier hung above her with lighted gas partly turned off. Every where the most lavish display of costly furniture, mirrors, pictures and bric-a-brac. Another time I will tell you about her house and how everything is sold and scattered and the boys sent to boarding school near Easton and Kenton boarding at your fathers. Parlor furniture that he left have been returned and what articles I have purchased. Your father had a cold for six weeks but he is better now. He and mother have bought at sheriffs sale the two houses adjoining us for $4700. The owner asked $6500. We are putting them in order for renters and I have been very busy seeing after carpenter, plasterers, painters, plumbers, etc. George expects to go into business with your father. We have had no dinner. I was anxious to write for I know just how you feel. Am sorry you and wife are so poorly. Write some and I will do the same.
My Love, Aunt Nancy
The following was found in a collection of family letters. It was written April 1, 1890 by Blanche's aunt, Nancy Ward Whitmarsh to her nephew Allen H. Ward in Minneapolis, Kansas. Transcribed by Summer Owens
Tuesday April 1st 1890
My dear Nephew,
I have been wanting to write to you for some time but have been so unusually busy that I deferred it until now when your postal of 29th came. It is one month to day since poor dear Blanche left us so suddenly. She was well when she went to bed on the Friday night. Your Father came out to see us on the following Sunday. I met him at the door when he said, "Blanche is dead" What?, I said. He repeated it and I was stunned beyond expression. "How long was she sick" I asked. For I had not heard of any illness. "About five minutes and she died in Kenton's arms" was his reply.
Your Father was up there a few nights before and she said "next Saturday it will be one year since Mom died" and she then spoke of several sudden deaths she knew of. That was the last time your father saw her alive. When your father told me that Sunday I immediately asked him if it was a premature birth for Blanche told me of her condition. He said she died of "Fatty degeneration of the heart." I told him what was her situation, he said he never had heard of it.
As I said she went to bed well on Friday night, a neighbor was visiting and staid till about eleven all chatting pleasantly. She slept until three o'clock when she awoke and told Kenton she could not get her breath. He arose and went with her to the bathroom which is nearby, she started back to bed and she said "How strange. I feel, I never felt this way before, what can be the matter with me." Before reaching the bed with Kenton by her side she fell into his arms, his lifeless wife. He aroused the boys and girl (servant), sent for their doctor but she was past all human aid. Louis wrote to your father "Come up immediately" He rec'd the word (postal I think) about nine o'clock and immediately rode up in the car having no idea what awaited him. The Undertakers wagon stood at the door, while he the undertaker was preparing the body of his daughter for the grave. Poor man, how he stood the shock I don't know. I have felt so deeply for him. He has no one now to see after him but me and I am so far away and cannot leave home often.
The funeral took place on Tuesday afternoon. Services at the house by an Episcopal Minister, also a Baptist Minister made a few remarks but I heard nothing on account of my hardness of hearing. Your father paid close attention and could hear, he said. Mollie was there and she told me that the doctor held a post mortem and that Blanche was going to have a daughter. It was dead and the Dr. took it from her and it was in the coffin covered up. Blanche was so fleshy that the pressure was too much for the heart and it was ruptured. Your father told me again that the doctor said after the post mortem that it was fatty degeneration of heart and that he made no mention of a baby. Mollie said Kenton's folks told her such was the case. (So it sounds like Blanche was indeed with child but her cause of death had nothing to do with her pregnancy)
Blanche laid embowered in flowers of the choicest kind, a great profusion. A magnificent chandelier hung above her with lighted gas partly turned off. Every where the most lavish display of costly furniture, mirrors, pictures and bric-a-brac. Another time I will tell you about her house and how everything is sold and scattered and the boys sent to boarding school near Easton and Kenton boarding at your fathers. Parlor furniture that he left have been returned and what articles I have purchased. Your father had a cold for six weeks but he is better now. He and mother have bought at sheriffs sale the two houses adjoining us for $4700. The owner asked $6500. We are putting them in order for renters and I have been very busy seeing after carpenter, plasterers, painters, plumbers, etc. George expects to go into business with your father. We have had no dinner. I was anxious to write for I know just how you feel. Am sorry you and wife are so poorly. Write some and I will do the same.
My Love, Aunt Nancy
Tuesday April 1st 1890
My dear Nephew,
I have been wanting to write to you for some time but have been so unusually busy that I deferred it until now when your postal of 29th came. It is one month to day since poor dear Blanche left us so suddenly. She was well when she went to bed on the Friday night. Your Father came out to see us on the following Sunday. I met him at the door when he said, "Blanche is dead" What?, I said. He repeated it and I was stunned beyond expression. "How long was she sick" I asked. For I had not heard of any illness. "About five minutes and she died in Kenton's arms" was his reply.
Your Father was up there a few nights before and she said "next Saturday it will be one year since Mom died" and she then spoke of several sudden deaths she knew of. That was the last time your father saw her alive. When your father told me that Sunday I immediately asked him if it was a premature birth for Blanche told me of her condition. He said she died of "Fatty degeneration of the heart." I told him what was her situation, he said he never had heard of it.
As I said she went to bed well on Friday night, a neighbor was visiting and staid till about eleven all chatting pleasantly. She slept until three o'clock when she awoke and told Kenton she could not get her breath. He arose and went with her to the bathroom which is nearby, she started back to bed and she said "How strange. I feel, I never felt this way before, what can be the matter with me." Before reaching the bed with Kenton by her side she fell into his arms, his lifeless wife. He aroused the boys and girl (servant), sent for their doctor but she was past all human aid. Louis wrote to your father "Come up immediately" He rec'd the word (postal I think) about nine o'clock and immediately rode up in the car having no idea what awaited him. The Undertakers wagon stood at the door, while he the undertaker was preparing the body of his daughter for the grave. Poor man, how he stood the shock I don't know. I have felt so deeply for him. He has no one now to see after him but me and I am so far away and cannot leave home often.
The funeral took place on Tuesday afternoon. Services at the house by an Episcopal Minister, also a Baptist Minister made a few remarks but I heard nothing on account of my hardness of hearing. Your father paid close attention and could hear, he said. Mollie was there and she told me that the doctor held a post mortem and that Blanche was going to have a daughter. It was dead and the Dr. took it from her and it was in the coffin covered up. Blanche was so fleshy that the pressure was too much for the heart and it was ruptured. Your father told me again that the doctor said after the post mortem that it was fatty degeneration of heart and that he made no mention of a baby. Mollie said Kenton's folks told her such was the case. (So it sounds like Blanche was indeed with child but her cause of death had nothing to do with her pregnancy)
Blanche laid embowered in flowers of the choicest kind, a great profusion. A magnificent chandelier hung above her with lighted gas partly turned off. Every where the most lavish display of costly furniture, mirrors, pictures and bric-a-brac. Another time I will tell you about her house and how everything is sold and scattered and the boys sent to boarding school near Easton and Kenton boarding at your fathers. Parlor furniture that he left have been returned and what articles I have purchased. Your father had a cold for six weeks but he is better now. He and mother have bought at sheriffs sale the two houses adjoining us for $4700. The owner asked $6500. We are putting them in order for renters and I have been very busy seeing after carpenter, plasterers, painters, plumbers, etc. George expects to go into business with your father. We have had no dinner. I was anxious to write for I know just how you feel. Am sorry you and wife are so poorly. Write some and I will do the same.
My Love, Aunt Nancy
Family Members
Spouse
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
