From John Foster              ebfjlf@alltel.net

A letter from Mary Adeline Hockenhull to her son who was in Medical School in Atlanta.

The transcription of this letter was found in my Dad's (John L. Foster, Sr.) papers after his death. I have never seen the original but a good guess is that it was in the possession of his neice, Grace Neal Hockenhull (daughter of Almon G. and Grace Foster Hockenhull) and she furnished Dad with the transcription.

Mrs. Hockenhull uses a lot of given names that I would be interested in identifying.

Cumming, Ga.
Oct 23, 1884

My Dear Son,

I received your letter in due time. I was very glad to hear from you and to hear you were well pleased with your boarding house, and that you were getting along so pleasantly in every way, and glad to know that you can from your own experience testify to the love and goodness of God at any time or place. That is worth more than all the world.

We all feel bad today on account of Joe Foster. He has had the fever about thirteen days and has been very bad, and our Pa has been there constantly,and said he believed he was worse than any of the fever patients he has ever seen , and this morning found him sinking and he has been in a dying condition all day today—now one o’clock.

Emma Puett has the fever but is not so bad. Sally Kelley is sick. Dr Riden is tending her. He thinks she is taking the fever, your Pa and Ansel have all the practice that they can do. Dr Burt sent for your Pa last Sunday to go see him, he has the fever and is not expected to live. Your Pa did not go see Dr Burt.

Lawton is uneasy for fear that you will not write him as often as you did when he was in Texas . You must be sure to write him if you have time.

We had a shower of rain yesterday and today is cold and clear and James has commenced hauling his corn home. He hauled Tom’s cotton to the gin. He did not have quite five hundred pounds. Walter picked enough cotton to buy him a knife so now is happy.

Alma says you must send him all the presents because this is his pencil I am writing with.

James says they are selling more drugs than usual. He and Sarah have been trying to post the drug books but there is one little book that they can not find. Your Pa has not collected any money yet for his years work that is but very little.

Sarah is spending the day with Julia. She has not gotten entirely over her cough yet. Julia and Ansel are as well as usual. Mr. Hope’s brother and wife are here now on a visit from Texas. I think your Grandma is looking for Emma and her family soon. I wrote to you last week and Sarah wrote last Friday. I hope you received our letters. Your Pa thinks he will write every day but he is so busily engaged he does not have time and he is not well. He has a bad cold. You must write as often as you can conveniently.

Your Affectionate Mother.

Mary Adeline Hockenhull

My Dear Brother,

Ma wishes me to add that Pa will have the dissecting instruments fixed and will send them to you.
It is now dark. Pa has just got home and says he thinks Joe Foster can not live till morning.

All at present.
Sarah Hockenhull

Notes on the People:

Dr. Ansel Strickland and Julia, his first wife, - Julia Hockenhull daughter of Dr. John. They had 4 children of which only one survived, Charlotte. He married again after her death.

Sarah Adeline Hockenhull born Jan 19, 1866 dau of Mary Adeline.

Dr. Riden would be Hiram P. Riden, family 44 on the 1870 Cumming.

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Forsyth County AHGP