Mills County, Iowa
One day in the Malvern Leader; October 17, 1918
Many Have Influenza
Epidemic Sweeping Westward Over U. S., Catches Many Mills County People.
Malvern Leader
October 17, 1918
The Epidemic of Spanish Influenza that has been raging in the east and through the military camps seems to have struck Iowa in full force and Mills County is getting her full share.
Hardly a town or community, in the county, but has from a few to very many cases. The State Board of Health in a statement issued this week urges every community to take the great possible
precautions and that all public meetings be called off, churches and schools closed and persons afflicted with the disease to take the greatest possible care of themselves.
On page four of this paper will be found the U. S. Health Service official bulletin on the disease telling all about it and how to care for it. Read it.
Nearly every family in this vicinity has been touched by it the past week; varying from very slight attacks to severe cases of pneumonia. It is certainly wide spread in its scope and
many bad cases are reported. It is hoped that the high tide of the epidemic has been reached and that it will lessen from now on. Don’t minimize its affects and don’t try to make a
joke of it. If you get it or anything that seems like it, the best thing to do is to go to bead at once and take the best of care. Consult your doctor.
|
Four Mills County Soldiers Die
Malvern Leader
October 17, 1918
Death is taking a heavy toll of our soldier boys on this side of the water through the Spanish Influenza the past week.
A telegram came to Floyd McMullen at Emerson Monday saying that his brother William McMullin was seriously ill of pneumonia at Fort Snelling, Minn. He left Tuesday for that
place but a later telegram came telling of the young man’s death.
Another telegram came Tuesday to W. W. DeHart announcing the death of his grandson Roy Whalen on board ship near Baltimore. He was a brother of Reba Whalen of Malvern.
The body of Henry Bolte, Jr. was brought from Camp Dodge to the home of his parents at Silver City Tuesday. He died the preceding day from an attack of Influenza. He is a son of
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Bolte, Sr. and a splendid young man in every respect.
The body of Carleton Parkinson of Tabor was brought in here on an early train Tuesday morning and taken to Tabor by Corner’s auto hearse. The young man was in training at Camp Dodge
and it is reported died of Influenza. The funeral was held there Tuesday afternoon.
|
Malvern Community News
Malvern Leader
October 17, 1918
George Whiel returned last week from his tour of the State Fairs with his horses. He was obliged to come home before the last one finished, as the grounds were quarantined on account of the Influenza.
Miss Rheba Whalen, one of our teachers, was taken sick the last of the week with what developed rapidly into pneumonia. She was very sick from the start and little or no hope has been
entertained for recovery since Tuesday afternoon. The entire community earnestly hopes for her recovery.
Particulars of Joe Kilmartin’s Death
Pat Killmartin received a telegram from Washington, Tuesday, giving the particulars of his son Joe’s death in France. He died July 8, from an attack of Influenza followed by Pneumonia.
There were just three months in getting the particulars through.
Harry Moore was down from Omaha for an over Sunday visit with his brother Rev. W. R. Moore and family and incidentally to help in the care of Rev. Moore who has been quite ill with
Spanish Influenza followed by Pneumonia.
Alfred Wolfe, Jr., is quite sick at his home south west of town with an attack of Influenza.
H. C. Morehouse is able to be around again after a several days attack of the Influenza.
Albert Bellwood, the first victim of Spanish Flu at this place is on the road to recovery although still very weak. His father, B. F. Bellwood suffered a lesser attack,
but looks as though he had had some tussle with it.
G. E. Bunker is quite sick at his home in the south part of town.
J. E. Randerson is quite sick at his home on Center Street with an attack of Influenza. He is threatened with pneumonia.
The family of J. A. Bateman, the Standard Oil distributor has been quite sick the past week with Influenza, but are reported improving.
The X. A. Imel family have all been sick the past week with an attack of Influenza or the Grippe. They are improving at latest report.
E. O. Kinsey was down from Madrid the latter part of the week looking after their store here while his son Robert Kinsey
was at home with an attack of Influenza.
Mrs. Chas. Robbins has been spending a few days at the home of her daughter Mrs. Marion Wise and family west of Henderson. Mr. and Mrs. Wise have both been having the Influenza.
Dr. and Mrs. S. A. Campbell returned Monday night from a visit with their son Malcolm at Camp Dodge and with their daughter,
Mrs. Soderstrom at Moline, Illinois. While visiting with their son Malcom Campbell he took down with a severe case of the influenza and
was quite sick while they were there. However, he recovered sufficiently that he was allowed to come down and see them before they left for home.
We are glad that he is well on the road to recovery.
|
Strahan Community News
Malvern Leader
October 17, 1918
Death of Austen Miller – This community was saddened this week by the death of Austen Miller one of our young farmers who passed away at his home on the Peterson farm east of
Strahan, Monday evening. He had been ill of Influenza but was getting better when he had a relapse and died very suddenly. Funeral service were held from the late home yesterday afternoon at two o’clock. He is survived by his young wife and one child. Further particulars next week.
Word reached Strahan yesterday that Willis Vanderpool was very sick at Camp Dodge with an attack of Pneumonia.
Asbury Community News
Malvern Leader, Schools Closed
October 17, 1918
The "Flu" patients are on the mend now. Miss Fern Culver has been having an attack of the flu the past week.
Center school has been closed
for the past week on account of the flu.
Mt Vernon Community News
Malvern Leader
October 17, 1918
The Spanish Influenza epidemic has struck Mt. Vernon and several families have the disease in more or less virulent form, though as yet there are no serious cases.
The entire family of Jesse Dunn is laid up with the “Flu”, three in the Allen Reed family and one in the G. F. Wills. Most of them are now recovering.
The directors of the Mt. Vernon school, have closed the school for a week to prevent further spread of the disease. We think however, there is little use in closing the school on this account
as nearly everybody has been exposed.
East Center
Malvern Leader, Schools Closed
October 17, 1918
Mrs. Fred Cook is improving from the Spanish Influenza. Her mother has been caring for her.
The Hillsdale Sunday School was closed on account of the influenza. It was thought best to take precautions.
|
Hastings Community News
Malvern Leader, Schools Closed
October 17, 1918
The Hastings school is closed for this week on account of the Spanish Influenza which is going around. There are quite a number of the Hastings people sick with the disease.
Those suffering from the Spanish Influenza are, Marie McFarland, Max Shoemaker, Ralph Kelley, Albert Menchell, Mrs. Floyd Owens, Clarence Sandiland, Iva Ord, Gorden Purcell
and Ralph Cavon. Mrs. E. B. Fritz wife of the Professor is suffering with Pneumonia.
Word has been recived from Victor Cromwell and George Hanson that they are recovering from a siege of the influenza.
|
Mills County Community News
Malvern Leader
October 17, 1918
Mr. and Mrs. C. D. Greenwood left Friday evening for Galesburg, Il., in response to a telegram telling of the illness of their son Charles Greenwood who is attending college there.
He was suffering from an attack of influenza with pneumonia complication. Mr. Greenwood returned home Monday, but Mrs. Greenwood remained for a few days longer.
The young man is slowly improving.
|
Emerson Community News
Malvern Leader
October 17, 1918
Funeral Services Arthur McClain.
Well Known Resident of Emerson Laid to Rest. The funeral service of Arthur McClain mention of whose death was made in last week’s Leader was held at his late home at 2:30 Thursday afternoon.
The plan had been at first to hold the service at the Presbyterian Church, but owing to Influenza epidemic, that was given up and a beautiful and impressive service on the porch and lawn of
the home substituted. Mr. LeRoy Comer of Malvern had all arrangements well in hand, and promptly at the hour given a choir from the Presbyterian Church consisting of Mr. and Mrs. Stewart Honeyman,
Miss Edith Bixby and Mr. Robert Honeyman sang, “All the Way My Savior Leads me,” in a very comforting manner.
The casket, covered and surrouned by beautiful flowers, was placed on the porch and Rev.
West stood by it and conducted the service. He used the words, “Well done good and faithful servant”, and gave a tender message to the burdened hearts, paying high tribute to Mr. McClain’s constant
fatefulness in every relation of life. The rest of the obituary can be found, Malvern Leader October, 17, 1918 (page 6)
|
Henderson Community News
Malvern Leader
October 17, 1918
Obituary of Roy E. Grevett was born August 23, 1891, near Henderson, Iowa, and grew to maturity in this vicinity. He was the eldest of a family of eleven children, three having preceeded
him to the better world. The father died, August 4, 1911.
When fifteen years of age he was converted and joined the Evangelical church near Corning. He was also a member of th IOOF lodge at Henderson.
The deceased was married to Viva Marie Carter July 2, 1913, and the union was blessed with a little son, Cecil Harley, who is now about three years of age and is thus deprived in early
life of the father’s guidance and love. He leaves to mourn his loss besides this son, his wife, mother, six sisters and a brother.
Two of the sisters are married and live in the west; one; Mrs. B. H. Guyer at LaGrange, Wyoming and Mrs. C. A. Buck at Lakeview, Mont.
It was during a visit at the home of his sister in the west that contracted the dread disease that later proved fatal.
Owing to the nature of the malady, which caused his death the family voluntarily remained in the home during the funeral service with was
held in the yard and was conducted by Rev. M. A. Gable of Malvern. The Wesley Chapel Choir furnished the music and the interment was a the
Wesley Chapel cemetery.
A. O. Harney autoed up near Oakland last Sunday to see his dauther Maxine Shook, who is seriously ill with the Spanish Flu.
She is staying at the home of her husband’s brother, Frank Shook.
|
Pacific Junction Community News
Malvern Leader
October 17, 1918
Emmett Purcell – The funeral of Emmett Purcell who died at Camp Grant, Illinois, Sunday, October 6, was held at Woodbine, Friday afternoon. The remains came back to Woodbine Thursday,
and owing to the disease, the services were private and very brief.
Rev. Cook formerly of this place now of Gray, and a very Intimate friend of Emmett’s conducted the funeral.
Emmett was born at
Woodbine and lived there until he was about 14 years old and since then had lived here most of the time where he had many friends. He had been in “the service” only about a month and was
very much taken up with army life.
|
Silver City Community News
Malvern Leader, Schools Closed
October 17, 1918
Miss Ethel Skerritt returned home the first of the week from Hebron, Neb., where she is teaching in the high school.
School was closed for a week or so on account of Spanish influenza.
She reports that at Geneva, a town just north of Hebron, they have 500 cases of the disease with four deaths Sunday afternoon.
|
Military Updates
Malvern Leader
October 17, 1918
Rev. Peter Jacobs was up to Malvern Sunday afternoon where he has a part in the memorial services held for Russell Burke, killed in France.
Sergeant Will Briggs Seriously Wounded.
A cablegram the past week announced that Sergeant Will Briggs of Company I has been seriously wounded. Since then some of the daily papers have reported the same thing and others
state that he was accidently killed. We have been unable to verify this and with his many Malvern friends we join in the hope that he may still be living and may recover.
Malvern Leader
October 10, 1918
Arthur Phelps Wounded
The morning papers contained the announcement this week that Arthur Phelps who is with Company M of the 168th in France had been severely wounded. We have no further particulars.
Malvern Leader
October 17, 1918
Mrs. James Kinney returned Monday evening from Camp Dodge, where she was called by the serious illness of Miss Mae Kinney, a sister of Mr. Kinney. Miss Kinney was sent
recently to Camp Dodge with the number of Council Bluffs nurses to help care for the Influenza patients there. While there she contracted that disease with pneumonia.
Mrs. Kinney left her slowly improving.
|
|