Tag Archives: Clay City

Smallpox Epidemic, Part I

IN AN EPIDEMIC FORM

Smallpox Has Broken Out At And
Near Clay City, Ind.

Secretary Hurty Telegraphs Governor
Mount of the Conditions – Con-
fluent Smallpox

Smallpox is raging in epidemic form in Clay City, a small mining town in Clay county. The town has a population of six or seven hundred and it is estimated that over one-third of it is stricken with the disease. Many of the cases have assumed the confluent form. Dr. J. N. Hurty, the secretary of the State Board of Health, at present in Clay City, has telegraphed the boards of health of the adjoining counties warning them of the prevalence of the disease, and everything possible is being done to prevent its spread.

A few days ago an epidemic resembling smallpox appeared in Clay City, but as the disease was very mild the local physicians believed it to be a malignant form of chicken-pox and the patients were treated accordingly. The disease, however, began to spread very rapidly and it was not long until it was estimated that there were in the neighborhood of three hundred cases. The local board of health in Clay City became alarmed and telegraphed for Dr. Hurty, who is an expert in diagnosing the disease. After an examination of the first patient with whom he came in contact, Dr. Hurty at once pronounced the disease to be smallpox. When the citizens of the town became aware that the disease had been diagnosed as smallpox, they became frantic with fear and excitement, and many rushed home and began packing their effects with the intention of escaping from the town, but they were too late. Acting under the instructions of Dr. Hurty the officials immediately began the enforcement of the quarantine laws and no citizen who had come in contact with the disease was permitted to leave. All incoming and outgoing mails are being disinfected and nothing that would be likely to transmit the disease is allowed to be shipped away from the town. It is said that there are many cases in Owen county just over the line from Clay county, which have probably been contracted by exposure to the disease in Clay City. Greene county also reports a great many cases of so-called chicken-pox, but the cases have exactly the same symptoms as those in Clay county.

The boards of health of the various adjoining counties will hold meeting to-day and take some definite action to prevent the disease from spreading.

At various time chicken-pox has been reported to the State Board of Health, but each time there has always been a diversity of opinion among the physicians as to the diagnosis of the disease, some insisting that it was a mild form of smallpox and others maintaining that it was nothing but chicken-pox. Previous to the present epidemic in Clay City there had been no fatalities in any cases reported and very few of them had even been serious, so that a reasonable doubt might have arisen as to the correct diagnosis of the case. The confluent form of the disease in the epidemic at Clay City which often results fatally, removes the least shadow of a doubt that might exist that the disease is smallpox.

Last night Dr. Hurty telegraphed Governor Mount, notifying him of the conditions at Clay City.

City Board Will Act.

Dr. Clark, of the City Board of Health, was asked last night what precautions the Indianapolis Board of Health will take to prevent any possibility of the disease becoming prevalent in this city. He answered that if the epidemic in Clay county was as serious as Dr. Hurty reported the board will hold a meeting to-day to devise plans to prevent anyone entering the city who might have come in contact with the disease there, and also to take up the question of what would be done with the patients providing smallpox should break out in the city. He added, however, that Dr. Hurty no doubt will take all necessary precautions to prevent the disease from spreading further than the locality to which it is now confined.

“In An Epidemic Form,” The Indianapolis Journal (Indianapolis, Indiana), 16 January 1900, p. 8, col. 4; digitial image, Chronicling America (http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ : accessed 6 December 2014).

Branching Out

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Raymond Yegerlehner with unknown girl, c1920 (Photograph courtesy of Steve Yegerlehner)

Some of my faithful readers may have noticed over the last month that there are many subtle changes happening to my blog. There are several new sub-pages that can be accessed through the tabs at the top of the page.

First, I have begun accepting genealogy clients again. I have updated my Services page and my About page. I will likely continue to do so in the coming weeks. I am located in northern California so if you need access to repositories in Sacramento, such as the California State Library, I am available. Among its holdings, the state library has a large collection of California newspapers on microfilm which are not accessible online.

Second, I have begun writing short articles for another website. This is a paid writing job for me (which is fabulous). As much as I love my blog, no one pays me for all the work I do. Ultimately, I do plan on becoming a certified genealogist, so every bit of writing I can do helps me in this greater goal. If you would like to read my first article, follow the link:

http://blog.genealogists.com/2014/11/a-new-parternship-dna-research-and.html

Third, I am now the host of a one name place study. If you missed the announcement before Thanksgiving, I am now attempting to collect and organize information about Harrison Township, Clay County and Clay City. This is the area where my grandfather Roscoe was born and raised. I am hoping to transcribe and post a couple obituaries a week of citizens of that region of Clay County. If anyone has photographs of people who lived in Clay County, I would love to add them to my photo gallery.

And fourth, I hope to have a big announcement by the end of the year, or least by the end of January! So stay tuned!

Fred A. Carpenter

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It is said that Fred Carpenter was conscious until the last moment, and gave directions concerning all matters pertaining to his business, funeral, etc.

“Town and Neighborhood,” Clay Clay Reporter (Clay City, Indiana), p. 3, col. 3

The funeral service of Fred A. Carpenter, the young Normal student who was taken sick while attending school in this place, occurred at Cloverland, last Saturday. The exercises were conducted, by Elder J. W. Nye, and the attendance is said to have been the largest ever witnessed upon any similar occasion in that place. W. H. Chillson, J. S. Goshorn, M. Markle, J. E. Travis, P. E. church, and Mr. and Mrs. Frank Funkhouser, of Clay City, were present to witness the last sad rites of the popular young man.

“Town and Neighborhood,” Clay Clay Reporter (Clay City, Indiana), p. 3, col. 3

One Place Study

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This month I had to create a locality guide for my ProGen monthly assignment. I chose Clay County, Indiana, the birthplace of my grandfather Roscoe. Over the years I have collected quite a bit from this Indiana county, and I have decided to share what I have collected. There is now a Clay County button at the top of the page. The main page contains the bulk of the information I gathered for the locality guide. At this point I have added one sub-page for a photo gallery. I will eventually add another page for biographies of Clay City and Harrison township residents.

Check out the photo gallery so far, and come back often as I will be updating the galleries as time allows. https://genealogylady.net/clay-county/clay-county-photographs/

I have also registered my website as the official Clay County One Place Study.

A Little Flavor to the Water (Roscoe)

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: June 28, 1943 envelope

: June 28, 1943, p. 1

: June 28, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

June 28, 1943
Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60 F.P.O. San Fran Calif.

Dear Mother

All I got from that mail yesterday was a bunch of Medical supplies and the Newton Co. E. After reading the C.C. news over I found their air raid warning system and I sending it back to you with a few comments. I passed the thing around at chow yesterday evening and it was the best laugh of the day – maybe people back there can’t get the joke but we did. I can’t explain any further.

Last night while two of us were alone – the other fellow broke down and told me his family troubles – it is a pathetic case and I’m afraid I wasn’t much of a Dorthea Dix, however, he is also a doctor so he should know as well as I some of the answers – Not that I know the answers but he should know them as well as I. Really I don’t think he expected me to solve his problem but just wanted to tell somebody his troubles. Strange but he has no desire to go back said he has had peace and quiet since coming here – That must be a queer sensation. There is of course no point in my writing you this but just wanted something to fill up sape space and you might say what a space filler upper.

[page 2] Another Colliers and a Post came to one of my tent mates so we have some late reading matter some time in one of the May issues. Maybe those papers give us the pulse – so to speak of the country back home. I haven’t seem a Reader’s Digest for some time now. Some of these days some of the late issues will probably come rolling along.

Just stopped a moment because the water stinks in the shower house. Probably a lizard crawled into the tank and drowned and is giving a little flavor to the water – Something like that rat smell we had when we lived at Clay City in Grandma K. house, remember?

I see it’s nearing the end of the month and I hope you will remember about the financial statement I asked for. The last one you gave me was May 1^st. You If you have said anything about it since the letters just haven’t come thru. Repeating I have your letters stating you got the $150 & the 32⁶⁰ checks but the $100 hadn’t arrived and I gave you the check number etc.

Well the space is about all used up and I am hot and sticky – Hoping you are the same (or do I).

Love Daddy

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/09/06/a-little-flavor-to-the-water-roacoe/

Wordless Wednesday – Cousins (a few years later)

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The same group of Yegerlehner cousins (plus one), a few years later, probably around 1940, at the Yegerlehner farm in Clay City, Indiana. The youngest cousin in the picture was born in 1937.

Back row: Earl, Kenneth, Paul
Middle row: Wilma, Romaine, Dolores
Front row: John, Duane, Glendon, Mark
In front: Carolyn

Photograph from the private collection of Deborah Sweeney.

Tomorrow is Easter (Gladys)

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: April 24, 1943 envelope front

: April 24, 1943 envelope back

: April 24, 1943, p. 1

: April 24, 1943, p. 2

: April 24, 1943, p. 3

: April 24, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Kentland, Ind.
4-24-43

Dear Daddy –

Sat. afternoon and the last opera of the season and John as tuned in so I may get some mixed up in this. Mark is out in the yard. It is so warm today wraps are unnecessary. This is about our warmest day so far. Tomorrow is Easter so maybe we will have warm weather now.

The Onargo people set a tree out for Zell’s so I talked to the “boss” and he promised to bring a new tree for us. He isn’t the same one they used to have. Also he promised to trim the east tree that grew so profusely last summer. The tulips are blooming. Bobby F. picked one this morning and we caught him. He promised not to do that again. One day last week he & Jimmy went to Mrs. Perry’s yard and picked her daffodils. Both got whippings but evidently Bobby’s didn’t take.

[pag3 2] I was going to get so much house cleaning done today but Clara got sick and couldn’t come but the boys have been helping. John had D go take a lesson at 11 – so that ended his helping for a while. It is about as much work keeping Mark doing anything as doing it myself but I have been trying all day to get him to help. If I could utilize some of the energy he burns up doing nothing. It rained yesterday so the ground is too wet to get any spading done. I wanted to plant more potatoes but the ground is till too wet – Maybe by Mon – if it doesn’t rain by then we can do some more garden work. This warm weather following the rains this week should bring our garden up. – – – Have been out in the yard taking down clothes – Lucile came and visited a while with Jimmy Ed. He slept in his buggy – David was in his buggy but had had his map so he entertained us. He loves to be out in the yard – stays contented without any attention. I just brought him him and put him down in his bed and he is blowing bubbles.

[page 3] These pictures were taken a few days before he has 7 mo. old – They aren’t as close as I wanted – will try to get a little closer the next time. I wrote you several times that the tax figured down to $157.00 – but just in case those letters don’t reach you I am repeating. We went over all the deductions we could – equipment etc. – I think we took off on everything.

John started the lawn mowing today. I had the lawn mower oiled and sharpened last fall so it is in good shape now. John said it was so heavy & hard to push, so I gave it turn and told him if it was any lighter I would fly with it – Elaborated some, but it isn’t as bad as he tried to make it.

Jim it taking a course now to become a C.P.O. – He doesn’t know how long he will be in school, but several weeks. He said they were moving but didn’t say where, so must be close to where they are now because he didn’t say anything about Thelma coming back.

[page 4]Mentioning the pictures again – you can see Mark was “acting up” when I tried to take the three of them together and John was squinting. I was trying to get D. to hold up and look at the camera so its not so good of me either.

I haven’t had any letters this week except the four that came yesterday dated Mar 27,28, 29 & 30. Last week I had gotten April’s to the 6^th. Maybe I’ll get a bunch Monday. Of course by the time you get this I probably will have had several more.

Tomorrow being Easter Mark wants to color eggs. We brought 6 dz home from C.C. but have used them rather freely so probably won’t feel like we can color many (38¢ dz now). Mark wanted to color enough for the whole neighborhood but we told him that was too much – He would like to have an Easter egg hunt on our lawn. I must get this ready to mail. – It is past 5 P.M. – I have been busy all day and plenty more to do if I want to don’t but I think I’ll leave something til Monday.

Love Mother

[Editor’s note: Based on the notations on the envelope, I am not sure if this letter ever made it to Roscoe.]

Yegerlehner home, E. Dunlop Street, Kentland, circa 1943

Your Dad was so pleased (Gladys)

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Letter transcription:

MRS. R. S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA

4-6-43

Dear Daddy – Three letters today but I think some are still missing. J. & M. got theirs today with the gifts. They will write and thank you. Uncle Wes & Aunt J. stopped this a.m. enroute to C. C. We have about recovered from our trip. We were all tired Mon. but went to bed early and this morning all felt better. Mark and I are going to work in the garden when he comes home from school. Want to plant some peas & onions etc. It isn’t warm enough yet to put out everything. Our garden is directly north over by the corn field. Dr. M. called me today to tell me he had a letter form you about receiving the box. He sent that out early in Jan. Got an announcement from Wilma for her graduation. Will send her something. She is going to enter nurses training. Her boy friend has to go to the army this week. The last box of shells you mentioned with the necklace hasn’t come yet – Neither has the uniform or travel money. It is about time to feed D. his vegetables & milk. He still cries every time I feed him cereal but is hungry if he doesn’t get it and it digests good – so what should I do. I still give him Vit C – he can’t retain orange juice. He was so cute while we were visiting. He is just beginning to imitate. Everyone (almost) agreed he looks like you. Your Dad was so pleased about his name being the same as his grandfather’s. Will send more pictures later. Can’t get film so easily now. Mrs. Roberts called and thinks Joe is being moved. He had written for his other blue uniform then she got a cable not to send it.

Love – Mother

Yegerlehner home, E. Dunlop Street, Kentland, circa 1943

Home Again (Gladys)

2 Replies

Letter transcription:

MRS. R. S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
4-5-43

Dear Daddy – Monday and home again. We stopped in Brazil on the way home to see Dave & Marie. It was a grand day – we were home about 6:30. We can’t drive so fast now so can’t make it in 2 hrs. Ruth & Romaine stayed here last night then took a bus into Chi [Chicago] this a.m. Romaine wanted to shop in the Loop today. They can get a train out of Chi this evening. We had a very nice visit but no family dinner. Faye having just come home from the hospital and then Fri Ralph had a back injury and was unable to be up so we just visited with everyone and dispensed with the usual dinner. Ruth & Floyd were down for the week-end and they were with us for Sunday dinner, but none of the rest. We went into Town. Sat and saw several people. Everyone was anxious to see David and he had a nap just before we started out and was at his best. He stood the trip fine and seems none the worse for the long ride today. So far John hasn’t taken measles so will hope he won’t. Was afraid he would take them before we could go to C.C. or while there. Mr. Zell told us when we came home we missed a show – a troop of colored soldiers camped Sat. nite in the pasture across the road – I said I was glad I was away but I know Mark would have enjoyed seeing them. It is very sunny today but windy. Mother is going to visit in T. H. a while then come back to stay. We got to see Dolores while home. She goes back Thurs this week. No mail from you today.

Love – Mother

2 letters came Fri.

Yegerlehner home, E. Dunlop Street, Kentland, circa 1943

Clay City (Gladys)

2 Replies

Letter transcription:

MRS. R. S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
4-3-43

Dear Daddy – Writing from your old home town. We are getting ready to go to town – Ruth, Romaine & I. The two grandma’s are going to stay with David. We stopped in Brazil yesterday & saw Marie but David was down at his mother’s farm working so I intend to go back past their place tomorrow so they can see David A. Ralph hurt his back yesterday and is down in bed, unable to move. Faye is just getting over her operation, but Dolores is home and that is a help. Haven’t seen all the family yet but intend to before we go back. Clarence & Duane came last night – Wilma & Clara came today – Wilma had to attend the high school banquet last night. The boys are with Duane today. Your Mother had Carolyn’s baby bed set up for David. We brought one along but didn’t have to set it up. Floyd & Ruth are here this week-end too. They showed the pictures they took of us in Jan. The baby took [?] are good. They are going to take more tomorrow. By the way the uniform Mark had on is supposed to be a Navy uniform – so if it doesn’t look like it I can’t help it. I must get this finished so we can go to town.

Love – Mother