Cause of Death: Diphtheria; Attending Doctor: Dr. A.T. Benton, M.D.;

In 1886, Jimmy's mother, Caroline came down sick with diphtheria. On Mar. 2, 1886, when she was recovering, she wrote to her sister to tell her story. The letter was about 7 pages long. and her two of her little girls and Jimmy had died. Here are a few excerpts about Jimmy:

"I knew we would have to part with our little boy. They all said he has a cold, he could not speak loud, but I knew better......As soon as it was light enough I looked and I could see membrane way down in his wind pipe..... When the doctor came he said, "About like that whistling cough, but he may live if it doesn't form too fast." .... He was not very sick. He could eat apples, and sat on the bed and play with the children. Every once in a while he would cough and choke, and then a big piece would come, so he could breathe real easy.....It was after Effie died that he got hoarse. He kept having them choking spells. About one o'clock he began to breath hard again, and would try to cough, but could not.....He said, "If I could get a good cough, I would get better.".....Joe said "Caroline, Jimmy is getting worse.".....Jimmy told Joe to get an apple and tie a string on the stem. He would whirl it and look at Joey and laugh. Then he wanted Joe to hold him to the window so he could look out. He kept breathing harder until noon....Jimmy was asleep, but he had changed color, and his nails were blue……..George ask if he knew who he was. He laughed and moved his head, but could speak no more.....Then he slept. He breathed shorter and farther apart 'til 25 minutes past 1pm, then he died without a struggle or a frown……...Mrs. Roark and Mrs. Deremo dressed him in his little suit……..Forsyth said, "What pretty little boy. He is the prettiest corpse I ever looked at……..The next morning, the 18th, they laid our dear little Jimmy by the side of his sisters and grandpa, and we must do without them."

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