Wednesday, April 1, 1959
Also his mother, Martha Nichols, she lived in your grandfather Nichols’ home most of the time until her death when she was quite old as I told you once before she smoked a clay pipe. She wore the clothes that made your grandfather Nichols first suit, could not tell it was hand made. She made all kinds of clothes real well, the Big Bible they had and would have known the dates of birth and other things burned in the house we have a picture of. William Harris Nichols died 1906 was 58 years old, so that means he was born in 1848. [b. 5 Dec 1847 d. 27 Feb 1906] Margaret Brown Nichols was born 1850 and died August 7, 1942 [died 8 Aug 1942; buried 9 Aug 1942 in Florence, AL in Florence Cemetery] age 92 years. She was buried at Florence AL and William Harris Nichols buried at Union Grove Methodist Church, North of Kenton, Tenn. so was his mother, Martha Nichols, your dad describes her as a small person. She must have had plenty of energy and go, for the things told of her I knew the following uncles
Thursday, April 2, 1959
of your dad, Uncle Jim, his wife was Aunt Margaret. They had a large family one daughter was the mother of the five outstanding Baptist ministers. The 5 Boston brothers and they had the little Doctor in front of their names – all good ministers pastors of good churches; only ones of his large family that survive, is Nell who is married and lives at Fulton, KY, E. C. Nichols who is quite old and still lives in Union City; the other uncles Joe, John and Tom Nichols one aunt who married a Wilkerson near Troy, Tenn. I feel sure she passed away years ago. (I leave space here to give your grandmother Nichols parents names — Really only knew for sure of her brother Ross Brown married Mary Wilson of Troy, Tenn. Uncle Ross was a grand person in every way and so was Uncle Ross, they had six nice daughters.
Friday, April 3, 1959
Well, Nancy, this is a scrambled affair. I couldn’t have hardly done it otherwise. I can write, but because of my eyes its difficult to sit and read. So as I have thought – so have I written, I had to remember, but soon now, I plan to start where your dad and I married and then try to give it as a story – wish me luck. I’ll write a few more incidents and things I feel important and then choose a day. I think, I’ll start it on my mother and father’s wedding anniversary.
Today, all over our United States, we find people anxious, thinking and most of all, so uncertain. Makes each of us wonder just why and for what —
We can find one sure solution to all of it and that is be right with God, and He must be first, in our lives, before our family or anything else, for we must realize and know we are nothing without God.
As I look back now to my girl hood and especially after I went
Saturday, April 4, 1959
in training to be a nurse, I recall one vivid instance, when one morning as I reached the 4th floor and stepped off the elevator, I heard a young, but tired out looking young woman who had as her companions two of the flashy women of red light district of Memphis. You won’t get me next time, I’ll sure finish it for sure, inquired of the other nurses, just what was she talking about, they said, she tried suicide and they found her and brought her to emergency room and she had been found in time that the poison had not gone out of stomach and she had neither had time to absorb it enough to really hurt her. Anyway, I recall with great sadness to me for I wasn’t use to this…
Sunday, April 5, 1959
She kept her word, she took Bichloride of Mercury tablets and this time, she wasn’t found in time and after a few days, her kidneys had been eaten up and she was now reaching her last moments. She was in a small private room and I was assigned to stay with her. She had left her husband and two small children in Arkansas and come to Memphis with another man – and he in turn deserted her. As Dr. Henry Rudner said of it, she didn’t do it because the other man deserted her, but because of shame and humility and loss of her family. She must have been 23 to 25 yrs of age, found out she was Catholic Faith and her Rosary was around her neck. I didn’t know the meaning of the beads, but I knew she was trying to pray, so I would help her touch the beads and after the prayer or prayers, she lapsed into semi-consciousness and there was a knock on the door. It was a letter by special delivery
Monday, April 6, 1959
from her husband in Arkansas. He told her, “I’ll forgive you everything, won’t you come back, our two little children call for Mamma, and the big house is so empty and lonely without you”. I felt that God truly answered her prayers and she was forgiven. Prayer if sincere and true are always heard. Maybe not just as we ask, but God hears and answers in the way, He knows best for us. I’ll never forget that experience.
Another experience I’d never forget, I had only been in training a short time, everything was new to me and sick people I just can’t tell you how I feel about helplessness and people who are humble. I know in my heart, they are the ones Jesus will seek out and help. It won’t be the snob, when I speak of snob, I mean some who possess in their mind because
Tuesday, April 7, 1959
of having material things, they feel they are better, they know it all and are too good to speak to others except a few. These to me are the big little people and when the end comes for them, God, will not even know them — am glad I feel this way.
Now, going back to this very sick man, so thin, so sad, so helpless, knowing he would soon go — I tried to be good and kind to him and make him feel, there are those who do care, so I must have made him feel it enough, till he told me one day, when I asked if there was anything I could help him with. He said, “yes”, I have a wife a number of children they are poor, we don’t have material things, and I have a brother who has plenty, if only he will help my wife and children see to it, they don’t go hungry. Well, I sat down in a chair
Wednesday, April 8, 1959
and wrote what he told me to his brother, he didn’t ask for any help, for himself only his family. I added a post script, He won’t be here much longer and as his brother, please help him by coming, writing and letting him know you care — No answer ever came, and of course he was buried in Potter’s Field. Some how, some way, I have always felt so sad about that, I know Jesus was with him, for Jesus paid it all on the cross, and He was alone. But often, I thought of his family. He loved them and was sick and helpless, how sad I know he was…
I think again of the snob. I feel Him recall many right here in our little country town, on Christmas I remember when a family was in need and so happened one of the snobs of our town talked to me and she said, “O’sell, they are just poor trash”
Friday, April 10, 1959
(cont. from page 98) Well, I had the feeling what manner of a person could say a crude, cruel and cussed thing like that, but a snob would like her. If she had come face to face with Jesus, have told Him that, but there are many of so called Christians just like her. The material things of life are first and just as a clock, be a pretender, and try to cover up by dressing real fancy like it being at church, maybe speak to a few and think I have been to church, but what a feeling they give most people who chanced met them, the cool, cold, icy nothing from their hearts.
Thursday, April 9, 1959
Ott Trobaugh, a friend, neighbor for more than 20 years, died suddenly of a heart attack today. Saw him over the field about 1 hour before seeing about the ones working his crop. Have seen him many times over there. He and “Miss Pearl” our family have loved all the years. They have been especially good to our girls Miss Pearl played their accompaniment on piano to sing. Mr. Ott and Miss Pearl often told Margaret how they wished she was their daughter. Never saw or met him any place but that he was wearing a smile and his friendship was genuine. He surely will be missed by his many friends he has made just like our family. Our heart aches for her, he was so good and kind to her always. They lost their only child, Ott Jr. in Europe during World War II.
So it is God comes in this world with us and then we will leave and He will go out with us if we just want Him to.
