After reading the above headlines to a news article, one would think they were reading from a newspaper published today about the present-day Coronavirus Covid-19 Pandemic we are experiencing. Our churches, schools, theaters, restaurants, sporting events, etc. are closed. The public is being warned to practice hand washing, "social distancing", and self-isolation to stop the spread of the virus.
But, the above news article is not from present day. The news article is actually from an Oklahoma newspaper written over a 100 years ago during the Spanish Flu Pandemic. The Spanish Flu is said to have killed between 50 and 80 million people worldwide.
But, the above news article is not from present day. The news article is actually from an Oklahoma newspaper written over a 100 years ago during the Spanish Flu Pandemic. The Spanish Flu is said to have killed between 50 and 80 million people worldwide.
1918 Spanish Flu Commentary
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American-Democrat (Anadarko, Oklahoma)
10 Oct 1918
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The above newspaper was published in Anadarko, the county seat for Caddo County, Oklahoma. In October 1918, we had family members living in two adjacent counties: the Leffel family lived in Grady County and the Baldwins lived in Kiowa County. The Spanish Flu would have caused great concern to our family members and most likely caused the death of our great-grandfather, Charles Leffel.
On June 4, 1919 in Chickasha, Grady County, Oklahoma, our 68 year old Great-Grandpa Charles E Leffel died of influenza. Since the Spanish Flu was still claiming many lives in the area during 1919, it's most likely that the influenza Charles died of was the Spanish Flu.
The above newspaper article in it's entirety can be found on Newspapers.com, if you have an account click here
On June 4, 1919 in Chickasha, Grady County, Oklahoma, our 68 year old Great-Grandpa Charles E Leffel died of influenza. Since the Spanish Flu was still claiming many lives in the area during 1919, it's most likely that the influenza Charles died of was the Spanish Flu.
1 comment:
I would be so excited if my school was cancel. But I would also be scared because of the flu and how vulnerable people were to it. -MM
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