BURRESS Thomas Edward "Tommie"

Notes:

Tommie Lies Dying:
OEBR Journal
May 1890
On Monday the 26th Willis arranges for Olivia to ride to Eddie and Lena's house with Tommie's maternal grandparents, the Schultzes. She had intended to go there anyway and stay over, then travel to Richmond for the unveiling of the Lee Monument on the 29th and to visit friends and family. Olivia travels to her brother's in the Schultz's wagon, leaving Bernard and "little Josie," who were both sick, in the care of her mother, Paulina. They arrive in Dawson, a two hour wagon ride, at about 11 a.m. to find
Tommie ill, with the flux in a very malignant form - he just lay there all day in an insensible condition - only at times they could get him to rouse & take anything. Mrs. Snelson & three children & John Jones' daughter Lizzie were there the rest of the day . . . Mr. & Mrs. S. left at noon --- We sat up right late, but none of the neighbors staid.
Tues: 27th Tommie seemed more languid this forenoon & we wrote a card to the Dr. at noon, but he grew worse so rapidly this afternoon that Eddie sent the second time for him - he did not get there til 8 P.M. Several persons came today . . . .
Wed: 28th . . . There was perfect rush & confusion at the Depot* all day, keeping Eddie away. . . . Dr. left at daybreak & back this evening.
Thurs: 29th . . . Tommie was ill all night and from about 2 o'clock til day we thought he could not possibly live . . . . About sunrise Dr. Young came for Eddie to go to the Depot, & told us he was not dying . . .& about 6 he revived & seemed to be much better . . . . I gave up my trip as it would have been no pleasure to go & leave Eddie & Lena in such distress . . . . Eddie went after Mrs. Tribble but she could not come. . . .
Fri: 30th Tommie got on very well today, but he is a very sick child. Mr. & Mrs. Schultz left after breakfast. Dr. got here about 10.
Sat: 31st Tommie decidedly worse all day. . . . Willis came this evening a short while & we sent for the Dr. by him, but he did not get here tonight.
June 1890
Sun: 1st A beautiful day. . . . Mr. Leathers got here last night at 11 and sat up most of the night. Mrs. Woody left very early & Alma after breakfast . . . . Willis came over this morning again & said Ma was quite sick yesterday & but very little better this morning so I concluded at once to come home, much as I hate to leave the bedside of the dear little sufferer. He said the Dr. was sick last night, the reason he didn't come, so I began to write at once for further instructions . . . when the Dr. came in . . . . He soon administered something which revived poor little Tommie, and then he seemed better than he had since I first went there.
Mr. Schultz, Willie, Melie, and Sallie Peyton got there during the afternoon. Melie & Sallie came to stay a few days & I left in Mr. Schultz's wagon. He brought Mary & Henry [Lena and Eddie's other children] with him. I walked home from Mr. Schultz's house. . . . Mon: 2nd . . . Received a note from Lena & Sallie this evening - they think Tommie is getting worse.
Tues: 3rd . . . [Paulina is working on the fence surrounding her corn.] I . . . had just persuaded Ma to quit working in the heavy rails & rest when Eddie drove up after her, so suddenly that she was not prepared to go, as she had not sent Wilton** anywhere &etc, so I went in her place, to try to come back right away. Dr. had been to see Tommie & he had revived when I got there, but very weak. Had headache so bad I couldn't come home in Dillards' wagon.
Wed: 4th Tommie did not seem so well this morning early & we gave him a powder left by the Dr. and he was under the influence of it when I left for the Depot [to try to get a ride home.]
Olivia devotes almost three full pages of this 7.5" x 12" Journal to the period June 4-June 6. These are transcribed in their entirety on her page.
* Eddie is, I think, the stationmaster. The Depot would have been extremely busy with many people traveling to Richmond, as Olivia had planned to do, to witness the unveiling of the monument to Robert E. Lee on the 29th.
**Wilton is Mag's young son, who has been staying with Paulina (and presumably James Taylor, though Olivia doesn't mention him at all between 25 May when Tommie falls ill and 7 Jun when he is buried) and is apparently a handful.

"Tommie is dead!":

OER Journal
June 1890
Fri: 6th . . . And when we got to Partlow's what startling words thrilled my whole being! "Tommie is dead." Oh! how my heart bled afresh in sympathy for my dear brother, & I could not be with them in their sudden distress. What untold anguish I have been through the last 8 days, just for being there Tuesday. I went by & told Ma, & got the children, Lucy kept on home before a hard rain, but twas clear by night. . .
Sat: 7th A beautiful day. Willis and Walter started early to Mr. Pulliam's after the things & Powell. I was at Ma's awhile this morning. She was about to start to Mr. Schultz's when Eddie came by & told her that Tommie would be buried at 5 P.M. at Mr. Caffrey's. Willie S. came by here & told me Mr. Geiger would be buried at the same hour. He died some time during the night. W. and the boys got here to dinner, & he went to take the Dr.'s oxen home. Walter, Powell, Rena & Essie went with me to the burial, & W. came on there from Dr.'s. Rena, Essie & I rode in Mr. Schultz's wagon. Great many persons were there - two processions at the same time & place is an unusual sight in the country. Dear little Tommie! no more tossing from side to side on a bed of suffering, all that was now over & his little hands folded across his breast in a wreath of beautiful flowers, forever at rest! How sweetly natural he looked: What a sad sight it was for the children, especially for Mary and Henry, to see their little brother and playmate lowered in the grave! Mr. Bennett, the Methodist preacher, read the burial service & Mr. Maddox sang: " 'Tis religion that can give" &etc. The grave was covered with pretty flowers in various designs. Eddie & family went on with Mr. Schultz's folks.*
*See Olivia E. Burruss stories for her description of what awaited her when she and Willis got home from the burial.

(Medical):25 May 1890
Olivia and her daughters visit her mother where they meet her brother Eddie. He has stopped there on his way to get Dr. Davis to visit Tommie, who has fallen seriously ill. Eddie asks for some of the family to come as well.