|
 The Program will be presented by Bill Donath, Society Researcher.
The topic of the program is the effect of the Spanish Influenza
Epidemic of 1918-1920. He will touch on topics such as Mother’s with
new born children; The Doctors who served the county communities;
Families with multiple Deaths; Deaths of Caregivers; WW I flu Deaths
and others as time permits.
The following is an excerpt from the Spring 2019
Society Quarterly: Roots & Braches.
The Spanish Influenza Epidemic In Logan County,
Illinois
The Spanish Influenza Epidemic, of October,
1918-April, 1920, was deadly for the general population,
accounting for several hundred deaths, in Logan County, during
that period. But for particular portions of the population the
death rate was much higher. The portion of the population in
which the disease was most deadly was that of mothers with newly
born babies. Of the twenty-one cases of mothers with newborn
babies where the mother either had influenza-pneumonia during
the birthing process or contracted influenza-pneumonia shortly
after the birth, fourteen mothers died. The example I use here
is that of Mrs. William K. Maxwell, mother of the famous author,
William K. Maxwell, Jr., native of Lincoln. I remember watching
an interview with William Maxwell, who was a young boy at the
time of his mother’s death, and how he told, in an emotional
account, of the impact his mother’s death had on him and how his
life changed forever. Presented here is a series of articles,
from the Lincoln Courier-Herald and the Lincoln Semi-Weekly
Star, that present an account of the few days it took for Mrs.
Maxwell to become ill, deliver her third child and succumb to
the deadly disease.
"Mr. and Mrs. William Maxwell XE "Maxwell,
William K. M/M" , who have been visiting in Bloomington, are
reported to have contracted influenza and are both ill there."
Dec. 28, 1918
"Word was received this morning regarding the
condition of Mr. and Mrs. William K. Maxwell XE "Maxwell,
William K. M/M" who are ill with influenza in Bloomington. Mrs.
Maxwell was reported as not being quite so well. Mr. Maxwell is
greatly improved. Mrs. Hugh Hunter
XE "Hunter, Hugh Mrs."
and Mrs. Wm. Bates XE "Bates, Will Mrs."
went to Bloomington today to spend the day with Mrs. Maxwell."
Dec. 29, 1918
Baby Born While Mother Ill With Pneumonia
"A son was born to Mr. and Mrs. W. K. Maxwell XE
"Maxwell, William K. M/M" of Lincoln XE "Lincoln" at the
hospital in Bloomington yesterday morning at 5 o'clock. Both Mr.
and Mrs. Maxwell are ill in the hospital, Mrs. Maxwell, XE
"Maxwell, Mrs." with double pneumonia, and Mr. Maxwell, with a
severe case of influenza. Mr. Maxwell XE "Maxwell, Mr." was
reported as slightly better this morning. Mrs. Maxwell is in a
serious condition, and her many friends here are anxious
regarding her welfare." Jan. 1, 1919.
[to top of second column] |
“A
son was born to Mr. and Mrs. William Maxwell XE "Maxwell, William
M/M" on the January 1st at the hospital in Bloomington,
and on Thursday morning Mrs. Maxwell and the baby were reported as
doing fairly well. Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell have both been ill in
Bloomington with influenza and grave concern is had for Mrs.
Maxwell, This is their third child.”
Mrs. W. K. Maxwell Dies in Bloomington
"The entire community was shocked this morning to learn of the death
in Bloomington of Mrs. W. K. Maxwell
XE "Maxwell, William K. Mrs." at Brokaw hospital, where she has
been seriously ill for the past week with influenza which developed
into double pneumonia. An infant son was born on New Year's Day,
since which time, Mrs. Maxwell XE "Maxwell" gradually become worse.
Death occurred this morning. Mr. Maxwell XE "Maxwell"
is still in the same hospital with influenza. The baby is doing
nicely.
"Mrs. Maxwell XE "Maxwell, Mrs." has always lived in Lincoln XE
"Lincoln" and was prominent socially and has hosts of friends who
are deeply shocked at the news of her death.
"Eva
Blossom Blinn XE "Blinn, Eva Blossom" was born in Lincoln XE
"Lincoln" , the oldest daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. E. D.
Blinn XE "Blinn, E. D. M/M" , Sept. 2, 1881. During her early
life she was educated by a private tutor and later attended the
seminary at Monticello, Godfrey, Ill.
"On the second of June, 1903, she was married to William K.
Maxwell, XE "Maxwell, William K." who has been a prominent
insurance man in the city and Illinois for a number of years. Mr.
and Mrs. Maxwell were the parents of three children, Edward
Creighton XE "Maxwell, Edward Creighton" , 15: William K.,
XE "Maxwell, William K."
Jr., 10; and the infant son born on New Year's day.
"Mrs. Maxwell was a member of the Christian church. She is survived
by her husband, three children, one brother, E. D. Blinn
XE "Blinn, E. D." , Jr.,
and a sister Mrs. Will Bates XE "Bates, Will Mrs." , all of
Lincoln XE "Lincoln" : also by a foster sister, Mrs. William
Young
XE "Young, William Mrs."
of Bloomington.
"The remains will be brought to Lincoln XE "Lincoln" tonight for
burial. Funeral arrangements have not been made yet." Jan. 3, 1919.
[Diane Osborn and Bill Donath]
|
