As I wrote in my last post, I’m currently researching the ancestors of my son Matt, whom I adopted as an infant.
Matt’s third great grandmother was Mary Louise Lamb (1850-1918), wife of David Treat Davidson. Mary and David’s daughter Carrie Ellen was born 1882 in Aurora, Hamilton, Nebraska and died at the age of 36 in November, 1918. It wasn’t until I found Mary’s headstone on FindAGrave last night that I realized Mary and Carrie both died in 1918 (November).
Notice the headstone also includes the name of Paul E. Davidson, who died in 1918. Paul was the son of Mary’s son and Carrie’s brother George. I haven’t determined yet who the infant Pauline is. But this headstone tells such a sad story of the deaths of three members of this family all in 1918, and I know Mary and Carrie each died in November. Since the Influenza Epidemic took the lives of so many people in 1918 I’m inclined to think they probably died of influenza. How sad for all the members of these families.
It’s nice, however, to see the names all “nested” together on this headstone and to know they are buried together here in the Fairview Cemetery, Melrose, Cherokee, Kansas.
3 comments:
It was great that you found this photo. There is always another mystery around the corner and I am sure will make time to solve the cause of the deaths in 1918. The flu epidemic went through NE and KS very hard then so that may likely be the cause for sure. Thanks for sharing the story and find!
Whenever I've found multiples close deaths in a family like this, I can't help but wonder about the story behind it. The influenza epidemic sure seems like a plausible explanation. Have you looked for obits or other newspaper articles that might mention these deaths?
I would also say the influenza epidemic; what sad stories are those of the families it hit. Thanks for writing about this one.
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