The Pandemic Influenza outbreak of 1918-1919

A few years ago, I brought home some pictures of my relatives that was in a box which was about to be thrown out by some cousins who didn't know who the people were in them. I rummaged through the box and brought home all the ones with Smith written on them hoping that someone would help me be able to identify our relatives. 

The picture below was broken off on the lower right corner and the upper portion was missing.  On the back it says: John Smith, Grandfather, Sarah Smith, Amanda, Myrtle, Jim, and Guy. It was taken in the early 1900's. They lived in Marion County, Tennessee at the time of this picture. 

This is the original photograph with a little photoshop work.

In 1918 the world was at war.  In mid November the war came to an end. The soldiers were dispatched back home. And, in 1918, one of the largest, if not the largest Influenza Pandemics took the world by storm. Nearly everyone had a story of someone that they knew who succumbed to the influenza epidemic.  Three children (Amanda, Myrtle, and Guy) of my Smith family passed away in succession. Any yet, you learn almost nothing about the influenza epidemic in school. 

Obituaries of Marion County, Tennessee 1895-1920  (Harris)

There were claims that as many as 50,000 people lost their lives, more than the casualties of WWI. The bubonic plague (black death) killed an estimated 62 million Europeans from 1347-1350. The influenza outbreak moved in swiftly and globally in a short amount of time. It is believed that the returning sailors to Boston was the entering point for this killer of humanity into the United States.  

Image: courtesy of the National Museum of Health and Medicine

As one in four Americans contracted the flu, almost all public gatherings had to be cancelled including church services, schools, and theaters to name a few until the flu ran its course. 

Photo from Wikimedia Commons

So, when you start to feel like you are coming down with the flu or a cold. Stay home, rest, and drink plenty of fluids.  I sure would hate to see this kind of thing happen again. 

Sources: 

Tennessee Magazine story by Bill Carey 2014 
Tennessee Encyclopedia story by Allen R. Coggins