My grandmother lost 3 children in Roanoke Co - 1901, 1903, 1905.  Each died
at about 15-18 months.

I saw the following a few years back:

Infants who died in this era often succumbed to diphtheria.  Near to the
Heart of God was written by Presbyterian pastor Cleland McAfee in 1902 upon
learning that two of his nieces had died of diphtheria.  On the day of
their double funeral, McAfee sang the hymn outside the quarantined house of
his brother Howard.  The First Presbyterian Church Choir of Chicago, where
McAfee was pastor, sang the hymn the following Sunday as a communion
anthem.  McAfee later became moderator of the General Assembly of the
Presbyterian Church USA.  McAfee's granddaughter is Jane Parker Hubert, a
popular contemporary Presbyterian hymn text writer.
Poignant, isn't it .

Judith Bailey Gabor

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