Epidemics and Pandemics and the Ancestors

I’ve been researching ALL of the pandemics and epidemics that OUR ancestors survived through the ages (emphasis on “SURVIVED” otherwise WE would NOT be here right now).

Fifty thousand Canadians died from the Spanish flu — almost as many were killed in World War I.
In the U.S., the flu killed between 500,000 and 700,000.

Library and Archives Canada / PA-025025

My first cousin (3 times removed) John Moynahan (1886-1918) died from the Spanish flu and my great-grandfather John Moynahan (1866-1933) survived the smallpox epidemic that spread through Sandwich South in 1899 even though newspapers reported that he had died!

Nine months after my great-grandfather recovered from smallpox, my grandfather was born. Proof that it's a miracle we are here today given the number of epidemics and pandemics that our ancestors lived through!

I came across an interesting article and visual graphic about the "History of Pandemics" on the Visual Capitalist website:  https://www.visualcapitalist.com/history-of-pandemics-deadliest/

Source: Visual Capitalist:  https://www.visualcapitalist.com/history-of-pandemics-deadliest/

The Spanish Flu in Essex County

The Spanish Flu, according to the chart above, claimed 40 to 50 million lives between1918 and 1919.

In October 1918, Windsor newspaper headlines reported "No Signs of An Influenza Epidemic Yet" and four weeks later, cousin John Moynahan would be dead.

Source: Windsor Star: October 8, 1918, Tue; Page 3

My cousin John Moynahan (1886-1918) lived on the Middle Road in Maidstone, Ontario. He had taken ill just two weeks prior to his death in November 1918 but considered it to be a bad cold and did not call a physician. When a physician was finally called, the symptoms had developed into a pneumonia and "his condition was then so serious that very little hopes were entertained for his recovery. However, he improved during the week and on Thursday was much better but on Friday he took a turn for the worse and passed away Sunday evening" (Source: Essex Free Press; 15 Nov 1918)

John was born on the very farm where he died thirty-one years later. He was survived by his mother Mary (McDonald) Moynahan (1848-1925), a brother William (1878-1950) the well-known Essex auctioneer, and two sisters: Mary (Moynahan) Allen (1881-1944) and Maggie (Moynahan) Welsh (1884-1957).

John had been engaged in the cattle business and general farming and in the past year in auctioning with his brother. He is buried at St. Mary's RC cemetery in Maidstone, Ontario.

In Maidstone, there were other deaths. Boys serving overseas in WWI like 19-year-old Private Alphonse Sylvestre who was on furlough to attend his brother's Maidstone wedding.

Source: Windsor Star: 6 Dec 1918

"Local Acting Medical Officer of Health, Dr. G.F. Cruickshanks, exhorted citizens to practice good hygiene: not to spit, use handkerchiefs, perform hand washing, and sleep and work in cool fresh air."

It was "the patriotic duty of every citizen to avoid influenza and keep in good health."

Source: The Windsor Star Mon Sep 23, 1918

Vicks VapoRub Advertisement: The Sacramento Bee: Oct 23, 1918

The Smallpox Epidemic in Sandwich South

In August 1899, a mysterious disease known as smallpox appeared in Essex county.

By November 1899, the Provincial Board of Health believed that the smallpox of Essex county was a very mild form.

My great-grandfather John Moynahan (1866-1933)

In 1899, my great-grandfather John Moynahan (1866-1933), made the newspapers as a casualty of the the Smallpox epidemic. His house was placarded and his demise predicted.

By December 7th and 8th, 1899, the local newspapers reported that great-grandfather John Moynahan was the first victim of the epidemic.

Source: Essex Free Press: Dec 16, 1949

Source: The Comber Herald: 7 Dec 1899

The smallpox epidemic caused panic and outrage, so much so that Dr Anderson's barn was burned and his "horse perished in the flames". DR. Anderson had charge of the smallpox cases in Belle River village and Rochester township, and it was strongly suspected that the fire was arson.

On December 13, 1899, John was improving.

Source: The Amherstburg Echo: "Thirty Years Ago" column: 13 Dec 1929

Happily by December 20th, 1899 the newspapers were reporting that John Moynahan was alive and well having recovered and his home disinfected.

Source: Amherstburg Echo: "Thirty Years Ago" column: 20 Dec 1929

John was newly married (May 1898) and his wife (my great-grandmother) Mary (Broderick) Moynahan must have been very upset and worried about the safety and well-being of their first-born child Mary Aileen (Moynahan) Boyle who was only seven months old at the time of the epidemic.

Because my great-grandfather survived the smallpox epidemic, my grandfather Ernest Moynahan was born nine months later  (August 18, 1900).

It's a miracle we are here today given the number of pandemics that our ancestors lived through! An important thing to remember in these unprecedented times of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic!


LINKS:

• Thirty-eighth Annual Report of the Provincial Board of Health of Ontario, Canada for the year 1919. [available online] https://archive.org/stream/ontariodepthealth1919ontauoft/ontariodepthealth1919ontauoft_djvu.txt
• Western University: The Demographic Links Between the 1890 and 1918 Influenza Pandemics in Ontario Pandemics in Ontario https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4624&context=etd
• Guest column: Some parallels today to 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic https://windsorstar.com/opinion/letters/guest-column-some-parallels-today-to-1918-spanish-flu-pandemic/