“Florence Nightingale” by Dr. A.E. Shore
In a 1981 letter written by Dr. A. E. Shore [who was born in 1885, and practiced medicine in Alix and area]…he explains his relationship with his cousin, Florence Nightingale
“Florence Nightingale is very dear to me, and I am proud to be a distant relative. Her Grandfather and my Great-grandfather were brothers….[Her father] was was considered wealthy at that time. He married Frances Smith…. They had two daughters, Frances Parthenope and Florence….
When Florence was a child her characteristics showed that her vocation was nursing. Her dolls were always getting sick and required nursing. Her first real patient was “Cap”, a shepherd’s dog which had a broken leg. ….Florence nursed him with hot cloths and he recovered.
“Is there an Alix Free Press now? If there is, I would like to write an article to express my thanks to Alix people… and to let the people of that town know how much I appreciate their remembrances of me. Had I a chance to live life over again, there is no place on earth I would want to start practice medicine over again more than at Alix.
This article is taken from Gleanings, (the follow-up book to Pioneers and Progress), Alix-Clive Historical Club, 1981. Both books are available for sale at Alix Wagon Wheel Museum, Alix Public Library, andAlix Home Hardware
