Mary Jane Drennan (1917)
DRENNAN
Posted By: Treva Patterson
Date: 3/18/2007 at 12:26:28
The Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Wednesday, January 1, 1918DIES OF DIPHTHERIA
Little Mary Drennan Suddenly Stricken With Disease
The news of little Mary Drennan's death from diphtheria came as a terrible shock to many friends of the Drennans who were unaware that she was ill.
She was not well on Saturday, but the trouble was from a digestive disorder, to which she had been subject from infancy. On Tuesday evening, she showed a slight coating of the tonsils, which was removed and at midnight on Christmas day, a similiar coating had again formed, which yielded to treatment. But on Wednesday morning, the membrane could not be removed and the home was placed under quarantine for diphtheria. The disease developed in a violent form and in addition to three physicians who spent the day with the little one, Drs. Howland and Ryan drove over from Des Moines in the evening to assist, but all to no avail. The deadly growth filled her nose, pharynx and bronchial tubes with terrible speed. Anti-toxin had been administered to her all day, but her system could not absorb in sufficient quantity to combat the severe form the disease had taken. Her death came soon after midnight, twenty four hours after the throat first showed serious symptoms. Burial occurred Thursday afternoon with very brief services at the cemetery, conducted by Rev. W. J. Stewart.
Little Mary was taken into the Drennan home when but a few weeks old and her short life of a little less than four years, endeared her to her foster parents and their acquaintances. She was a very happy child, bringing brightness with her wherever she went and the neighbors in whose homes she was a daily caller, will sorely miss the winsome child. Mr. and Mrs. Drennan have the deep sympathy of the town in their sorrow.
This sudden appearance of the always dreaded disease, diphtheria, cannot be traced in any source and its further spread is being guarded against.
________________________The Winterset News
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, January 8, 1918
Page 1, Column 2Mary Drennan's Death
By an oversight the written account of Mary Drennan's death was omitted from The News last week. The child was loved by everyone who knew her and her death brought sorrow to many Winterset homes.
The little four year old girl died at midnight on Wednesday following Christmas twenty four hours after she had been attacked by the dreaded disease. Specialists from Des Moines were summoned but so virulent was the disease that death came suddenly.
The home was quarantined and burial occurred on Thursday afternoon, Rev. Stewart officiating at the short services at the cemetery.
Mar Drennan was adopted by Mr. and Mrs. Frank Drennan when she was a little babe. Her bright ways and her cheery happy disposition endeared her to a wide circle of friends who sympathize with Mr. and Mrs. Drennan in their great sorrow.
The origin of the disease cannot be traced and there are no other cases of it in the city.
________________________Coordinator's note: Middle name taken from gravestone.
Gravesite
Madison Obituaries maintained by Linda Griffith Smith.
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