1901 Letter to Miss A. E. Pearson (Annie Elizabeth)from M.M. Erwin

Contributed by Kathleen Haynes      Contact Myrtle Bridges     July 15, 2011


President William McKinley was shot on 6 Sept 1901 and, although appeared to be improving, took a turn for the worse 
and died on 14 Sept 1901.  Using the content in this letter, the information dates it as September 12th 1901.)

The following line is written sideways over top the first few lines.
Sister joins me in much love.  God be with you continually is the prayer of your friend
* M. M. Erwin
**Cottage Home Sept 12th 
***My dear dear Friend
Mrs Evans told me you were not well.  We are real sorry to hear it & hope you are feeling better:  You dont know how we 
miss you at Church, cant get use to your not being in your seat.  Wish you could have heard Mr Jacob's sermon Sunday 
week ago, Text I Kings 20 Chapter 40th verse. (Pg-2) "And as thy servant was busy here and there, He was gone". The 
subject was opportunities, First our own opportunity to improve everything for our personal advancement & then go out 
of self to all. Op-portunities for loving good. to every one within our reach The every thing that we could be & hadn't 
improve The last clause he brought in so solmnly.  "He was gone"  The time has passed near to becum.  I just wanted you 
to know of our meat we are feasting on & give you a taste. 

(Pg-3) What does this mean Our President being assassinated? Great enemy in the camp of our fine liberty.  Thanks to our God 
Mr McKinley is convalecing. To whom would we go in such dark hours, But our dear Lord & Master.  All the ministers met in our 
Church Monday to pray for Mr McKinleys recovery if it is God's will. It was such a joyous meeting because we all were to gather 
at the mercy seat.  I shoke hands with ****your Brother Will, he rejoiced (Pg-4)-too in the Union.  We had such a delightful 
month just 10 days at Montreat with our niece's The Rankins. The place is "beautiful for situation" Every body praying 
for renewed conservation.  Wish I could see you to tell you of this trip whilst we are on it.  Dr Plunket of Augusta Ga was 
preaching in the First Church.  As splendid Preacher quite an orator made the old time religeon first & only was of salvation.  
Calvary was the theme one Sunday.  You know how one of our able preachers handled it. 

(Pg-5) I hear ****Mrs Ray is in town, will go to see her.  You know I'm so well not an ache or pain & strong enough to walk 
every where. Now I feel such sympathy for you & wish so much I could do something for you! I thought to write & let you know we 
were praying for you & loved you.  Yes I love to give a cup of cold water to my dear Brethren in Christ my Lord.  I do so little 
for Him when He's done so much for me; "For me to live is Christ is Christ, to die is gain." 

(Pg-6) Let us have this for our other true Battle still here, Louise Gibbon gone home, I wish I had the C(harlotte)Observer 
which had Dr Gibbon's letter, He's just returned from his brother's wedding in Francisco.  He's writing of yellowstone park 
etc. I guess you hear the news of town in the Herald.  Laura Avery has been right unwell, is better. Mrs A came round & spent 
several days with us & improved. We wished for you at this meeting no one writes our minutes & calls our names as you did. Did 
you hear Mrs McCormick is coming home in November! (Pg-7) "There is a Peace that cometh after sorrow.  There is a peace that 
cometh after sorrow. Of hope suspended not of hope fulfilled, A peace that loveth not upon tomorrow, But calmly on a tempest 
that is stilled.  A peace which lives not now in joys excepted, now in the happy life of love secure; But in the unerring strength 
the heart posses. Of conflicts soon while learning to endure.  A peace there is in sacrifice secluded; A life subdued from will & 
passion free; Tis not the peace which even Eden brooded, But that which troubled in Gethsemane."

*This letter was most likely from: Miss Matilda M. Erwin, 75, single, who in 1900 lived with her sister Mary A. Erwin, 73, single, 
in Morganton (dwelling #220). Duncan C. Pearson and his wife Claudia H. Pearson lived in dwelling #229.  Matilda M. Erwin (b. 1825) 
was the next-door neighbor of Duncan Cameron Pearson and his wife Claudia In Morganton, NC in 1910

** Cottage Home was the plantation owned by Dr. Robert Hall Morrison & Mary Graham Morrison in Lincoln County, NC

***This letter was written to: Annie Elizabeth Pearson sister of ****William Pearson & **** Mrs. Ray [Laura Pearson Ray] 
Annie's other brother was Duncan C.  Pearson. (researched by Kathleen)

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