We have been learning about the 1918-1919 influenza pandemic from its origins in Kansas; to its spread across the nation, aided by the movement of troops during WWI; to its mutation into a more deadly form over the summer; to its reaching our region in the fall of 1918.

The Lyon County News-Messenger first reported regional influenza cases in short, human interest entries called “Lyon County News-Notes” from contributors in townships and smaller towns as well as “Local Gossip” entries from Marshall. These local news briefs revealed widespread influenza cases by early October 1918.

Marshall’s “Local Gossip” section in the Oct. 11 edition reported multiple influenza cases, but ended with the reassuring words, “Marshall physicians report that the trouble is well in hand.” The situation was anything but “well in hand.”

Epidemic sickness and tragedy was spreading throughout our region on an unimaginable scale.

An Oct. 18 News-Messenger headline announced, “Influenza Takes Heavy Toll Here.” The story explained that influenza had been spreading for weeks and concluded with short obituaries of eleven local residents who had died in the epidemic. The story revealed tragedies visited on multiple, young families.

That front page coverage focused mostly on Marshall families. One had to turn to the paper’s “Lyon County News-Notes” and its “Local Gossip” sections to find the tragic extent of the epidemic in the region.

The Ghent correspondent reported the death of the Oscar VanDeBerghe’s eighteen month-old on Friday, October 11 after contracting influenza just a few days earlier. The Ghent schools and theater closed that week because of the epidemic. Dr. Lonous had been treating some thirty-five influenza cases.

The correspondent from Green Valley shared two influenza deaths beyond those reported in the front page story. Leone Delemiere died on Saturday, Oct. 12 after a brief illness and Hubert Diecken, a 30 year-old farmer, died at home on Monday, October 14, leaving a young spouse and 7 month-old child. The Green Valley section also listed five area families fighting influenza and reported that the school closed on Monday, October 14 until the epidemic passed.

The Russell correspondent reported the death of 19 year-old Rudolph Henricks from pneumonia on Wednesday, October 16 after only a few days illness. The Will Murphy’s lost their newborn infant on Thursday, Oct. 17 only a few hours after birth. The Murphy’s themselves had been seriously ill with pneumonia for two weeks, but were recovering. The Russell report also stated that several Russell residents were recovering from the disease and that Ruthton’s schools had closed due to influenza.

The correspondent from Amiret reported that Mrs. Fred Orthell died Oct 1 after her influenza developed into pneumonia. She was a young mother who arrived in Amiret earlier that year when her husband bought the pool hall and barber shop. She left her husband and an 8 month-old infant.

Amiret also reported that 15 month-old Florence Siedschlag died of influenza on October 10. Little Florence had been under the care of Mrs. Henry Whitman because her parents and brother were also seriously ill with influenza. That same week Amiret lost Mrs. Ben Pagel to influenza, a mother of seven with the youngest only two years old. The family held her funeral Oct. 11 at their home three miles west of town.

Balaton reported that young Roy Moore died of influenza at his home near Garvin. Reversing an earlier decision to continue classes, the Balaton School closed indefinitely on Wednesday, Oct. 16 because of the epidemic. The theater was also closed and the town blacksmith, Mr. Asmussen, had been unable to work for a week due to influenza

The correspondents for Lyons and Island Lake townships listed over a dozen residents who were down with influenza, in some cases developing into pneumonia. Sodus Township reported the Sodus American Red Cross Auxiliary would suspend its meetings until after the influenza epidemic passed.

Lynd reported that little Donald Rouse, infant son of the J.S. Rouse’s, died on Wednesday, October 16 after being ill a week. The family held funeral services the following day.

The News-Messenger’s “Local Gossip” feature from that, Oct. 18 edition also included news of illness and death beyond Marshall. One tragic account shared the death of 8 month-old Nyrene Bertha Maronde, daughter of the H.F. Maronde’s of Stanley Township. She died on Friday, Oct. 11 of pneumonia and the family held her funeral at home on Sunday.

Leon Wimer of Minneota died of influenza on Thursday, Oct. 17. The young man had been managing his father’s drug store during the senior Wimer’s lingering health difficulties. Leon left a wife and child in mourning.

Finally, the “Local Gossip” section reported the startling news that Granite Falls had lost three of its four physicians that week. Dr. Berg had died the prior weekend, despite the efforts of Marshall’s Dr. Gray. Dr. Hart was the second Granite Falls doctor to succumb during the epidemic, passing on Monday, October 14. Finally, Dr. Kern died on Thursday, October 17, leaving Granite Falls with but one physician during the epidemic. Recognizing the dilemma, the State Safety Commission directed Willmar’s physicians to help during the course of the epidemic

Within the week after the News-Messenger reassured its readership the influenza outbreak was “well in hand,” Marshall had recorded eleven influenza deaths and nearby townships and communities had reported another fifteen deaths. Communities had closed schools and other public locations and were locked in a desperate struggle with an unseen enemy. And the epidemic had not yet run its course.

— I welcome your participation in and ideas about our exploration of prairie lives. You may reach me at prairieviewpressllc@gmail.com