Aaron Lewis was one of Birda's older brothers.
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| Photo from the personal albums of Bryce Merkley Photo cropped from original image |
According to these documents the following dates apply:
BIRTH: 17 Jan 1891- Midway, Wasatch, Utah*
DEATH: 16 Nov 1903- Vernal, Uintah, Utah
He was 11 years old when he died of diphtheria.
Newspaper notice:
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| SOURCE: Vernal Express 1903, Nov 21, p.3 |
Aaron, the eleven year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Siney Lewis of Lines ward, died Monday evening after a brief illness of what was pronounced diphtheria by the attending physician. The funeral occurred Tuesday.
Death certificate:
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| SOURCE: familysearch.org |
The following is an excerpt from the memoir, "Memories of My Father, Siney Lewis Sr." written in June 1958 by his daughter, Mary Hatch, regarding the passing of Aaron:
"In 1904, another dear little brother, Aaron, our baby boy, passed away with that dreaded disease diphtheria. This was the first time in my life I ever saw my father cry. His faith was almost shaken. He tragically missed that little shadow behind him, and his constant happy chatter. From then on Papa would fall and be unconscious at times. None of the doctors in those days seemed to know the cause. It was a very frightening thing to the whole family..."
The following is an excerpt from the memoir, "The Life of My Mother- Elizabeth Coleman Lewis" written by her daughter, Mary Hatch (date unknown) also regarding Aaron's passing:
"... Aaron, died of that dreaded disease diphtheria. Everyone was afraid to come near the house, and as was the custom, the burial was held at night. The little fellow was taken out on the lawn away from the house. A man placed him in a casket as if the disease were a crime or that the darkness prevented the spread of the germs. The family hovered together at a little back window and watched the light that slowly led the way to the cemetery. I wondered at that time if Mother could ever be happy again as I saw her burning his little clothes. I remember the unselfish courage with which we faced life again..."
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| Photo from the personal albums of David Ahrnsbrak Photo cropped from original image |