Mary Josephine “Minnie” McDonald

Minnie raises turkeys, boards the local school teacher, and is an attentive mother to her six children, one of whom has brain damage from a bout of red measles. Spanish Flu is sweeping the area and Minnie’s diary comes to an abrupt end when she dies of it and the next day her husband dies too. Bessie, just 10, makes the final poignant entry. The children are traumatized and never speak of it again.  William, only 17, takes over the farm and raises his siblings. Descendants knew nothing of Minnie until decades later her diary was found.  It is precious.