by Kimberly Lerch | Published: June 17, 2020
October of 1918, the third week.[1] At the beginning of last week, “places of amusement” were ordered closed, only one church service was allowed per week, but residents’ children were still expected to attend school. Folks were becoming increasingly concerned by the flu directly affecting their community; there had been some civilian deaths in the area. The campus of the University of Illinois had three emergency hospitals set up and the number of students coming down with the flu was rising rapidly. Surgeon General Rupert Blue’s printed interview on the Spanish influenza was enlightening, but didn’t tell them the one thing they wanted to know: when would this end?
All of the information used below was drawn from the Urbana Daily Courier archived in the Illinois Digital Newspaper Collections. The Urbana Daily Courier was printed once every Monday through Saturday by the Urbana Courier Co. in Urbana, Illinois. It carried major international and national stories, but concentrated on local stories on local county and city governments, crime issues, farm news, sports, and some university news, right down to the ‘personals’— a section that would list by name who was currently sick, receiving visitors, et cetera.
The epidemic never led the news; it was never the headline. The war had that distinction, closely followed by the status of the Liberty Loan efforts.
Monday, October 14 – The Alarm has Sounded: Urbana Schools to Close for One Week
There were ten deaths in Champaign County over the weekend. Eight were from Spanish influenza: five listed as pneumonia (following the flu) and the other three listed as from the flu directly.[2] They were:
Baby Clyde Lindeman: 1 year, six months old; son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Lindeman.
Little Robert Ross: son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Ross.
Paul Dust: 23 years old; a musician, he left behind a wife and one-year-old son.
Mrs. Ethel Snook: 26 years old; left behind her husband Orville and son Lawrence.
Mrs. Nora Parker: 26 years old; left behind her sister and father.
Cecil Eaton: a cadet at the U of I’s military aeronautics school; his body was sent to Sumner, Illinois.
Donald Miller: U of I student from Vincennes, Indiana. He was the second person in the last two days on the University of Illinois’ campus to die. As many were going in (300) to the emergency hospitals on campus with the flu as were being discharged (300).
William (Fred) Moller: an undertaker.
Dr. E.J. Miller was reported as gravely ill with the flu. On October 10, it was reported that he had the flu (see October 10 entry). He caught it by extended contact with many sick with the flu. His brother, Dr. L.C. Miller, had just joined the military and Dr. E.J. Miller took on his patients, in addition to those in his own practice.[3]
The Urbana School Board held an emergency meeting and decided to close the public schools for one week. Just last Wednesday, October 9, there was an article that ended with the hopeful sentence, “The situation in the school is not alarming yet.” That was just five days ago.[4]
“…[closing the schools] was the most effective way to try to keep the flu in check.” October 14, 1918—members of the Urbana School Board, at an emergency meeting held that day
The Champaign School Board voted to keep their schools open.[5]
Busey Memorial Library closed until further notice after consulting with local health officials.[6]
Hanging about local confectionery shops was banned. Instructed by the health department, police told the shop owners they were to have their patrons get in and out quickly, to serve their ice cream in paper cups, and thoroughly clean their utensils.[7]
There were so many Daily Urbana Courier employees and members of their family sick from the flu that the newspaper apologizes for the newspaper not being “up to its usual standard.”[8]
Postponed or suspended:
- All activities at the School of Music for at least a week except the Choral Society[9]
- All local Red Cross work at the university was suspended for two weeks[10]
- Taylorville’s anti-horse thief organization meeting was postponed to December 15-16[11]
The first article mentioning the Spanish influenza spreading into St. Joseph appeared.[12]
Tuesday, October 15 – Popular Urbana Doctor Dies from the Flu; Urgent Need for More Nurses
The Champaign School Board “thought it wise to change” their decision of yesterday and ordered that their schools close. They didn’t limit it to one week like Urbana did; they were closed “until further notice.”[13]
“Epidemic continues unchecked at university and in twin cities.” October 15, 1918—headline in today’s paper
Dr. E.J. Miller, Urbana physician (see October 10 and October 14 entries) died from pneumonia.[14]
Four men at the University of Illinois have died so far from the flu.[15] They are:
Byron W. Daugherty of Streator, Illinois, student,
Carl Eliah Pike of Central City, Iowa, instructor in Physics,
Donald Mead and Albeno C . Rodighiero, both of Chicago, both students.
On this date there were approximately 300 cases of the flu on campus; 16 of them women. A separate hospital was set up for the women in the gymnasium of the Women’s Building (what is now known as the English Building). There were also several cases among the faculty; no count or names were given.[16]
United Charities of Urbana and Champaign provided a visiting nurse, Mrs. Maude Nichols, to work with the poorer families in the area that needed help dealing with the flu.[17]
Local women were asked to volunteer as nurses. In the request it is stated there is “an urgent need for help.”[18]
Wednesday, October 16 – Greater Measures Need to be Taken at the State Level; Chicago Not at Its Peak…Yet
Dr. E.J. Miller’s funeral was held today (see October 10, October 14, and October 15 entries).[19]
“Epidemic shows signs of abating.” October 16, 1918—headline in today’s paper
In the above-cited article, it was reported that the doctors believe “the high water mark has been reached and passed” and that although there were currently 400-500 cases in Champaign County, “nearly all of these were progressing favorably.”
Later in that same article, a shortage of physicians and nurses was described. In one day at Burnham Hospital, 600 calls for nurses were not returned. Doctors came out of retirement to assist with the patient overload. [20]
“Every village in Illinois will be affected by influenza before the epidemic subsides.” October 16, 1918—Dr. C. St. Clair Drake, Director of the State Board of Health
Half of the telephone operators were out sick with the flu.[21]
Mrs. Bertha Manning, her son Roland, and her daughter Lucia, of 201 East Oregon Street, were all sick with the flu. There were at least another dozen known cases “within a stone’s throw” of that address.[22]
Dudley Kirkland: 22 years old, son of Rev. R.S. Kirkland. A military man, he left behind a fiancée; he and Miss Helen Freeman planned to marry after the war.
Trixey Bell Hill: in her 20s, left behind a husband, C.S. Hill.
Harry Davidson: son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Davidson, died in Las Vegas.
John Caffery: 72 years old, died in Danville, Illinois; his wife had died in June.
Hiram Hannibal Wheeler: 36 years old, secretary of the army Y.M.C.A., from Chicago. He left behind a wife and four children.[23]
More faculty members were sick. More women were encouraged to work as nurses.[24]
No women’s tea on Thursday.[25]
“Although the situation is bad in many down state communities, it will get worse before it gets better.” October 16, 1918—members of the State Influenza Committee
From Chicago, Dr. E.C. Rosenow of the Mayo Clinic revealed that an announcement was forthcoming on a vaccine to fight Spanish influenza. The formal vaccine announcement would be made later today or tomorrow by Dr. E.C. Rosenow himself. At the current time, however, he refused to make any further comments on the vaccine.[26]
The State Health Board of Illinois reported there were more than 170,000 cases of Spanish influenza in Illinois (excluding Chicago). There were 2,264 deaths in the Chicago area alone and 491 deaths in downstate Illinois.
With this and other data, the state department of health decided that the epidemic was at a point where greater measures needed to be taken at the state level. All movie theaters, night clubs, private clubs, any business that provided “amusement” (non-essential services), and any school that did not have medical services available on site were ordered closed.
“All persons are warned to keep away from crowds, to avoid the person … [that does not cover their] face with a cloth, and to consult a physician immediately upon the first symptoms of what may seem like an ordinary cold.” October 16, 1918—State Health Department
According to the data available at the time, experts believed that Chicago had not reached its peak yet. [27]
Thursday, October 17 – Too Many Names to List All the Dead
Death. The Old, the Young, the Many.
David Nogel: 85 years old; father of G.W. Nogel. Miss Lucile McDowell, a guest of G.W. Nogel in his home last week, died while visiting there (see October 11 entry).
Miss Lucile Hampton: 9 years old, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sylvester Hampton.
William Dunn: 11 years old; only son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Dunn. [28]
Daughter Pfeffer: 3 years old—her name was not given; daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Pfeffer.[29]
There are too many death listings from surrounding small towns and short reports of illness in various families to chronicle here. They were reported in little blurbs throughout the paper as, “Tom Carson, of West Main street, has three young children sick with the flu.”[30]
The Child Welfare Committee of the Women’s Committee of the Council of National Defense made a plea for home health volunteers. They couched their request in patriotic terms, stating that the epidemic was helping the Germans, so “no individual or community can render more patriotic service than in maintaining health.” People were asked to enroll in this service to help win the war. Children could volunteer by washing their hands, and business owners could help by providing fresh air in their shops for their customers.
It’s a call to war against the flu and the soldiers are the citizens, armed with soap and gauze masks, if they were lucky enough to have those.[31]
St. Joseph closed all schools, churches, and “places of amusement,” and prohibited all meetings until further notice. Stores were to be closed by 7:00 p.m. sharp.[32]
Friday, October 18 – If You’re Not Meeting for the War, You’re Not Meeting
Paul Merlin Freeman: 26 years old; he left behind a wife and two children, aged 2 and 4. His wife had the flu at the time of his death and was confined to her bed.
John Collins: 9 years old; son of Mrs. John Collins. His father died of the flu April 24. He left behind, besides his mother, a 3-week-old baby brother.[33]
The Child Welfare Committee wanted Urbana schools to have a school nurse; Champaign already had one.[34]
The Black Eagle Post of the Grand Army of the Republic postponed their meeting due to the flu.[35]
Dr. F.W. Linsemeyer, a local chiropractor who suffered for two weeks overcoming his own case of the flu, shared his thoughts: “For reducing strength and avoirdupois it cannot be beat, for one is reduced to the lowest ebb before there is a change for the better.”[36]
A proclamation issued last night from Dr. C. St. Clair Drake, medical director for Illinois, and approved by Governor Frank O. Lowden, prohibited all gatherings in the State of Illinois that were not considered essential to the war effort.[37]
“It is advisable to prevent all unnecessary social gatherings for the present.” October 18, 1918—State of Illinois Proclamation from Dr. Drake and Gov. Lowden
All meetings that were allowed (essential for the war effort) had to follow these guidelines:
- No overcrowding
- Sick people are not allowed
- Kick coughers, sneezers, and/or spitters out of the meetings
- The place must be properly vented and heated
- The place must be cleaned
The manufacture of Dr. Rosenow’s vaccine (see October 16 entry) began October 17 in Chicago. One hundred thousand doses were expected to be available by Saturday. People just developing the flu, as well as those that wanted immunity from the flu, were to be offered the vaccine. [38]
Saturday, October 19 – Navy Takes Over Frat Houses; Induction Postponed; Flu Numbers Continue to Increase Across the Nation
Albert M. Courtney: 46 years old. Left behind his wife, four children (one married and three at home, aged 14, 10, and 8). His 14-year-old son also has the flu.[39]
Rev. Guy Zerby, pastor of the Webber Street Church of Christ, his son Louis and his daughter Thelma were all seriously ill with the flu, but it was believed that the worst part was over that all were improving.[40]
The Student Navy Training Corps (S.N.T.C.) took over the fraternity houses located on John Street (Pi Kappa Alpha, Lambda Chi Alpha, Delta Kappa Epsilon, Phi Gamma Delta, Ilus, Alpha Tau Omega, and the old Chi Omega house); these locations provided additional space for 419 men.[41]
The Courier printed two sermons for churches that were not open during the epidemic.[42],[43]
The annual Champaign County Red Cross chapter meeting was postponed until November 20.[44]
The exemption board postponed the induction of men into service until further notice.[45]
“The flu continues to increase in 35 states, most of which are east of the Mississippi. Crowded cities are to blame.” October 19, 1918—Washington[46]
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Notes:
[1] For an overview of local events during the second week of October, see the previous post, “Five Weeks in October: Week Two.”
[2] “Death Toll is Heavy in County,” Urbana Daily Courier, October 14, 1918, https://idnc.library.illinois.edu/?a=d&d=TUC19181014.2.3&e=——-en-20–1–img-txIN———.
[3] “Two Prominent Citizens are Critically Ill,” Urbana Daily Courier, October 14, 1918, https://idnc.library.illinois.edu/?a=dc&d=TUC19181014.2.16&e=——-en-20–1–img-txIN———.
[4] “Schools and Library Close,” Urbana Daily Courier, October 14, 1918, https://idnc.library.illinois.edu/?a=d&d=TUC19181014.2.4&e=——-en-20–1–img-txIN———.
[5] “Schools and Library Close,” Urbana Daily Courier, October 14, 1918, https://idnc.library.illinois.edu/?a=d&d=TUC19181014.2.4&e=——-en-20–1–img-txIN———.
[6] “Schools and Library Close,” Urbana Daily Courier, October 14, 1918, https://idnc.library.illinois.edu/?a=d&d=TUC19181014.2.4&e=——-en-20–1–img-txIN———.
[7] “Schools and Library Close,” Urbana Daily Courier, October 14, 1918, https://idnc.library.illinois.edu/?a=d&d=TUC19181014.2.4&e=——-en-20–1–img-txIN———.
[8] “Courier Hit Hard by “Flu”,”, Urbana Daily Courier, https://idnc.library.illinois.edu/?a=d&d=TUC19181014.2.5&e=——-en-20–1–img-txIN———.
[9] “School of Music Activities Postponed Because of “Flu”,”, Urbana Daily Courier, October, 14, 1918, https://idnc.library.illinois.edu/?a=d&d=TUC19181014.2.6&srpos=1&e=14-10-1918-14-10-1918–en-20-TUC-1–img-txIN-%22choral+society%22——–
[10] “Suspend Red Cross Work at the University,” Urbana Daily Courier, October 14, 1918, https://idnc.library.illinois.edu/?a=d&d=TUC19181014.2.7&e=——-en-20–1–img-txIN———.
[11] “Meeting Postponed,” Urbana Daily Courier, October 14, 1918, https://idnc.library.illinois.edu/?a=d&d=TUC19181014.2.26&e=——-en-20–1–img-txIN———.
[12] “St. Joseph Folk Have Influenza,” Urbana Daily Courier, October 14, 1918, https://idnc.library.illinois.edu/?a=d&d=TUC19181014.2.22&e=——-en-20–1–img-txIN———
[13] “Four Students Victims of “Flu”,” Urbana Daily Courier, October 15, 1918, https://idnc.library.illinois.edu/?a=d&d=TUC19181015.2.12&e=——-en-20–1–img-txIN———
[14] “Dr. Miller Loses Fight for Life,” Urbana Daily Courier, October 15, 1918, https://idnc.library.illinois.edu/?a=d&d=TUC19181015.2.5&e=——-en-20–1–img-txIN———.
[15] “Four Students Victims of “Flu”,” Urbana Daily Courier, October 15, 1918, https://idnc.library.illinois.edu/?a=d&d=TUC19181015.2.12&e=——-en-20–1–img-txIN———.
[16] “University News,” Urbana Daily Courier, October 15, 1918, https://idnc.library.illinois.edu/?a=d&d=TUC19181015.2.1&e=——-en-20–1–img-txIN———.
[17] “United Charities Anxious to Help,” Urbana Daily Courier, October 15, 1918, https://idnc.library.illinois.edu/?a=d&d=TUC19181015.2.4&e=——-en-20–1–img-txIN———.
[18] “University News,” Urbana Daily Courier, October 15, 1918, https://idnc.library.illinois.edu/?a=d&d=TUC19181015.2.1&e=——-en-20–1–img-txIN———.
[19] “Miller Funeral Will be Private,” Urbana Daily Courier, October 16, 1918, https://idnc.library.illinois.edu/?a=d&d=TUC19181016.2.2&e=——-en-20–1–img-txIN———.
[20] “Epidemic Shows Signs of Abating,” Urbana Daily Courier, October 16, 1918, https://idnc.library.illinois.edu/?a=d&d=TUC19181016.2.3&e=——-en-20–1–img-txIN———.
[21] “Epidemic Shows Signs of Abating,” Urbana Daily Courier, October 16, 1918, https://idnc.library.illinois.edu/?a=d&d=TUC19181016.2.3&e=——-en-20–1–img-txIN———.
[22] “Epidemic Shows Signs of Abating,” Urbana Daily Courier, October 16, 1918, https://idnc.library.illinois.edu/?a=d&d=TUC19181016.2.3&e=——-en-20–1–img-txIN———.
[23] “Five More Were Taken by Death,” Urbana Daily Courier, October 16, 1918, https://idnc.library.illinois.edu/?a=d&d=TUC19181016.2.4&e=——-en-20–1–img-txIN———.
[24] “University News,” Urbana Daily Courier, October 16, 1918, https://idnc.library.illinois.edu/?a=d&d=TUC19181016.2.17&e=——-en-20–1–img-txIN———.
[25] “University News,” Urbana Daily Courier, October 16, 1918, https://idnc.library.illinois.edu/?a=d&d=TUC19181016.2.17&e=——-en-20–1–img-txIN———.
[26] “Mayo Doctor Has Vaccine for Influenza,” Urbana Daily Courier, October 16, 1918, https://idnc.library.illinois.edu/?a=d&d=TUC19181016.2.1&e=——-en-20–1–img-txIN———.
[27] “170,000 Cases of Flu in Illinois,” Urbana Daily Courier, October 16, 1918, https://idnc.library.illinois.edu/?a=d&d=TUC19181016.2.1&e=——-en-20–1–img-txIN———.
[28] “H.J. Pepper Among the Dead,” Urbana Daily Courier, October 17, 1918, https://idnc.library.illinois.edu/?a=d&d=TUC19181017.2.3&e=——-en-20–1–img-txIN———.
[29] “Death Claims Child,” Urbana Daily Courier, October 17, 1918, https://idnc.library.illinois.edu/?a=d&d=TUC19181017.2.8&e=——-en-20–1–img-txIN———.
[30] “Personals,” Urbana Daily Courier, October 17, 1918, https://idnc.library.illinois.edu/?a=d&d=TUC19181017.2.24&srpos=1&e=17-10-1918-17-10-1918–en-20-TUC-1–img-txIN-%22tom+carson%22——–.
[31] “Want Home Health Volunteers,” Urbana Daily Courier, October 17, 1918, https://idnc.library.illinois.edu/?a=d&d=TUC19181017.2.10&srpos=1&e=17-10-1918-17-10-1918–en-20-TUC-1–img-txIN-%22wash%22——–.
[32] “Schools and Churches Closed at St. Joseph,” Urbana Daily Courier, October 17, 1918, https://idnc.library.illinois.edu/?a=d&d=TUC19181017.2.55&e=——-en-20–1–img-txIN———.
[33] “Two More are Claimed by Death,” Urbana Daily Courier, October 18, 1918, https://idnc.library.illinois.edu/?a=d&d=TUC19181018.2.5&e=——-en-20–1–img-txIN———.
[34] “Renew Agitation for School Nurse,” Urbana Daily Courier, October 18, 1918, https://idnc.library.illinois.edu/?a=d&d=TUC19181018.2.4&e=——-en-20–1–img-txIN———.
[35] “Meeting Dispensed With,” Urbana Daily Courier, October 18, 1918, https://idnc.library.illinois.edu/?a=d&d=TUC19181018.2.7&e=——-en-20–1–img-txIN———.
[36] “Says Flu is “there” in Reducing Avoirdupois“, Urbana Daily Courier, October 18, 1918, https://idnc.library.illinois.edu/?a=d&d=TUC19181018.2.8&e=——-en-20–1–img-txIN———
[37] “State Closes All Meetings,” Urbana Daily Courier, October 18, 1918, https://idnc.library.illinois.edu/?a=d&d=TUC19181018.2.15&e=——-en-20–1–img-txIN———
[38] “State Closes All Meetings,” Urbana Daily Courier, October 18, 1918, https://idnc.library.illinois.edu/?a=d&d=TUC19181018.2.15&e=——-en-20–1–img-txIN———.
[39] “A.M. Courtney Another Victim,” Urbana Daily Courier, October 19, 1918, https://idnc.library.illinois.edu/?a=d&d=TUC19181019.2.4&e=——-en-20–1–img-txIN———.
[40] “Whole Family Sick With Influenza,” Urbana Daily Courier, October 19, 1918, https://idnc.library.illinois.edu/?a=d&d=TUC19181019.2.27&e=——-en-20–1–img-txIN———.
[41] “Navy S.N.T.C. Takes Over Fraternity Houses,” Urbana Daily Courier, October 19, 1918, https://idnc.library.illinois.edu/?a=d&d=TUC19181019.2.6&e=——-en-20–1–img-txIN———.
[42] “A Sunday Evening Sermon for Courier Readers,” Urbana Daily Courier, October 19, 1918, https://idnc.library.illinois.edu/?a=d&d=TUC19181019.2.37&e=——-en-20–1–img-txIN———.
[43] “A Sunday Morning Sermon for Courier Readers,” Urbana Daily Courier, October 19, 1918, https://idnc.library.illinois.edu/?a=d&d=TUC19181019.2.54&e=——-en-20–1–img-txIN———.
[44] “Annual Meeting of the Red Cross is Postponed,” October 19, 1918, https://idnc.library.illinois.edu/?a=d&d=TUC19181019.2.9&e=——-en-20–1–img-txIN———.
[45] “Induction of Drafted Men is Postponed,” Urbana Daily Courier, October 19, 1918, https://idnc.library.illinois.edu/?a=d&d=TUC19181019.2.8&e=——-en-20–1–img-txIN———.
[46] “’Flu’ Increases in Most of U.S.,” Urbana Daily Courier, October 19, 1918, https://idnc.library.illinois.edu/?a=d&d=TUC19181019.2.60&e=——-en-20–1–img-txIN———.