My grandmother's sister, Hazel Lucille Edwards, was born on 23 July 1916. She and my grandma shared a birthday, four years apart, so there was likely a special bond between the two. The family lived in the country as my great-grandfather, George Elmus Edwards, was a farmer. He and Olive Isabel Pogue were married on 31 March 1910 in Williamson County, Illinois, and the children started coming almost immediately.
Hazel Lucille Edwards
George Everett Edwards, their only son, was born on 1 October 1910. My grandmother was born on 23 July 1912. Hazel came next in 1916, and Ruby Laura was born on 27 April 1920.
In November 1921, Laura, as she was known, was about 17 months old; likely still a handful for her mother. The 12th of November was a Saturday, and those were still the days when baths were mostly taken once a week, on Saturdays, to be ready for church the next day.
Hazel got her bath and put on her nightgown. She stood in front of the fireplace or the stove to dry her hair. To everyone's horror, her clothing caught fire. It's unclear who was there other than my grandmother. But the fire wasn't put out in time, and Hazel died that very day.
My grandmother never talked much about this - she didn't hide it, but she never elaborated on the incident. I recall her mentioning that Hazel didn't die right away. The family would have been some distance from a hospital. The nearest was in Herrin, some 25 miles away.
An inquest was held, and it was ruled an accidental death due to a missing grate.
Death Certificate Hazel Edwards
Hazel Lucille Edwards was buried the next day at County Line Cemetery. She was just five years old. Her headstone has the lamb on top that typically signifies the death of a child.
Find a Grave #10871795, photo by DebRob
This week's #25Ancestors Prompt was Fire.
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