October 2025
Addie Story
I've been going through my dad's unpublished autobiography "A Country Doctor In Washington." Early in the book he wrote:
Ancestry.com has this information:
Note the discrepancies in her birth dates: 1891 and 1892. Note also that dad thought she died of flu or other respiratory infection, while her obituary said it was gastritis. Note also that granddad wasn't with her when she died. He didn't register for military service until 1917, so he was likely away at school.
It was only in May 1995 thru an exchange of letters with first cousin Reba Wanda Carpenter (Benedetto) who was raised with half sisters Alma and Alta in Batesville, and with whom Grandmother Felts lived out her declining years that I was informed that Dad had been "secretly" married while in medical school to Addie Story (Sept. 1912, his age 23). Reportedly, Addie died (from influenza or other form of respiratory infection only four months later (Jan. 1913), during an epidemic. According to Reba, grandmother Felts had discouraged the marriage "until dad finished medical school” but they didn't wait. Neither parent ever mentioned her to me, so I am uncertain of the extent of awareness of the brief union, including my mother.
Ancestry.com has this information:
| Name | Addie Felts |
| Maiden Name | Story |
| Gender | Female |
| Birth Date | 5 Feb 1891 |
| Birth Place | Arkansas |
| Death Date | 16 Jan 1913 |
| Death Place | Cave City, Sharp County, Arkansas |
| Cemetery | Cave City Cemetery |
| Burial Place | Cave City, Sharp County, Arkansas |
| Father | John Gardner Story |
| Mother | Sophronia Ann Story |
| Spouse | Wylie Robert Felts |
| URL | https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/75081438/addie-felts |
| Name | Addie Story |
| Gender | Female |
| Marriage Age | 20 |
| Event Type | Marriage |
| Birth Date | 1892 |
| Marriage License Date | 7 Sep 1912 |
| Marriage Date | 13 Sep 1912 |
| Marriage Place | Sharp County, Arkansas |
| Residence Date | 1912 |
| Residence Place | Cave City, Sharp County, Arkansas |
| Spouse | W R Felts |
| FHL Film Number | 1290004 |
Note the discrepancies in her birth dates: 1891 and 1892. Note also that dad thought she died of flu or other respiratory infection, while her obituary said it was gastritis. Note also that granddad wasn't with her when she died. He didn't register for military service until 1917, so he was likely away at school.
Comments
Black Friday in Judsonia
10/23/25 12:43 AM Filed in: Judsonia
An excerpt from my father's unpublished autobiography, "A Country Doctor In Washington".
21. Fri. March 21, 1952 - BLACK FRIDAY
A beautiful day in Washington with temp at 83. Following ID clinic Westfall, Teedie and I to Rock Creek and played 6 holes of golf. Picked Romona up at 1730 at Mr. N's request to take her home as Mr. N. was committed to picking Janis up. Almost hot here tonight.
I was awakened from sound sleep around 0200 by my bedside phone. Was so sleepy that I had difficulty in understanding/ grasping/ focusing upon the content of the call. It was a male volunteer Red cross worker calling from the Hawkins Clinic Hospital in Searcy. The message was "Your Dad wants you to know they're all right and in the hospital here. There's been a terrible tornado in Judsonia with many injured and killed. We still lack many details. They got your parents out. Both have some injuries, not expected to be serious, your dad said to tell you. He was anxious that you be informed they're all right. He told me to ask how soon you'll be home?"
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21. Fri. March 21, 1952 - BLACK FRIDAY
A beautiful day in Washington with temp at 83. Following ID clinic Westfall, Teedie and I to Rock Creek and played 6 holes of golf. Picked Romona up at 1730 at Mr. N's request to take her home as Mr. N. was committed to picking Janis up. Almost hot here tonight.
I was awakened from sound sleep around 0200 by my bedside phone. Was so sleepy that I had difficulty in understanding/ grasping/ focusing upon the content of the call. It was a male volunteer Red cross worker calling from the Hawkins Clinic Hospital in Searcy. The message was "Your Dad wants you to know they're all right and in the hospital here. There's been a terrible tornado in Judsonia with many injured and killed. We still lack many details. They got your parents out. Both have some injuries, not expected to be serious, your dad said to tell you. He was anxious that you be informed they're all right. He told me to ask how soon you'll be home?"
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Isaac William
10/03/25 05:41 PM Filed in: Family
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