1918 Influenze Epidemic in Crittenden County

Recalling the 1918 Influenza Epidemic In Crittenden County

The history breaking event was getting worse in the late summer of 1918, hitting military installations first with epidemic influenza. As soldiers traveled home, they unknowingly carried the flu across the U. S. 

 

 In September in Louisville, nearby Camp Zachary Taylor (WW I's largest army training camp, with its 45,000 men, reported over 2,000 cases. There were several of Crittenden County Soldiers that died with the disease.

 

Most agree the disease affected over half the world's population as the most devastating epidemic in world history. Consider the thought that more died in 1918 of what was called the "Spanish Flu" than in four years of the Bubonic Plague (1347-1351). 

 

Kentuckians became aware of the deadly flu toward the end of September 1918 when troops from Texas debarked from an L&N train to check out Bowling Green. The soldiers unintentionally infected townspeople before returning to their coach.

 

This flu spared no one it could struck the weakest of the young to the stronger and most vigorous of the population. In October 1918 Kentucky Board of Health closed all Kentucky schools, saloons, and soda fountain stores. Mines closed due to the virus spreading in close quarters. Those not ill were kept busy digging graves until late at night. Deaths often occurred within hours or a few days. Undertakers ran out of boxes, even quickly constructed ones of rough lumber. Those in rural areas sometimes buried their children under a tree of in a field after constructing their own boxes. 

 

In January 1919, 2,143 had died. By April, death dropped to 509. Many deaths were not reported as flu, but as pneumonia which resulted from the flu or to other similar symptoms. 

 

If you are a genealogist, you probably have found that multiply family members died in 1918 and early 1919. Many children's deaths would only be days apart. As you walk through the cemeteries you'll notice the dates 1918 and 1920 appear on many older stones.  These two children's stones, sisters, are in the Crayne Cemetery.

 

***

We are very limited on the history of events that affected Crittenden County during this devasting time period. The local paper at the time was The Crittenden Record Press and there are no issues available and none mirco-filmed from September 1918 (when the Flu epidemic was at it's worse) through (Crittenden Press) August 1919. The events and obituaries for that devastating time in our history are lost. 

 

From the State Board of Health Report for Crittenden County for the year 1918. The following information was found. This information would be from death certificates that the Drs. filled out and reported. There were probably several deaths that were not accounted for due to improper reporting of the information. 

 

Estimated population was 13,296. Total deaths - 171; Infants under 1 year - 27; Children age 1-4 years, 15; Aged 65 and over - 43; 5- 56 years old - 86. 

 

Preventable Diseases: Tuberculosis/Consumption - 14; Other tuberculosis - 3; Typhoid - 1; Diphtheria/Croup -1; Scarlet Fever - 1; Measles - 1; Whooping Cough -5; Pneumonia/bronchial - 18;

(sometime Pneumonia was named as death cause but was flu related) Influneza - 39; Meningitis - 3; Diarrhea disease- 6;

Other: Cancer - 7, Stillborns - 14; Other deaths due to old age, accidents and  murders - 58.

 

As far as I can find out, none of the Doctors that signed the death certificates caught the flu or died from it. It must have been a trying time. Some of the Drs. in the Marion area were, Dr. Frazer, County Heath Supervisor, Dr. J. R. Perry, Dr. C. G. Moreland, Dr. John L. Reynolds, Shady Grove had Dr. Jeff McConnell, Dycusburg, Dr. J. M. Graves, Tolu area Dr. Wm C. Davis.