Caddo- My Home Town

Smallpox 1899

Caddo Herald

July 28, 1899

            On the 26^th instant the board of health of Caddo was organized with Dr. Long as president and Dr. Bryan as secretary. They recommended the compulsory vaccination of all persons who have been exposed to small pox and the council enacted the recommendation into a resolution appointing Dr. Bryan to attend to that matter.

July 28, 1899

            On Tuesday Bud Kirk, a negro, was taken sick in the north part of town and developed symptoms of smallpox. He was immediately isolated, along with those who had been with him and a strict quarantine was established by the council in that part of town. The negro had just returned from the railroad hospital at Sedalia, Mo. and may have contracted the disease at that place while being treated for some injury. No apprehension is felt that there will be any other cases, as the vigilance of the city health department is very great and there is no opportunity for the communication of infection.

July 28, 1899

            The old colored nurses who are attending the negro smallpox suspect who is in quarantine, say that they have had a lot of experience with smallpox and other eruptive diseases and they are willing to stake their reputations that Kirk has not the small pox at all, but black measles, the symptoms of which are similar. They are quite sure that developments will justify their position; and as a result of their diagnosis there is no alarm felt among the quarantined negroes.

August 3, 1899

            Our case of small pox died Wednesday morning about sun up. Will be buried on his own lot by his house. His family will be moved out of Caddo three and a half miles where we have a pest house, so this will rid the town of all danger. The house and all belongings such as clothing, bedding, etc., will be burned. We are sure there will be no more cases except the immediate family, if they do. Some of them have had the varioloid*.

*a mild form

Note: Because of this case, Durant and Atoka set up quarantines against Caddo residents entering their towns. There was an ongoing battle between editors for months about who had cases and who didn’t.

Indian Citizen

This was a regular column. 

Indian Citizen (Atoka)

October 5, 1889

Caddo Items

Sept. 25, 1889

Dear Indian Citizen:

Charley Bilbo has been appointed Indian Police

Miss Lena Niblock is visiting friends in Mineola.

Mr. Wood has moved into the new drug store on Noble Street.

B.S. Smiser was in the city Friday last, combing business with pleasure.

George Vierling, day operator, is visiting friends in Kansas. Mr. Noble is officiating during his absence.

Wilson Jones and wife accompanied with Miss Ida Cooper, paid Sherman a flying visit Wednesday, returning home Friday.

Several Caddoites contemplate attending conference in Atoka next week.

 

Indian Citizen

This was a regular column. 

Indian Citizen (Atoka)

October 5, 1889

Caddo Items

Sept. 25, 1889

Dear Indian Citizen:

Charley Bilbo has been appointed Indian Police

Miss Lena Niblock is visiting friends in Mineola.

Mr. Wood has moved into the new drug store on Noble Street.

B.S. Smiser was in the city Friday last, combing business with pleasure.

George Vierling, day operator, is visiting friends in Kansas. Mr. Noble is officiating during his absence.

Wilson Jones and wife accompanied with Miss Ida Cooper, paid Sherman a flying visit Wednesday, returning home Friday.

Several Caddoites contemplate attending conference in Atoka next week.

 

Caught...

Durant Weekly News

February 27, 1911

Bob Brooks Picked up on Bootlegger Charge

            Some two years ago a warrant was issued out of the Bryan County Court for the arrest of Bob Brooks on the charge of bootlegging. He lived at Caddo at that time, but left the county before an officer got him.

            While beating the brush near Bennington Saturday, Deputy Norman came across Brooks in a field and immediately placed him under arrest. He was brought to Durant and released on a $1,000-bond.

            Constable Dickerson of Albany on Saturday arrested a man by the name of Brown, a ferryman on Red River, brought the prisoner to Durant, and jailed him yesterday on the charge of bootlegging.

Quarantine, 1913

The Bokchito News

February 6, 1913

Smallpox Affects Whole Section

            Smallpox, so prevalent in the eastern part of this section of Southeastern Oklahoma, is causing much anxiety among our people, not to say inconvenience. East of Bokchito, in the Boswell and Hugo country, it is said to be epidemic. West of Bokchito there are no cases. At Durant there were two cases. At Durant there were two cases and both of them are reported by Doctor Shuler, county health officer, as safely recovered.

            There is not, nor has there been, a case of smallpox in or near Bokchito. This town was quarantined in self-protection, as it was so broadly exposed. Several negroes were dumped off here and scattered away out in the negro settlements, causing much uneasiness among our people. However, none of them have been taken. Negroes have been notified that they would not be permitted to come into Bokchito.

            So, it would seem that it is almost impossible for a case of smallpox to reach this place.

Health Officer Hines has been positive and strict in his orders regarding the quarantine, and our people feel confident that the dread disease will not visit here.

            The quarantining of Bokchito does not affect the country community. They can visit here and bring in their produce and trade the same as ever.

Note: There were no cases in Boswell or Bennington during this month.

Caddo Herald

February 7, 1913

Quarantines Against Hugo

            Ardmore- That there is danger from smallpox infection is the opinion of the city physicians and the commissioners have quarantined against Hugo and other towns which are infected with the disease. Special policemen are placed on east bound Rock Island and Frisco trains.

Hugo Excited as Result of Smallpox

            Hugo- Hugo is greatly excited over a serious smallpox epidemic which has resulted in closing all the city schools, the cancellation of all public gatherings, and has seriously hampered business of every kind in the city. There are seventy known cases at present and new ones are discovered almost every day. Every possible precaution to check the spread of the disease is being resorted to, but without much headway thus far.

Progress

The boards are off! 

Heritage Day

Matoy, 1930

 

Saturday Morning Advertiser (Durant)

November 8, 1930

Matoy

The teachers of Matoy Hi School attended the teachers meeting in Durant last week.

Mrs. Charles Epperley and Kirk Barnes visited in the home of Mr. Clements Wednesday, who

has been seriously ill for some time. (She) was carried to a Sherman Hospital Tuesday.

Several of our community are planning on beautifying their yard by setting out different flowers and shrubs.

The school boys are very interested in their ball court. They hauled sand with two teams Friday afternoon and spread it over the court.

J.H. Carlton and family moved to Caddo Friday; we wish them much success in their new home.

Several changes have been made in the community. Everyone wants to get located before the winter days.

H.M. Turner killed a hog Friday.

Mrs. W. T. Booth and step father of Bennington made calls on G. N. Harkey and J. D. Nickles one day last week.

 

The Halloween party (was) given in the home of Mr. and Mrs. A. P. Tidwell one evening last week. The rooms were decorated with autumn leaves and flowers, black cats and Jack-o-lanterns. They enjoyed the time by playing pranks, telling jokes, and ghost stories. Everyone enjoyed themselves very much.

Mr. J. A. Fitzer and daughter, Mrs. Sam Tigert are visiting relatives in and near Sasakawa this week.

Mrs. T. P. Hull took sick at church Sunday night and was rushed home. Dr. Fuston was called at once and stated she was in a pretty bad condition.

Mrs. Knight is very low at this time, Monday night.

The young folks were the guests of Mr. and Mrs. Grover Hendrix Sunday.

Juanita Russell spent Saturday and Sunday with Veta Mae Hull.

Mrs. Charles Epperley, Mr. and Mrs. C. L. Leflore, Mrs. T. E. Boydstun, Mrs. A. P. Tidwell and daughter, were shopping in Caddo Saturday.

W.L. Coe was in Caddo Monday on business.

More Quarantines, 1918

Muskogee Time-Democrat

January 5, 1918

Inspector Finds Smallpox Peril Too Prevalent

Monroe Reports at Least Seven Cases in City;

City Health Officers Slow to Aid

            Smallpox and other dangerous diseases are much more prevalent in the city than most people have realized, it is shown in the report given out by Superintendent of City Schools, E. S. Monroe to the effect that there are at least seven dwellings in the city quarantined for smallpox, three for diphtheria, and five for measles. This report is made as the result of investigations made as part of the medical inspection in the Muskogee schools and probably does not cover the entire number of cases in the city, since only those cases where school children are in the family affected have been listed by the medical inspector. In addition to the houses quarantined, there are five smallpox patients in the city pest house on Standpipe Hill.

            The great difficulty which confronts the school authorities is the fact that many families do not report contagious diseases or even call a physician. Numerous cases have been found where every effort had been made to prevent being quarantined, although one of the family was known to have smallpox or diphtheria.

            According to the medical inspector, Dr. Emma S. Keith, members of a negro family at 1110 North Third street openly declared to the quarantine officer that they would “go and come as they pleased”, although the house was placarded. That, Dr. Keith says, is not an unusual example. A white man infected with smallpox was reported to have escaped from the pest house Friday night and made his way to Haskell.

            City health officials have been slow in many cases about placing the quarantine upon homes where Dr. Keith reports cases of contagious diseases, Superintendent Monroe declared. The superintendent declared it to be his opinion that the school medical inspector had located more houses where quarantines were needed during the past month than the city health department.

            The next two months, Dr. Keith predicted, will see more smallpox, diphtheria, and measles in Muskogee than at any time this winter, or perhaps for several winters, unless the laxity of the observance of quarantines can be remedied. Much of the prevalence of these diseases, the doctor said, was attributable to contagion through visitors to army camps where the maladies were in epidemic, the visitors developing symptoms of the disease after returning to their homes here.

            Vaccination against smallpox is being strongly urged, though not required, in the city schools, Superintendent Monroe said. According to the regulations, children exposed to the disease need not be excluded from the schools if they re vaccinated, but children not immune from smallpox will not of course be permitted to attend school if exposed. In any case, however, members of household in which there is smallpox are to be excluded.

            Not many of the school children have been directly affected by the diseases, Mr. Monroe says, most of the cases seeming to be among adults.

            The list of dwellings quarantined for smallpox where school children live is given here: At 426 East Okmulgee, white; 1307 East Broadway, white; 554 North Fifth, negro; city barn, upstairs, white; 1110 North Third, negro; freight car on Frisco tracks, white. These places are quarantined for diphtheria: At 1224 Locust, 1227 Ash, 215 South Third. Quarantines for measles are 525 South Thirteenth, 1141 Locust, 628 South Twenty-second, 603 Callahan.

Deaths, 1919

 

Saturday Morning Advertiser (Durant)

July 3, 1920

The Death List of Oklahoma

Influenza and Tuberculosis are the

Leading Causes of Death in Oklahoma in 1919

Dr. A. R. Lewis, State Health Commissioner

            Influenza, the modern pestilence, again lead the death list in Oklahoma. This and its sister ailment, pneumonia, caused one-fifth of all the deaths in the State during the year 1919.

And though there were 2,796 victims of this disease this is much lower than the 1918 figure, when 6,684 died of the “flu” and its complications. The past year it was also much milder in form.

            Tuberculosis took the next largest toll. The “TB” death list showed a slight decrease for 1919, but it yet caused 846 deaths. This is a small increase over 1918. There was a decided increase in cancer mortality. In 1919 there were 408 deaths from this cause and in 1918 this jumped to 551.

            Bright’s Disease* also increased. The figure for 1919 is 536 against 450 for 1918. Typhoid fever took a slump. There were one-third less deaths; or 480 cut down to 321 last year.

            Of children’s diseases, diphtheria, measles, and whooping cough, there were some interesting transpositions. There was an increase of 100 per cent in the number of diphtheriae deaths, while the number of measles deaths fell from 255 to 37; likewise whooping cough dropped from 259 to 81.

            A summary shows that there was a total of 13,505 deaths in 1919 or an average of 37 each day. The daily rate reached the highest in January with 66 and the lowest in May with 27.

*a kidney disease