Flu Epidemic in Crittenden County in 1929

The Press reports many deaths caused from the influenza pneumonia. December of 1928 and January of 1929 seemed to hit the county the hardest. Some of the deaths reported were:

Henry Owen, a well-known resident of Dycusburg died Dec. 20^th, 1928 of flu. He was survived by his wife, one daughter, Miss Mattie Leon Owen, four sons, Calvin, Ray and Riley of Dycusburg and Clay Owen of Gary, Ind.

H. Burnett Williams died suddenly Sunday Dec. 30^th, 1928 at his home near Casad. He became ill only a few hours before his death. Mr. Williams, who was 72 years old, had been a farmer in Crittenden County many years. He is survived by his widow, and two sons, J. B. and George Williams, and a daughter, Miss Lemma Lois Williams.

Thomas Jefferson Burton, Crittenden County farmer, died Dec. 30, 1928 at his home near Repton. Mr. Burton was 74 years old. Funeral services were held at Repton.

William Fowler died December 31, 1928 at his home on South College St. Influenza, which developed into pneumonia, was fatal to Mr. Fowler. He was in his eighty-ninth year at the time of his death. He was born April 19, 1839 in the Chapel Hill neighborhood. For a quarter of a century Mr. Fowler was president of the Farmers Bank and Trust Co.

Mrs. Allie Gass, wife of David Gass, died at home in Marion, January 5^th, 1929, death being caused by pneumonia. Mrs. Gass, daughter of the late C. C. Woodall, was married to D. E. Gass. Mr. Gass is very ill and was unable to attend the burial service.

William Dallas Nation died January 6^th, at the home of his mother, Mrs. Betty Nation, near Repton. He is survived by a sister, Miss Georgia Nation, two half brothers, Clyde Nation and Earl Marshall Martin and a half sister, Mrs. Beulah Newcom.

Mrs. Rebecca Canada, 77, died January 8^th, of pneumonia at the home of her son, Alfred Canada, in the Sisco Chapel community. 

Juanita Vanhooser, six months daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Vanhooser, of near Repton, died January 7^th.

Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Blake, both died Jan. 7, 1929 of influenza. There was a double funeral at Seven Springs Church for their remains. They were buried at Dycusburg Cemetery.

Mrs. Jasper Saphronia Fritts, widow of the late Robert Fritts died January 9^th, of double pneumonia at the Fritts home in the Freedom community. Mrs. Fritts was the daughter of the late J. D. Gregory. She is survived by two sons, Willie Fritts of Harrisburg, Ill., and Lummie Fritts of Rosiclare, Ill, two daughter, Mrs. Ben Gilbert of Tribune, and Mrs. Bertha Gass, of Freedom.

John J. Sunderland, 82 years old, died Feb. 3, 1929 at his home in the Emmaus section of the county after several weeks illness of flu and pneumonia. Mr. Sunderland, who was born Feb. 19^th, 1847 in Jefferson County, Tenn., has lived in Crittenden County since he was seven years old. In March 1871 Mr. Sunderland was married to Miss Mary Ann Grimes. The funeral service was held at Tyner's Chapel, with burial in the adjoining cemetery.

By the end of March 1929 the flu epidemic had about ran it's course and community activities and family lives once again resumed their normal routine, but in many homes there was also left much sadness and sorrow.