Dabney Minor Trice
(September 27, 1860 - February 17, 1915) Son of Robert Nelson Trice and Lucy Jane Minor Trice, brother of
Mary Jane, Margaret, Martha, and Lucy Trice, husband of (1) Rowina Glowina Cocke and (2) Anne
Waller Cocke.
Oh! I must tell you of Dab's recent performance. Last Sunday he went home with a friend to dinner and came back
about seven o'clock. Katie ran to the door to meet him, but came back screaming with terror and he entered
with an immense opossum in his hand, hanging by the tail. He says it ran across the road in front of his horse
and up a small tree by the roadside and that he just got down and pulled it off by the tail. We tease him a
great deal about the Superintendent of the Sunday School "going possum hunting" Sunday night. Margaret T. Trice, to Lizzie or Lucy Minor Davis,
December 1879
Our drive back from Charlottesville last week was quite a "chapter of accidents". The first occurred
as we drove up the mountain from the free bridge. Dabney cut the horse and she started forward,
snapping the single free half in two. At first we thought nothing could be done but the rapidly
increasing darkness rendered D. desperate and he took a part of the bridle and strapped it together
in some way. By the time we got to the Edgehill bridge it was quite dark and our horse grew very
tired so we could not bear to hurry her. I shall never forget the feeling of desolation I experienced
as we left the lights of Keswick behind us and plunged into the Egyptian darkness of the woods.
The thought of the three long miles of horrid road before us, a tired horse, a broken buggy, and
utter darkness was almost more than my equanimity could stand and but for very shame I should have
cried heartily. Even to this day it comes back to me like a nightmare. Dear Dab was so sweet and good,
he walked nearly the whole way from Keswick. We got in about ten to find Annie and Kate both asleep
in the dining room - worn out with expectation. Margaret T. Trice, to Lucy Minor Davis, May 19, 1880
...Dabney Trice has spent several days here since his convalescence and is now sufficiently recovered
to resume business and has returned to his solitary home. We expect Lucy to divide her time between Willowby
and Gale Hill.
...There never was more kindness and attention paid any people than the Trices received. All their relations
and even their common acquaintances shared in the duty of nursing them. William and our Mary were with them
generally until we feared that Mary would take the fever.
The fact of the death of his two sisters was not communicated to Dabney till he had recovered strength
enough to bear the heavy tidings; his doctors thought it might prove fatal to him if done sooner. To
tell him the sad news was a trying task to his Uncle William; but the poor boy though much distressed
bore the tidings with Christian submission for he is truly pious... Malvina Terrell, "Gale Hill", September 3, 1880
June 19 - The hottest day yet, thermometer 95 degrees in the shade. I went to Mychunk to see my
relatives the Trices, and from there went to Fluvanna to Dr. Boston's to attend the funeral of little
Robby Trice, Dabney's only son. I was never so much shocked in my life as when I heard of the death of
his excellent wife Rowena and little Archer, their adopted child, and Robby their own and only child,
they all died in the same week, the one just past. Dabney's home is indeed left with him desolate. I
feel most deeply for him and wish I could help him in some way. I returned home tonight having ridden
forty-two miles. From the journal of William W. Minor, Jr. of "Windieknowe" - 1887
William Minor ("Buck") Bryan (1882-1934)
...A half first cousin of my mother, Dabney Trice, spent a winter with us and went to the University
studying medicine. He and Ran (Bryan) used to romp with me and, though it was pretty rough, I greatly
enjoyed it and learned to bear accidental injuries and subsequent pain without outcry and to continue to
fight them as long as possible, for if I made a fuss or gave up easily they would not play with me and
appeared to have a contempt for boys who lacked courage or self-control... Dr. William Minor ("Buck") Bryan, January 16, 1915
...My friend Mr. R. W. Playford leaves here on Tuesday next for the University of Virginia where he
intends taking the summer law course. He is a thoroughly nice fellow and one of the most perfect gentlemen
I ever knew. If you should have it in your power to show him any attention whilst in Virginia, I shall
consider it as a personal favor tendered myself. I have known him for more than a year and in that time
have never known him do or say a thing which was not what a gentleman should do or say. In fact, it is rare,
I am sorry to say, to meet in this young generation a man of his age with as polished manners as he possesses... Dabney Minor Trice, Middlesborough, Kentucky, to Eugene Davis, July 23, 1892
...Your kind letter was received this A.M. and I was exceedingly glad to hear from you again. I am also
under many obligations for the attentions shown my friend and of which he writes most gratefully. I
felt assured all along, however, that you would do everything that was nice in that direction and
that I could devise no surer means of rendering his stay in Virginia a pleasant one than by putting
him in communication with yourself and the rest of the dear people at Willowby.
I was exceedingly grieved to hear of little Margaret's continued illness. In a P.C. received from Lucy
a week ago, she said they considered her out of immediate danger and not having heard anything further,
I had taken "no news for good news." I most sincerely trust that the dear little one may be spared to
them and have great hopes from the wonderful recuperative powers of our family and, as she has a double
infusion of both Minor and Terrell blood, it should stand her in good stead... Dabney Minor Trice, to Eugene Davis, August 25, 1892
...Dabney Trice was here for a day and night last week on his way to take a place in one of the hospitals
on Blackwell's Island. It gives him his board - lodging - and washing free - but no salary, of course. He
has had a desperate time in Middlesborough - living on nothing sometimes - and doing his own washing. People
owed him money - but he couldn't collect it. They threatened to shoot him if he made any fuss about it -
awful people those... Susan Colston Minor, Gale Hill, to John Wilson, October 22, 1893
Eugene Davis (1822-1894)
Dear Cousin Lucy,
Words utterly fail to express the grief and sadness occasioned me by the fearful news contained in John
Staige's telegram. I only received it tonight upon my return from New York where I had been for the past
three days. Had I been here when it arrived, I should most certainly have asked for leave of
absence and have given myself the melancholy satisfaction of paying the last rites of respect and affection
to him, who we all so dearly loved.
It was such a shock to me as I have had no news from Virginia since the receipt of your last letter and
had foolishly consoled myself with the thought that "no news was good news." Few know better than myself,
my dear cousin, what this sad calamity is to you. I know that 'tis useless for me to point to the only
source of comfort in such cases for I well know that you have long since appealed there and received the
consolation and comfort which He above can give under such circumstances.
I am so devoutly thankful that I stopped in Virginia last Fall and was thus enabled to see him once
again. It is permitted us to meet few such men during our earthly pilgrimage and although few of us
can ever hope to attain to his standard, our continual prayer and earnest endeavor should be that we do
so strive to follow the bright and illustrious example which he and such as he have
set for our guidance, that our lives may contain at least one tithe of the goodness and usefulness
contained in his. It can truly be said of him that
To do one's duty boldly
Nor fear nor friend nor foe
Consulting conscience solely
Is man's noblest work below
was his motto and one truly lived up to. In my whole circle of acquaintances, friends, and relations,
I cannot conceive of one whose loss will be felt by more people or whose place will be harder to fill.
His was a nature tried in the crucible of suffering and which after each trial came out purer metal.
Nor do I know of anyone whose sympathies were warmer nor whose charities were more far reaching.
When you can, write and give me what particulars you can knowing that no one can be more interested than
myself.
Please give my heartfelt sympathy to dear Cousin Lizzie and the children. And now, praying that God
of His great mercy may pour into your wounded hearts His consolation and healing balm, believe me in the
bond of affliction and sympathy,
Your loving cousin,
D. M. Trice
Long Island, N. Y.
May 21, 1894 Concerning the death of Eugene Davis, May 19, 1894
Moore's Brook Sanitarium
As we near our sixth anniversary we wish to send greetings to our patrons, and thanks for their liberal
support.
When we opened, ours was the only institution of the kind in the State, and we still hold this
distinction, though two other institutions of a similar nature, opened near us in the meantime, and after
running a comparatively short time, closed. This we attribute to the fact that they were trying an entirely
new business; whereas I brought to this work twelve years' experience in the best institutions of the
North and West. We point with pride to the fact that we number amongst our warmest friends most of
the patients we have treated. When the patients have remained as long as advised the results have been
most gratifying.
We endeavor to render our place as homelike as possible, and assure you that we shall in the future,
as in the past, endeavor to merit your valued patronage.
D. M. Trice
August 8, 1908
Tradition holds that Dr. Dabney Trice took many patients whose treatment elsewhere had failed
to diminish their dependence on alcohol and that he was quite successful with even the most difficult cases. From an unpublished history of Blue Ridge Hospital (formerly Moore's Brook)
Moore's Brook as it appeared in the 1980's as
part of the Blue Ridge Hospital
Moore's Brook Sanitarium, Charlottesville, Virginia is an ideal country home for the
treatment of alcohol and drug habits, as also mental and nervous cases. While possessing the quiet and
retirement of the country, it combines the conveniences of a city home in the way of daily mails,
telephones, heating, lighting, and bathing facilities. What strikes one most forcibly is the absence,
so far as possible, of all institutional features. So marked is this feature that at the table,
which is attended by patients and members of the staff, it is almost impossible to tell one
from the other, unless one knows the parties personally. From The Virginia Medical Semi-Monthly September 22, 1904
Excerpts from letters of Dabney M. Trice to Anne Waller Cocke,
1903-1904
Dr. Dabney Minor Trice, M. D. Brooklyn, New York, 1895
My dearest little one,
Here I am, my first night at Moore's Brook, with not a living soul nearer, than a quarter mile off. If
Robinson Crusoe was ever more lonely, than I have been tonight, God pity him. I moved out late this evening.
Have a good bed, my own pillow, and a pair of blankets, wash stand pitcher, and basin, but in my hurry forgot
sheets, or towel, so I suppose I will have to do like the little boy at school in the morning, and wipe only
as high as his shirt would reach. I never thought I cared much for cats before, but there is a very handsome
one here, and I tell you I have been very friendly with him tonight. You know I generally get what I earnestly
try for. There is only one thing about which I doubt myself. On that, the dearest to my heart, I am as humble
as a little child, and all because of my known unworthiness to deserve it. If we only got our desserts however,
this would be a very wretched world. So I shall strive for this, God's highest gift, with all of a strong
man's honesty of purpose, and strive as earnestly; as I hope to strive to attain Heaven...
To me, you are and have been for four long years the Queen above all women. I do not think, that God ever
created but one other woman, who was your equal. Having had that other, I could not be satisfied with less.
The idea of the relationship which I seek, and pray for with you is, and has been for the past ten years,
repugnant to me when considered in connection with any one else. The woman does not live (save yourself dearest)
for whom I would be willing to give up any of my habits, or set goals(?) as any change would not be a sacrifice
but my highest pleasure if it gave you gratification. This is not idealization dearest, because I think I
know all your little failings as well as I know my own, but they only render you all the more dear to me,
because they are yours, and you are you. This may sound senseless, but I think you will know what it means to
convey... To lighten some of your burdens, would to God I could take and bear them all for you, but
unfortunately no one person can do that for another. Still when two persons truly love each other they can
greatly mitigate each others burdens.
You need not answer all or any of this dearest, unless you care to,
but I wanted to tell you, and I wanted to tell you when I could think calmly, without having those clear,
honest, beautiful eyes of yours looking at me, and taking the courage out of me, when I thought how utterly
unworthy I was even to kiss your feet, and yet I was having the presumption to ask for the greatest blessing
which God had in His gift to bestow...
As I said, this is my first night in my new home, and the prospects for our business look
quite bright. These first fruits I humbly, and yet in a measure proudly lay at your feet my darling.
Whatever success I have or shall attain, has been and shall be for you... you a part. All that I have achieved,
has been through my love for you, and that I might do something of which you might be proud. Now I must make
my nightly prayer, the chief burden of which you already know. I pray God we may some day take our prayer
together, and that I may change my petition to anthems of devout thanksgiving. Good night and God bless you
my darling. With a heart full of as tender love as a man is capable of. Dabney M. Trice, to Anne W. Cocke, September 1, 1903...As for doing you honor, I have done you none other, than my every thought has done you for four
years past. I love you my darling with as true tender, passionate, and at the same time reverential a
love as a man ever felt for a woman. The passionate part I have never shown, but dearest I have a wealth
of love for you of which I do not think you can have a conception. My dearest wish is that some day
you will give me the right to show it to you. I am not worthy of you dearie, but it is, and although it
may sound conceited, I honestly think your life would be somewhat richer by its bestowal. You ask me to
realize, that what I ask is an impossibility. I do not readily realize anything as an impossibility,
nor shall I ever realize this as one until you come to me and honestly tell me, that you love another
man in the way I desire you should love me. If that time ever comes (and God grant my humble
prayer, that never may) though it breaks my heart, I shall kneel and devoutly thank God for your
happiness, and go on being your tender true and loving friend to life's end. In my humble opinion
the man who does not value the woman's happiness whom he loves more than his own, is not worthy of the
name of man, much less of the woman, and never truly loved that woman.
You say that I idealize you
and you could not satisfy me. Perhaps I do, and that you could not. I think you could however, and as
long as I continue to think in that way, it would I think, come very nearly amounting to a fact.
Don't you think so too? You also say that you are a very jealous, selfish, capricious child. Well then,
I want "a very jealous, selfish, capricious child," and I do not want anything else in this world so far
as my own personal happiness is concerned...
Yes dearest I shall certainly continue to ask God to bless us, and to pray that the day may come when we may
kneel together and devoutly thank Him for each other, and the love we bear one another. Yes dearest I do
want you "for" my wife. My dear dear wife, not only in my home, but in my life, and of my life a part.
The sharer of my every thought, and I devoutly pray, that said thoughts may become more worthy to be shared
by one of your innate purity and goodness.
I wish that I could write you more eloquently dearest, but I am a plain simple man, very simple:
as much so as a little child where my deeper feelings are concerned. Few people ever see my deeper
feelings, and no one but yourself has seen my deepest, for many years. What I have written however,
although not elegant, has every word come straight from my heart, and I pray God, that it may go as
straight to yours.
...Thank God my darling you say you "do not say it may never come nor even that perhaps its faint dawn
may not have come already." I am also thankful for the heart hunger you feel; as it may be the means of
bringing you to me to have that hunger appeased and the clear true heart filled to over-flowing - if an
honest man's love can so fill it...
My darling my idea of true mortal happiness is, that each shall be a
true helpmate to the other, and yet in all things united. It may sound weak, that I should wish to
share my troubles with you dearest, but my experience teaches me that a man is never stronger, than in
his weakness...
As you doubtless know darling I have never been an advocate of women's rights, nor am I
now, and for the simple reason, that I consider a true woman on so much higher plane than man, that I do
not wish to see her degrade herself to his level...
I have just been rereading
your dear dear letters, my darling, and whilst they made me unutterably happy, at the same time they
made me realize my great unworthiness and wonder how it was, that God had given me such great unlimited
happiness. By His help, how else my dearest, I will earnestly endeavor to make myself more worthy of it...
Oh! my precious one you are always in my thoughts and I wish for you all the time, not of my life a
part but that you shall be that very life itself. I shall only refer to one part of your letter by saying,
that what you said about my thinking a thing right would make it right, was inexpressibly sweet to me. I
must earnestly pray God, that I may never give you occasion to change that opinion...
UNIQUE WEDDING
Bettie Boston Cocke (Mrs. William Ronald Cocke)
possibly at "Red Hills" with her daughter, Bettie Cocke
Dr. D. M. Trice, medical superintendent of the Moore's Brook Sanitarium, Charlottesville, Va., was married
on June 7 to Anne Waller Cocke, at the residence of her mother, Mrs. William R. Cocke, Red Hills, Va. The
wedding ceremony was performed in a grove of orange blossoms and presented a most beautiful effect. From an unidentified newspaper, June, 1904
How I would love to be in your arms now, my face over that warm true heart that is all for me.
Sometimes you say I will never know how you love me, I am sure you will never know all you are to me -
my dear, my dear - my husband. Ann Waller Trice, to Dabney Minor Trice, 1905
I wonder sometimes if you are seeing anything prettier than the world over here is now, the country
is so lovely after all the rains we have had, and as D. M. has cut his third crop of alfalfa lately,
the whole place looks like one big lawn. He is making wonderful corn crops too, or at least the fields
look wonderful now in their promise; it reminds me of that verse, about the little hills rejoicing and the
valleys standing so thick with corn that they shall laugh and sing. Anne W. Trice, to Lucy M. Davis in Europe, August 8, 1913
DR. DABNEY M. TRICE DIES IN ALBEMARLEBeloved Physician Seized With Chill on Long Drive In Country
(Special to the Richmond Virginian)
Charlottesville, Va., Jan.. 18 - The entire community was inexpressibly saddened to learn today that Dr. Dabney
M. Trice, founder of Moore's Brook Sanitarium, and one of the most prominent physicians in this section of
Virginia, had succumbed to pneumonia, passing away at 10 o'clock Sunday night after an illness of only two days.
Dr. Trice had been with Mrs. Trice in attendance upon the latter's uncle, Dr. Dudley R. Boston, who died at his
home, "Red Hills", in Fluvanna County, about sixteen miles from Charlottesville. At that time Dr. Trice was
suffering from a deep cold, and while on his way home he was seized with a violent chill. Upon reaching home
everything was done for him, but pneumonia, with complications involving the heart, speedily brought about his
death.
Dr. Trice was devoted to his lifework and was an accomplished physician, and man of high ideals, sterling
character and unswerving devotion to principle. As a friend he was the embodiment of unfaltering loyalty. He
was public spirited and took an active and intelligent interest in affairs affecting the welfare of the people...
...A faithful, loyal, whole-hearted, warm-hearted Christian and Churchman; true and tender, courteous
and courageous in all the relations of a varied career.
Dr. Trice was a single-minded man. His life's aim was to serve his God by brightening his own path through
God's good world. He lived his life that way, and in treading it found his life's end. He received a rich
inheritance of character and ideals high and noble. Right worthily he bore his heritage, and left it stainless.
From an unidentified periodical
We got the terrible news yesterday and we can think of nothing else, not yet even what it means to each one of
the many who loved dear, jolly, kind-hearted Uncle Dabney, but only of you little Waller. I am so sorry.
There is nothing more that I can say. Clare Ferrier Downing, to Anne W. Trice, January 21, 1915
I attended the funeral of my kinsman and friend Dabney Trice at his house this morning. In spite of the
bad roads and very early hour, 9 A.M., the attendance was quite large, showing the esteem in which he was
held in the community, town & country, and he will be very much missed, for he was a most active, kindly,
and useful man in the church and county and neighborhood. From the diary of William W. Minor, Jr.
Kate Coles (1856-1943)
I didn't have to go to the wedding of coarse Miss Margie wrote to me how much she wanted me to see her
pretty trueso but after the verry great sadness of Dear Dr. Trice of coarse every thing was chainged it was
in deede A dreadfull destress to every one who knew him. Kate Coles, to Evelyn Bryan Bullitt, Spring, 1915
