Allen County, Indiana Genealogy

1777

November 5, 2022 post The Founding of the United States on Facebook:

Smallpox

Smallpox was the first major threat to General Washington, endangering the lives of thousands, including military and civilian alike, the continued viability of the Continental Army, and the success of the war for independence from Britain

"In the early years of the American Revolution, George Washington faced an invisible killer that he had once battled as a teenager. While the earlier fight had threatened only his life, at stake in this confrontation were thousands, including military and civilian alike, the continued viability of Washington's army, and the success of the war for independence from Britain.

The unseen killer was smallpox, which Washington described in 1777 as a potentially greater threat "than…the Sword of the Enemy." Smallpox was typically brought to eighteen-century America by either English immigrants or recently-arrived slaves. Unlike in Europe, however, the majority of the American population led relatively isolated lives on farms and plantations. Outside of the coastal cities of Boston, Philadelphia, and Charleston, there was little chance of acquiring the disease. For example, there were no smallpox epidemics in the colony of Virginia prior to 1747.

In fact, very few Virginians were exposed to smallpox prior to the American Revolution. One of the few Virginians who was exposed was George Washington, who contracted the disease during his only trip away from the American mainland while visiting Barbados in November of 1751. Washington was only nineteen years old at the time and the illness, which lasted nearly a month, left him only with slight scarring. The brush with smallpox, however, did provide Washington with immunity from further attacks of the disease, the benefits of which would not become apparent until many years later.

The coming of the American Revolution, however, made the spread of smallpox more widespread. Soldiers arriving from England and Germany frequently brought smallpox to American shores. In addition, recruits from all over North America joined the Continental Army, increasing the scope of the disease. Within days of taking command of the army at Cambridge, Massachusetts during the summer of 1775, Washington wrote to assure the President of the Continental Congress that he had been "particularly attentive to the least Symptoms of the Small Pox," quarantining anyone suspected of having the disease in a special hospital. Washington further promised that he would "continue the utmost Vigilance against this most dangerous enemy."

By the fall of 1775 Boston--which was under British occupation--suffered from a widespread smallpox epidemic that threatened to spread throughout the ranks of Washington's army. Reports even surfaced that the British deliberately sent infected people out of the city to expand the epidemic into American lines. In response, Washington forbade refugees from Boston to come near the American camp in order to avoid the risk of exposure. After the British left the city in March of 1776, Washington sent in a force of 1,000 smallpox-immune American troops to occupy Boston in order to avoid further spread of the disease. Smallpox continued to plague the Continental Army as well as the civilian population. Epidemics broke out in both Boston and Philadelphia in the summer of 1776, and the retreat of an American force sent to take Quebec was blamed on a number of factors including the high prevalence of smallpox amongst soldiers.

While Washington believed wholeheartedly in the efficacy of inoculation, in May of 1776 he ordered that no one in his army be inoculated; violations of this order would result in severe punishment. The summer campaigns were about to begin and Washington could not afford to have a large number of his men incapacitated for a month, vulnerable to attack by the British. Washington eventually instituted a system where new recruits would be inoculated with smallpox immediately upon enlistment. As a result soldiers would contract the milder form of the disease at the same time that they were being outfitted with uniforms and weapons. Soldiers would consequently be completely healed, inoculated, and supplied by the time they left to join the army."
Mary V. Thompson
Research Historian
Mount Vernon Estate 

February 6, 2024 post by A Daily Dose of the American Rev on Facebook:

The vast majority of the soldiers who died during the Revolutionary War succumbed to disease, not combat wounds. And the worst scourge the American army faced was smallpox.

Deadly and highly contagious, smallpox swept across America repeatedly during the War, spread by the movement of armies and refugees. The disease was painful, disfiguring, and debilitating. For around 40% of those who contracted it, smallpox was fatal.

Because many British soldiers were immune, having been exposed to the disease in Europe, and because they practiced inoculation, the British were far less vulnerable to the disease than were the Americans. The American army on the other hand, without much natural immunity and without a uniform practice of inoculation, suffered greatly. At its peak smallpox incapacitated about 35% of Washington’s army. Smallpox was a major factor in the failure of the Quebec campaign, with the disease killing or rending unfit for duty nearly half of the American army.

At the time of the war there were only two known ways to combat the disease—quarantine and inoculation. Inoculation was dangerous and controversial. Unlike vaccination (with which it is often confused), inoculation involved cutting into the person’s skin and rubbing the wound with a string or piece of cloth contaminated with the blood of a person suffering from a mild case of the disease. The inoculated person nearly always contracted smallpox as a result, but typically only the mild version that then rendered him immune to the deadlier variant. About 2% of those who were inoculated died as a result.

There was widespread fear and distrust of inoculation and at various times it was illegal in at least six states (including Virginia and Massachusetts). Washington, who had survived a bout of smallpox in the early 1750’s and was therefore immune, strictly insisted on quarantine and vehemently opposed inoculation. After learning that some officers were surreptitiously being inoculated he issued a general order on May 26, 1776, declaring that, “Any officer in the Continental Army, who shall suffer himself to be inoculated, will be cashiered and turned out of the army, and have his name published in the newspapers throughout the continent, as an enemy and traitor to his country.”

But by January 1777, Washington was being forced into a major change of heart. The army was being ravaged by smallpox, and there was widespread fear that the British were using infected refugees to deliberately spread the disease among the American army. Quarantine simply wasn’t a feasible way to contain the spread of the disease. Dr. William Shippen, the American director general of hospitals, was urging General Washington to inoculate the army. Finally, in early February, Washington reluctantly consented. In a draft of a letter to John Hancock, President of the Continental Congress, Washington wrote, “The small pox is making such head in every quarter that I am fearful it will infect all the troops that have not had it. I am divided in my opinion as to the expediency of inoculation, the surgeons are for it, but if I could by any means put a stop to it, I would rather do it. However I hope I shall stand acquitted if I submit the matter to the judgment and determination of the medical gentlemen.”

Officially, though, Washington kept his reservations to himself. On February 6, 1777 he wrote Dr. Shippen, directing that inoculations proceed at once. “Finding the small pox to be spreading much and fearing that no precaution can prevent it from running through the whole of our army, I have determined that the troops shall be inoculated. This expedient may be attended with some inconveniences and some disadvantages, but yet I trust in its consequences will have the most happy effects. Necessity not only authorizes but seems to require the measure, for should the disorder infect the army in the natural way and rage with its usual virulence we should have more to dread from it than from the sword of the enemy.”

Because the effect of the inoculations would be to render much of his army sick and out of commission for four weeks, absolute secrecy was required. Washington also trusted that poor weather would prevent any significant British attack on the army at its winter quarters during the recovery period.

Thanks to the inoculation program, most of the American army became immune to the disease and the potential disaster that threatened the cause in the winter of 1776-1777 was averted. In the words of one medical historian, “I think it is fair to claim that an intelligent and properly controlled application of the only method then known of defeating the ravages of smallpox, which in the years 1775-76 threatened to ruin the American cause, was a factor of considerable importance in the eventual outcome of the War of Independence.”

The mass smallpox inoculation of the Continental Army began on this day in 1777.

The painting is “Allegorical portrait of Thomas François Lenormand de Victot” (1783) by Nicolas-René Jollain. de Victot died in April 1782, while serving with the fleet of Admiral de Grasse.

1893

September 15, 2014post by the Indiana Genealogical Society on Facebook:

TUESDAY TIDBIT: In August & September 1893, the city of Muncie had an epidemic of smallpox. The Indiana State Board of Health initiated a quarantine, and also ordered: 1) all schools and churches closed; 2) all mail at the Muncie post office to be disinfected; 3) all luggage on Muncie trains to be disinfected & all passengers to carry a certificate stating they'd been vaccinated; 4) all garbage in the quarantine district to be incinerated. Schools were allowed to reopen when they had vaccination certificates for their students.

Source: Twelfth annual report of the State Board of Health of Indiana for the fiscal year ending October 31, 1893 (Indianapolis: William B. Burford, 1894).

1904

1904 - Four More Smallpox Cases - Many Shopmen Have Been Ill

Article from Jan 31, 1904 The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette (Fort Wayne, Indiana) 1904, Smallpox, Fort wayne, Indiana

1904 - Four More Smallpox Cases - Many Shopmen Have Been Ill The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Sunday, January 31, 1904, Page 6.

FOUR MORE SMALLPOX CASES

MANY SHOPMEN HAVE BEEN EXPOSED

Patient Was Ill Three Weeks Without a Doctor's Care and His Father Went to Work Every Day--The Smallpox Situation.

According to reports made to Dr. Macbeth health commissioner, Earl Stephens, of 537 Hough street, has been suffering from smallpox for three weeks without a doctor's care, and his father has been going to his work every day in that time.

Macbeth was called to the Stephens home yesterday afternoon, and found Mrs. Stephens and her two sons, Joseph, aged twenty, and Earl, aged eighteen, sick with smallpox. A younger child, a girl, is also sick and shows preliminary symptoms of smallpox. Earl has partially recovered, and the parents informed the doctor that he had been sick for three weeks, but they did not summon a physictan, as the boy was not seriously ill and they thought he only had "some kind a rash." During the entire period the father has been going to his work daily at the Olds wagon works.

Another new smallpox patient is Herman Kraft, of 1025 Washington boulevard. He is twenty-one years of age and an employe of the Wabash shops. He was taken to the isolation hospital. The Stephens patients were left at home and the house was quarantined.

Two patients were discharged from the isolation hospital yesterday, leaving seven inmates at the institution. Dr. Macbeth says there have been about thirty-five cases altogether in the city this winter. Most of the cases were of a mild form, but there were a few which proved serious. Mrs. Albers, of Superior street, has smallpox of a most malignant type, and for a time it was thought she could not recover, She is now on the mend, however.

1904 - School to be Closed Some Time - Students at Franklin Exposed to Smallpox last three weeks

Article from Mar 12, 1904 The Fort Wayne News And Sentinel (Fort Wayne, Indiana) 1904, Bloomingdale, Franklin school, Smallpox

1904 - School to be Closed Some Time - Students at Franklin Exposed to Smallpox last three weeks The Fort Wayne News And Sentinel, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Saturday, March 12, 1904, Page 5.

THE SCHOOL TO BE CLOSED SOME TIME

Pupils at Franklin Building Have Been Exposed for Several Days.

Dr. A. H. Macbeth stated this morning that it will be necessary to close Franklin school in Bloomingdale for two or three weeks on account of the fact that the children have been exposed to smallpox for the last three weeks.

The disease made its appearance first in the family of Mrs. Anna McGuire, who lives on Franklin avenue, north of the school building, and attacked Ethel, the 17-year-old daughter. Her attack made its appearance February 22, but was not treated by a physician. Four weeks ago last Tuesday Addlson McGuire, a son 20 years of age, became ill. and on Thursday of this week he went to a physician, who diagnosed the case as Cuban itch.

Yesterday the health department was informed of the matter and Dr. Macbeth made an investigation and found that Mrs. McGuire has had smallpox in a light form and that an older daughter, Miss Grace McGuire, who is a teacher in one of the schools outside the city limits, has been visiting home frequently, although staying most of the time with an aunt on Superior street.

He and his assistants worked all night in an effort to reach the families that had been exposed and five placed under quarantine, but all will be released as soon as the members of the household have been vaccinated and the houses disinfected.

Mrs. James E. VanHorn, who lives next door to the McGuire family, was removed last night to isolation hospital suffering from the disease, and it is believed some of her five children are pupils in the school.

1904 - Never Called Doctor - Pleasant Township Family Has Smallpox

Article from Mar 23, 1904 Fort Wayne Daily News (Fort Wayne, Indiana) 1904, Smallpox, Pleasant township, Allen county, Indiana

1904 - Never Called Doctor - Pleasant Township Family Has Smallpox Fort Wayne Daily News, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Wednesday, March 23, 1904, Page 9.

NEVER CALLED DOCTOR

PLEASANT TOWNSHIP FAMILY HAS SMALL-POX.

Nursed Each Other and Used Home Remedies- Other SmallPox Cases.

The county health officer made sensational discovery in Pleasant township this morning. The report came to the city last night that there had been several cases of smallpox in the family of Mr. and Mrs. M. Thurber, in Pleasant township. No report had been received from any physician and the report was considered unfounded. An investigation made today proved that the rumor was true. Cases of small-pox developed in the Thurber household several weeks ago and since the first case each member of the household has contracted the contagion. When the doctor arrived this morning the last patients were just convalescing. The house had never been quarantined and no physician called in. Members of the family nursed each other and used home remedies. It is feared that many have been exposed. The residence will be fumigated at once.

Other Small-Pox Cases.

Della Clinger, a old girl from Bryan, O., is ill of smallpox and has been removed to the isolation hospital. She has been visiting relatives at 33 Elizabeth street, near Spy Run avenue, just outside the city. The little girl's parents were stricken with the contagion shortly after she left home to come to Fort Wayne visit. She had been exposed before she reached the city.

James E. Van Horn and his four children, of 1714 Franklin avenue, have been removed to the isolation hospital. Mrs. Van Horn was stricken with the contagion a short time ago and the other members of the family are now ill.

1904 - Child is Dead; Mother Has Smallpox - Mrs. Charles Eisenhut - James E. VanHorn

Article from Mar 24, 1904 Fort Wayne Weekly Journal-Gazette (Fort Wayne, Indiana) 1904, Smallpox, Fort wayne, Indiana, Mrs. charles eisenhut, James vanhorn

1904 - Child is Dead; Mother Has Smallpox - Mrs. Charles Eisenhut - James E. VanHorn Fort Wayne Weekly Journal-Gazette, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Thursday, March 24, 1904, Page 12.

CHILD IS DEAD; MOTHER HAS SMALLPOX

The twelve day-old child of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Eisenhut of 1007 West Third street, died, Tuesday morning of capillary bronchitis. The babe's mother lies at her home of smallpox and the city health departmont was called upon to bury the little one's remains. The case is particularly sad. Mrs. Eisenhut is not in a serious condition as a result of the smallpox but the shock of the death of her baby weighs greatly upon her. Mrs. Eisenhut was formerly Miss Emma Merachberger, and she is well known in the city.

After the birth of the child on March 12, the physicians noticed an eruption on the body of the mother, but it was thought to be nothing unusual. Later it developed that she suffered from smallpox. Dr. Macbeth when notifed of the case immediately quarantined all persons who had been exposed. The body of the babe was then placed in casket and taken to Lindenwood cemotery, where it was interred.

Whole Family Attacked.

Mr. James E. Van Horn and his four children, who reside at 1741 Franktin avenue, were removed Tuesday to the isolation hospital. The mother was stricken with smallpox some time ago, and now all the members of the family have the disease.

1904 - Many People Exposed - Bungling Work in Quarantine of Small-Pox - Elizabeth Street

Article from Mar 31, 1904 The Fort Wayne News (Fort Wayne, Indiana) 1904, Smallpox, Fort wayne, Indiana

1904 - Many People Exposed - Bungling Work in Quarantine of Small-Pox - Elizabeth Street The Fort Wayne News, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Thursday, March 31, 1904, Page 4.

MANY PEOPLE EXPOSED

BUNGLING WORK IN QUARANTINE OF SMALL-POX.

Man and Wife On Elizabeth Street Not Under Detention Are Stricken.

There is fear of a spread of pox on Elizabeth street. The authorities seem to have been negligent in their duty. About two weeks ago the health officer discovered acase of small-pox in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Bert Klinger, at 33 Elizabeth street. The patient was moved to the isolation hospital at once and the Klinger home was fumigated but not quarantined. The neighbors thought at the time that the proceeding was a singular one. Since that time and are now confined to their beds at home. It is possible that they will be removed to the isolation hospital.

The entire neighborhood is alarmed today and many the complaints have been made against the authorities. The first case on Elizabeth street was traced to a woman whose child was stricken with small-pox in Fort Wayne. The child was taken to isolation hospital and the woman accompanied the child there as nurse. The woman never had the small-pox and left the hospital when the child recovered. The next day after the child was sent to Elizabeth street cured the woman was stricken small-pox and had to be taken back to the hospital. Residents of Spy street blame the health department of Fort out Wayne for the conditions existing out there today.

1904 - Roosted on the Steps - Could Not Find a Place to Sleep in Grabill - Small-Pox

Article from Jun 3, 1904 Fort Wayne Daily News (Fort Wayne, Indiana) 1904, Smallpox, Grabill

1904 - Roosted on the Steps - Could Not Find a Place to Sleep in Grabill - Small-PoxFort Wayne Daily News, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Friday, June 3, 1904, Page 2.

ROOSTED ON THE STEPS

COULD NOT FIND A PLACE. TO SLEEP IN GRABILL.

Man Afflicted With: Small-Pox Has Hard Time Until Health Officer Comes.

The county health officers report that a man of the name of Stuckey, who was employed at the Lloyd Hursh saloon at Grabill as bartender, is ill of small-pox and is now quarantined in a house at Grabill. A few days ago Stuckey was taken ill and began to break out. The case was supposed to be small-pox and Hursh turned him out of the residence portion of his saloon and while sick of the contagion he sat on the steps of the place all night as residents would not come to his aid for fear of contracting the disease.

Late yesterday afternoon the county health officers under the direction of Health Officer Proegler, placed the man in the room of an unoccupied house and arranged for proper care, attention and nursing. It is not known how many have been exposed to the man before he was placed in quarantine.

September 6, 2017 post on the original Great Memories and History of Fort Wayne, Indiana page on Facebook.

1904 - Filed Affidavit Against Doctor - Health Commissioner Says He Failed to Report Smallpox

Article from Aug 17, 1904 Fort Wayne Daily News (Fort Wayne, Indiana) 1904, Smallpox, Fort wayne, Indiana

1904 - Filed Affidavit Against Doctor - Health Commissioner Says He Failed to Report Smallpox Fort Wayne Daily News, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Wednesday, August 17, 1904, Page 2.

FILED AFFIDAVIT AGAINST DOCTOR

HEALTH COMMISSIONER SAYS HE FAILED TO REPORT SMALLPOX CASECOURT NOTES.

This afternoon before Justice Tancey, Health Commissioner MacBeth filed an affidavit against Dr. Marcus Greenewald, of 1713 Wells street for failure to report smallpox.

1907

December 16, 2014 post by the Indiana Genealogical Society on Facebook:

TUESDAY TIDBIT: In March 1907, inspectors from the Indiana State Board of Health went to Purdue University to treat an epidemic of smallpox that had allegedly been spread by 2 fortune tellers. The school ordered all remaining students to get vaccinated or else be expelled.

Source: Twenty-sixth annual report of the State Board of Health of Indiana for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1907, statistical year ending December 31, 1907 (Indianapolis: William B. Burford, 1907).