Cecil Emerson Heisig (1902-1903)

As told in the excerpted article, baby Cecil died at one year of age from the croup while Vida was visiting up north.  The family said the doctor was inebriated and gave the baby too much ether. Vida supposedly converted to Christian Science after this experience. It was passed down that a Smelker told her about the religion, and it healed her inconsolable grief.  That led to Vida’s  daughters being raised in Christian Science. Only Helen, my grandmother, would remain steadfast, however.  My father John followed the religion for some years, raised four children in it, but later later converted to Catholicism at the urging of his second wife.