KOSSUTH COUNTY AND THE SPANISH FLU EPIDEMIC OF 1918 - PART 2

On October 6, 1918, Surgeon General Blue sent telegrams across the nation suggesting the discontinuation of public meetings and the closure of schools and places of public amusement.  No such steps had been taken in Kossuth County to that time.  Early in October the town of Wesley was the first to institute a health-related restriction.  The City Council passed a resolution in accordance with instructions from the State Board of Health that funerals for persons deceased from influenza or bronchial pneumonia could no longer be held in any church or public place.  Funerals began to be held in the home, in the front lawn or at graveside.

The County Red Cross was seeking more workers as they again received an urgent call from Fort Des Moines for five thousand flu masks and surgical dressings.  In addition to fulfilling that need, they also made available gauze masks and pneumonia jackets to area residents for free.  Caretakers were encouraged to pick up whatever supplies they needed for themselves or their patients.

LOSS OF MORE SERVICEMEN

Bad news continued to come in regarding our brave young men serving in the armed forces.  Cornelius Wolf of Wesley was serving on the battleship Arizona when he suffered at attack of the Spanish flu.  When he developed pneumonia, he was taken to the Brooklyn Naval Hospital where he succumbed to the illness on October 5^th.  Again the citizens of Wesley met a train bearing the remains of a brave serviceman and followed his family in a solemn procession to the cemetery where he was interred.  A large crowd attended the funeral services which were held at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church after burial.

The community was saddened when word was received of the death of Chris Kain, a popular young pharmacist from Algona.  Stationed at Camp Hancock, Georgia, he died October 12^th, a victim of the epidemic.  In compliance with the order from the State Board of Health, his casket was taken directly from the train station to Calvary Cemetery in Algona where a graveside service was performed.

QUARANTINE BEGINS

The local health board began instituting quarantines around the 10^th of October closing schools, churches, lodges and amusement places.  By that time numerous cases were already being reported, many of them serious.  Doctors were kept busy day and night making house calls. 

Headline from Upper Des Moines - Republican, 10/23/1918

FIRST LOCAL CASUALTIES OF SPANISH FLU

The first victim in the county claimed by the disease was Jacob Cline of Bancroft on October 13th.  A farmer just 23 years of age, he had been sick only a few days but ran a very high fever which caused him to become irrational and confused at times before settling into pneumonia.  His death was followed three days later by Emma Johnson of Algona.  A widow with three young children aged 9 and under, she had moved to Algona following the death of her husband in May of 1917 to care for her invalid mother.

In the next 10 days, seven more Bancroft area residents would die, including little Viola Odell who was not quite three years old, and her father, Fred.  The others were Harley Howe, Joseph Stebritz, Clara Bolster, Melzar Johnson, and Herbert Sandschulte.  Two funerals were held Saturday, October 19^th, two on Sunday and three on Wednesday leaving the community numb. 

Headline from Bancroft Register, 10/24/1918

From Fenton came the news of the passing of an intermediate teacher in their public school.  She had not been feeling well for several days before the school closed, but did not give up and remained at her post.  Joy Whiteis Gross died a few days later on October 17, 1918, leaving students and her husband of just a few weeks to mourn her passing.

DEATHS AT CAMP DODGE

Three more servicemen died while stationed at Camp Dodge.  Chris Sloth had operated Algona Wood Works prior to his enlistment.  He died of pneumonia on October 14^th.  Private Fred Link of Swea City became the next serviceman to pass on October 17th.  After contracting the measles, he was easy prey for influenza followed by pneumonia.  His body was interred without delay in Harrison Township cemetery upon its arrival in Swea City.  

When it was learned that Alfred Hanson of Algona was seriously ill with the disease, his mother and step-father immediately went to Camp Dodge.  They returned home after he appeared to be recovering.  Just a day or two later, they again rushed to his side after receiving a message that he was not expected to survive the night.  He passed away on October 18^th shortly after theIr arrival.

NUMBERS CONTINUE TO GROW

Cases in the area continued to multiply rapidly.  Many had almost no sign of illness while others would quickly go from showing mild symptoms to perishing from the disease in three to four days.  The October 24^th edition of the Bancroft Register reported that it was said that there was between 200 and 500 cases of influenza in the town of Algona, but that was not confirmed.  The same issue reported that it was an utter impossibility to attempt to chronicle the number of cases in the Bancroft area at that time.  Physicians were supposed to report cases to the mayors of the towns who in turn were to report them to the State Department of Health.  The sheer magnitude of the problem made that almost impossible as doctors could barely keep up with their patient load, let alone file reports.  Deaths were sometimes not officially reported until days after the person had died.  Some were never formally reported at all – especially if there was no doctor in attendance.

Patients remained in their homes cared for by relatives.  If a victim was alone or if all family members became stricken at the same time, the Red Cross would arrange for someone to provide the necessary care.  Trained nurses were in great demand and doctors were on call 24 hours a day.  Drs. Cretzmeyer and Fellows, local physicians, became ill and were unable to treat patients for several weeks.  Other area doctors would suffer from the disease in the weeks ahead.

As the end of October approached more sad news came to the county.  On October 26^th, Gus Swanson became a victim of the epidemic.  He was one of the owners of Malloy & Swanson, a harness making firm in Algona.  Born in Sweden, he came to America in 1894.  His wife and a stepson survived.  Ida Olson Sorenson, the wife of local businessman Lars Sorenson, died October 27^th after having been ill only a week.  Her son, Arthur, was serving overseas and did not learn of his mother’s passing for some time.  And the demise of Mattie Rochleau on the 28^th was the first influenza/pneumonia death recorded in Irvington Township.  Her husband, Alton, was in the Army serving in France making notification of her death impossible.  Hugh Jennett, a young farmer from near Sexton, died October 30^th at the age of 31 leaving a wife and young family, all of whom were too ill to accompany his body back to his old home in Illinois for burial.  And a soldier who had been living in Titonka prior to his enlistment died at Camp Gordon, Georgia.  John Fulsang was 28.

The Red Cross continued to assist both the military and local citizens in any way it could.  One innovation was the formation of the Red Cross Motor Corps.  Mrs. Frank Mann put out a call to all ladies who drove their own cars to join.  Members of the motor corps agreed to supply cars and drivers for all emergencies.  They could be called upon to transport goods around the county.  For example, when a request for supplies such as masks came in, the corps would deliver the patterns and materials to the volunteers and then pick up the finished products thereby speeding up the whole process by 24 to 48 hours.

QUARANTINE LIFTED

The local board of health met during the last few days of October and decided that since almost everyone in the community had already been afflicted with the flu it was safe to once again open the schools beginning November 4^th.  All other meeting restrictions were also lifted – with the exception of dances – allowing public meetings and church services to once again take place.  The article praised the board’s handling of the recent crisis and stated that it was gratifying to know that the community had passed the danger stage from this dreaded disease.

Was it over?  Or had it just begun?  Time would soon tell.

Kossuth County Deaths from Influenza/Pneumonia October 1918
Name	Location of Death	Age	D/O/D	Record*
Jacob Cline	Bancroft	23Y 6M 22D	10/13/1918	KCDR
Emma Johnson	Algona	31Y 1M 24D	10/16/1918	KCDR
Joy Gross	Fenton	25Y 5M 25D	10/17/1918	KCDR
Herbert Sandschulte	Bancroft	17Y 2M 5D	10/18/1918	Obit/NA
Viola Odell	Bancroft	2Y	10/18/1918	KCDR
Harley Howe	Bancroft	28Y 10M 17D	10/19/1918	KCDR
Melzar Johnson	Ramsey Twp.	19Y 4M 29D	10/22/1918	KCDR
Joseph Stebritz	Bancroft	30Y 14D	10/22/1918	KCDR
Clara Bolster	Bancroft	29Y 2M 19D	10/25/1918	KCDR
Gust Swanson	Algona	38Y 10M 2D	10/26/1918	Obit/NA
Fred Odell	Bancroft	43Y 2M 4D	10/27/1918	KCDR
Ida Sorenson	Algona	45Y 1M 8D	10/27/1918	KCDR
Mattie Rochleau	Irvington	17Y 7M 19D	10/28/1918	Obit/NA
Hugh Jennett	Wesley	30Y 2M 29D	10/30/1918	KCDR
*KCDR=Kossuth County Death Records  -  Obit/NA=Obituary/News Article

Until next time,

Kossuth County History Buff

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