The Steele Creek Historical and Genealogical Society
Of the Old Steele Creek Township
Mecklenburg County, North Carolina

Families of Steele Creek:
Porter

CONTENTS

|  J. J. Prather Letter of 1861  |

LETTER FROM J.J. PRATHER, FROM PAPERS OF CAPT. R.A. PORTER, SUBMITTED BY CARRIE SUE GRIER - copied as written.

                                                                                                Fayetteville, N.C. Dec 27th 1861
My Dear Friends:
With a sad heart do I pen these lines. Our Mary is no more. She breathed her last breath, quarter to 8 o'clock last night. Hers was the most severe attact of that fatal disease, the Brain fever. - which baffals the skill of the best physicians and kindest friends. From the time, (3 o'clock Tuesday evening, the 24th) the fever struck her brain I gave up all hope of her recovering - it was so severe. From that time she was insensible to her suffering - never spoke another intelligent word I believe. She had all the attention and care that we, a skillfull physician and kind friends could possibly bestow upon her - of this you may be assured. If our affections were strongly centered upon any one of the children more than another it was on Madie, but it appears the lovilier the flower the sooner it decays. She was a lovely sweet girl-kind and affectionate -
    Early, bright, bright, transient
    Chaste as morning dew,
    She sparkled, was exhaled,
    And went to Heaven.
Yes thank God for this great consolation. She died perfectly easy, without even a struggle, and while I write these lines her sweet spirit is basking in the bright sunlight of Heaven. We have another link to draw us nearer our God. May God help us live so as to be permitted to meet her. May God give you all grace for this your day of trouble. I have written more than I thought I could when I commenced. I can't move at this time. I will write all particulars in a few days.
It will be impossible to keep her longer than tomorrow- as mortification will take place. May God's blessings rest on you all. The rest of us are well. Fanny and Jennie have had the Measles, but they are well now. Yours truly,
                                                                                                                                            J. J. Prather

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