Well, on March 21, 1894 Edna Mary came into the world. She was perfect, just like Retta. It seemed that as soon as Edna was able to walk, she was with me. We did everything together. Retta, Alice, and Mable liked to be with their mother, but Edna wanted to be with her daddy. Yes, sir, she was her Daddy's girl. Now don't you (let the idea that I did not love my other girls, I did, but Edna was different in ways that are hard to explain. She loved the outdoors and so she went everywhere with me.

I guess the hardest time I ever had was when Edna came to Mary and I and said she had a bad pain in her side. We told her to go lay down, but she said it did not seem to help. We told her to get ready because I was going to take her to the doctor. She looked at me and said, "Daddy, I want to go to the big dance at the church. Everyone will be there. I will be okay until tomorrow. We can go to the doctor then."

I told her, "No, I feel I should take you now."

She begged and begged. I stood my ground for a long time, but then I gave in. She put her arms around me and held me tight. She kissed me and said, "Daddy, I am so happy."

I will never forget how happy she looked. I asked her to be careful and if she started to feel bad to come straight home. She smiled and said, "Daddy, I will be careful and I will come home if I get feeling bad, but I will be fine."

I looked at her and she said, "Daddy, I'll be fine, you'll see, I'll be fine."

She got all tied into her corset and put on her best dress. She danced around to show she was fine. Then she gave her mother a kiss and then she walked over to me with a smile that will always be with me. She kissed me and said, "I love you, Mama and Daddy.

Out the door she went as happy as a lark. I was told that she danced very dance, that was, until she fainted. They brought her home and I got ready to take her to the doctor in Ogden. They had loosened her corset, but that did not help the pain. We hurried and did as much as we could, but it was not enough. My Edna died on October 10, 1911. I kept saying I shouldn't have let her go to that dance; I shouldn't have let her go. It was my fault she died, it was my fault. God forgive me, it was my fault. I asked time and time again, dear God let her live, please God, let her live. Take me, oh take me, but let her live. It was not to be. My Edna was gone. That was hard on Mary and me, but we had to go on for the rest of our family. But, it was hard, my it was hard. You know I still talk to her and tell her how much I love her. I miss her so.

Comments: ae. 17 yrs., 6 mos., 20 days
Relatives:
Mary Elvina Johnson (Mother)
Rasmus Anderson (Father)
Alice (18 11 1895) (Sibling)
Mable (12 1897) (Sibling)
Retta (26 11 1892) (Sibling)