The following information on the Influenza
Epidemic in Orange County is part of “A Record of the War Activities in Orange
County, North Carolina. 1917-1919”, which is online at http://docsouth.unc.edu/wwi/cameron/cameron.html, as
part of UNC-Chapel Hill’s Documenting the American South. © This work is the property of the University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill. It may be used freely by individuals for research,
teaching and personal use as long as this statement of availability is included
in the text.
Early
in October, 1918, Dr. D. H. Hill, State Chairman of the Council of Defense,
sent letters to all County Chairmen warning them of the spread of Spanish
influenza, which was threatening the whole country. In this letter he made
suggestions as to what steps should be taken, etc.
In
accordance with this, Mr. J. C. Webb called a meeting of the representative men
to meet with the County Commissioners and plans were made for Relief Work. It
was realized at this meeting that there was no County Board of Health, and so
one was created, with Dr. Spoon of Hillsboro as County Health Officer, who with
the following constitute the Board of Health: Dr. B. B. Lloyd; Ed N. Cates Chmn.
Co. Board of Commissioners; Jeff Turner, Mayor of Hillsboro; R. H. Claytor,
County Supt. of Schools.
Mr.
T. N. Webb was appointed County Chairman of the Relief Work, with Dr. J. S.
Spurgeon to represent the Hillsboro School District. The other districts were
as follows:
- Mr. Sterling Browning,
representing the Eno District.
- Mr. Carl Forrest, representing
the Efland District.
- Mr. John P. Hughes,
representing the Cedar Grove District.
- Mr. Eubanks, representing the
Chapel Hill District.
Rev.
Harvey Bradshaw was appointed to have charge of the town of Hillsboro and Mr.
C. H. Robertson that of West End.
On
October 7, the Board of Health ordered the closing of all churches, schools,
theatres, etc., and forbade all meetings of every kind, in order to prevent, if
possible, a spread of the disease which had already broken out in the
community.
With
the appearance of the first case, assistance was given in nursing and
furnishing suitable nourishment and necessities by citizens of the town, and
Dr. Spurgeon's family, Rev. Mr. Bradshaw, Miss Nellie Russell, and Mr. Chester
Turner were among the first to render aid and continued to do all in their
power.
When
the epidemic spread to the Eno Mill district, the officials of the mill opened
a diet kitchen at the West Hill school, and financed it for about seven weeks.
Miss Elizabeth Cornelius, Home Demonstration Agent, was placed in charge of
this undertaking and proved herself most efficient and faithful throughout the
long siege. Without her it could not have been accomplished. Mr. C. H.
Robertson supervised this work and rendered every assistance possible, and as
chairman of West Hill was untiring in his efforts to do everything in his
power. Misses Emma Robertson and Mildred Durham were Miss Cornelius' assistants
during the entire time and Miss Rebecca Wall also rendered valuable aid for
several weeks. As many as 150 people were fed daily for some time, and an
average of 90 for most of the time. Not only the sick were furnished with nourishment,
but the families with no one to cook or provide for them were furnished with
the proper diet. Mrs. Emerson and Miss Allie Graham were secured by the Mill to
do nursing, and Miss Duncan, the deaconess at the Mills, with these two,
rendered most valuable service and gave unstintingly of their time and
strength. After preparing the nourishment the ladies at the diet kitchen went
with the nurses to deliver it where it was needed.
Eno
Mill also secured another trained nurse, Miss Whitfield, and Bellevue Mill
secured Miss Smith from Durham. Mr. Chester Turner and Ross Turner (colored)
did noble service as volunteer nurses wherever the need arose.
As
County Chairman, Mr. T. H. Webb was most active and efficient and untiring in
his labors, and was especially helpful when the need was great in the Bellevue
district. He and Mrs. Webb sent food and clothing to those in need.
Rev.
Mr. Bradshaw worked long and faithfully when the epidemic extended into the
town, collecting and delivering nourishment furnished and made by ladies
throughout the town. He was assisted in this by Mrs. J. C. Webb driving him to
the homes where he had to go, and when it was impossible for Mrs. Webb to
continue, a car and driver were furnished by Mr. J. C. Webb for this purpose
until the epidemic was past.
As
soon as the need for nurses was felt, Miss Henrietta Collins volunteered to go
wherever needed, and later Miss Virgie Cole volunteered, but they were not
called upon to serve.
The
Relief Work was organized and carried on by the County Board of Health, but
most if not all workers were members of the Red Cross. Below are the minutes of
a meeting held in connection with this work.
A
special meeting of the Executive Committee of the Red Cross was held October
26th, at 10:00 o'clock in Major Graham's office. There were present Major
Graham, Mr. Robertson, Mrs. J. C. Webb, Mrs. W. H. Webb, Mr. T. N. Webb, Mr. N.
W. Brown, Miss H. P. Collins, Mr. Bradshaw and Dr. Spurgeon. This meeting was
for the purpose of co-operating with the Committee for the Relief of the
Influenza Epidemic, of which committee Mr. T. N. Webb is County Chairman. A
motion was carried that there be appointed a chairman of a Nursing Committee of
each of the two school districts to whom application may be made for nurses to
serve anywhere in our jurisdiction, a record of volunteers to be reported to
the Secretary, who was to keep it. Mr. T. N. Webb was appointed Chairman of
this Committee for the West Hill School District and Miss Russell for the
Hillsboro District.
A
canvass of the town was made the day of this Red Cross meeting to tell the
people of the need for nurses and to ask for volunteers who might be called
upon if necessary. The Red Cross was asked to furnish gauze face masks and this
work was done at the work room as long as a supply was needed.
The
ladies of the Red Cross were asked to make garments for the sick in emergency
cases, and this was gladly done at a moment's notice. People were very generous
in furnishing butter-milk and soup not only those in town but a quantity of
milk was furnished by people out of town, especially east of town. The Rev. Mr.
Hester, Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Robertson, and Mrs. J. C. Webb alternatively
collected this milk for use at West Hill and in town. Among those who helped by
serving or furnishing nourishment are:
- Miss Hattie Kirkland,
- Mrs. Giles,
- Mrs. Tom Jackson,
- Mrs. Frank Weaver,
- Mrs. James Scarlett,
- Mrs. Jesse Martin,
- Mrs. Cain Roberts,
- Mrs. John Bacon,
- Mrs. W. Y. Walker,
- Mrs. J. W. Walker,
- Mrs. P. S. Walker,
- Mrs. John W. Jackson,
- Mrs. John Sharp,
- Mrs. W. D. Benton,
- Mrs. W. H. Webb,
- Mrs. E. M. Lockhart,
- Mrs. Charles Andrews,
- Mrs. W. A. Hayes,
- Miss Sue Hayes,
- Mrs. P. C. Collins,
- Mrs. W. L. Wall,
- Miss H. P. Collins,
- Miss Mary A. Collins,
- Mrs. Jos. C. Webb,
- Mrs. James Newman,
- Mrs. Mollie E. Latta,
- Mrs. T. N. Webb,
- Mrs. J. S. Spurgeon,
- Miss Pattie Spurgeon,
- Miss Mary Spurgeon,
- Mrs. Shepperd Strudwick,
- Mrs. Tom Arrowsmith,
- Miss Annie Strudwick,
- The Misses Cate,
- Gen. J. S. Carr,
- Miss Margaret Webb,
- Miss Mary Webb,
- Miss Sarah Webb,
- Miss Helen Webb,
- Miss Margaret Forrest,
- Miss Josephine Forrest,
- Miss Virgie Cole,
- Miss Lillie Bivins,
- Miss Reba Reeves,
- Mrs. James Webb,
- Mrs. Claud Sharp,
- Mrs. W. A. Heartt,
- Miss Rebecca Wall,
- Miss E. R. Hamilton,
- Miss Annie Cameron,
- Mrs. George Lynch,
- Mrs. S. W. Oldham.
Influenza deaths in and
around Hillsboro:
- Robt. Adams, Oct. 19, 1918.
- Frank Riley, October 20, 1918.
- James Jones (col.) Oct. 24,
1918.
- Jim Jones (col.) Oct. 1918.
- Lacy Marlette, Nov. 1918.
- Mrs. Lacy Marlette, Nov. 1918
- Influenza deaths in Chapel
Hill:
- W. McB. Bunting, non-resident,
- Robt. L. Temple, non-resident,
- K. McKoy Scott, non-resident,
- Josephine T. Hannah,
non-resident,
- John N. Alston,
- Bessie Corinna Roper,
- Edward Kidder Graham,
- Veron Herndon,
- Mary Louise Strowd.
Influenza deaths in
Carrboro:
- Henry Joseph Burgess,
- Rosa A. Clark,
- Mrs. Ida Biggs Vaughan,
- John A. Foushee,
- Sidney Cates,
- Martha Blackwood,
- Nonie Burgess,
- Donnie Williams King (infant)
- James O. Hargraves (colored)
- Melvina Jones, (colored)
- Queen Victoria Brewer,
(colored)
Cedar Grove:
- There were about 375 cases of
Spanish influenza in Cedar Grove Township and only four deaths. The
epidemic lasted until the second week in December.
Influenza deaths at Little
River Township:
- Mrs. Ida Wagoner,
- Dock Parrish,
- Ed Hester (Colored)
-
After
Christmas a second epidemic of Spanish influenza spread through the county and
was very bad at Cedar Grove, Efland and Hillsboro. However the schools and
churches did not close and the epidemic gradually died down.
Additional
list of those helping during the epidemic:
- Miss Cornelius,
- Miss Emma Robertson,
- Miss Mildred Durham,
- Mr. C. H. Robertson,
- Mr. Will Jordan,
- Rev. H. S. Bradshaw,
- Mrs. S. W. Oldham,
- Mr. C. D. Turner,
- Mr. Jas. H. Webb,
- Mr. J. H. Knight,
- Miss Duncan,
- Mr. T. N. Webb,
- Mr. Calvin Lassiter,
- Mrs. C. H. Robertson,
- Mr. W. H. Webb,
- Mr. O. O. Mangum,
- Ross Turner (colored)
- Mrs. James Newman,
- Mr. C. McD. Andrews,
- Mrs. Jas. H. Webb,
- Mrs. Emmerson.
