Pandemic of 1918

Ancestry and the Pandemic

As we struggle to adapt to the new normal.  We are often reminded about the Pandemic of 1918.  The experts are trying to look backwards to see what we can learn from the one that struck over a hundred years ago.  As a genealogist it is difficult to not want to research how one’s own ancestors handled the pandemic.

So, I am doing just that.

I decided to see if I could find someone who died near that time and found my second great grandmother Timotheus Jane Bailey Sublett.  After a little further looking I found her death certificate.  It said what I had suspected.  By examining the record, I discovered Timotheus Jane Bailey Sublett died of Bronchial Pneumonia.  The contributing factor was the Spanish Flu.

I decided to look further.  Timotheus was one of 111 Deaths attributed to the Spanish Flu in Campbell County Virginia.  Furthermore, she was one of only 7 that list pneumonia as the primary cause of death (Barker, 2002).  Barker’s research noted that Campbell County, had 387 deaths in 1918.  One hundred four were the number of deaths from influenza, and 7 were from pneumonia.  My second great-grandmother died of Bronchial Pneumonia on 9 December 1918, 4 days after her 78^th birthday.  Her age doesn’t sound old now, but according to Our World in Data, the average life expectancy plunged in 1918, and was only 47.2 years old.  The year prior was 54 and the year after was 55.3 years.

Barker further explained that Virginia was not immune to this pandemic.

During October 1918 life in the state was disrupted by the pandemic.  Schools, churches, and a variety of public places closed their doors during the epidemic’s peak. Newspaper obituaries were filled with the names of young men and women whose lives had been cut short by influenza. Although the epidemic abated in November, influenza reappeared the following month in a less deadly form (Barker, 2002, p. 8).

Barker further explained that the Influenza first arrived in Virginia in its military installations and camps (Barker, 2002).  It is interesting that the same recommendations were being made then as they are now: avoid public gatherings, avoid crowds, walk instead of taking the streetcar. According to Barker, the ‘Spanish influenza struck the healthiest and most productive members of society” (Barker, 2002, p. 19).

Timotheus likely had a typical life of a young woman growing up in rural Virginia.  She grew up with her parents, Yancey Bailey and Mary Marshall Cobbs on a farm.  At the age of 24, she married George Bland Sublett, before he went off to fight in the Civil War.  Upon his return, they set up house with George’s parents to help with the farm.  Together they raise seven children.  I do not have enough information to assess whether she stayed with her parents while he was off at war or if they set up house prior to his departure.

***As this Coronavirus slashes our plans this year, remember we aren’t the only ones that have lived through a pandemic.

In 1918, my grandfather, Lacy Sublett was a 9-year-old boy attending school.  Schools closed in the fall of 1918 in many Virginia cities.   Lacy was living on a farm in Naruna, Virginia at the time.  I bet he didn’t have time to get bored and went straight to helping on the farm.  I will take the amenities that we have now, like Netflix, air conditioning, and remember to count my blessings.

The Coronavirus hit too close to home for my family and I would like to remind everyone that they call it a pandemic for a reason.  Listen to your health officials, wash your hands and wear a mask.

 

Until later, I will be exploring backwards.

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Citations:

Barker, Stephanie Forrest, “The impact of the 1918-1919 influenza epidemic on Virginia” (2002). 3. Paper 1169

Our World in Data, retrieved on August 14, 2020 at https://ourworldindata.org/life-expectancy.

 

Christmas Time 2014

It is that time of year again. Christmas time! I wrote about it last year. If you are new to the blog, check out some of my older posts. Here it is: https://exploringbackwards.wordpress.com/2013/12/20/december-christmas-time/

Between Cheryl and me, we have 10 nieces and nephews. Eighty per cent of them are boys. So, each year we set out to find out what they want. Because we are no longer spring chickens ourselves, trying to keep up with current trends for a group of teenagers (ages 13-22) is filled with some challenges. Cheryl asked her nephews what they wanted via text messages. While one responded with an itemized list, the others were vaguer. So, Cheryl threatened that if you do not give me at least some ideas, you will get just socks and underwear. Needless to say, she got some feedback. But the feedback she didn’t expect was from Grant who stated, “Actually, socks and underwear is a good idea.” Ha. You realize that they are growing up when that is their response.

Regardless, we enjoy shopping for them. Trying to find the right gift to get that heart-felt hug, you know the one that they really mean. Not the forced one that I impose. Ha-ha…it is one of the joys of being an Aunt.

So, I guess this post should have some genealogy in it to make it official.

I thought it would be a good time to pick an ancestor that had a birthday in December. While I was looking, I stumbled onto Timotheus Jane Bailey. She is my 2^nd Great Grandmother. In other words, she was my great-grandfather John Thomas Sublett’s mother. Her name appears most often as Timotheus. But on her tombstone it is written Timothia.

Timotheus was born 7 December 1845. This is actually one day before my birthday. She was born to Yancey Bailey and Mary Marshall Cobbs. The family had 14-15 children. President James Polk, the 11^th President of the United States had just started his presidential term. Texas becomes the 28^th State.

In the 1850 Federal Census, she was living with her parents and siblings on a Farm in Campbell County, Virginia.

In the 1860 Census (Eastern District), Timotheus was 16 years old. The Bailey family was living on a farm in Campbell County. The value of real estate was listed as $2013 dollars and the Value of her father’s Personal Estate was $5580.

As you recall, the Civil War was fought from 1861-1865. Her husband to be, George Bland, was listed on the Civil War Prisoner of War Records. He was taken prisoner at the Battle of Five Forks. I have discussed him in a previous blog. See https://exploringbackwards.wordpress.com/2013/07/12/george-bland-sublett/

So, I am unsure how or when they met. However, according to an undocumented source, I have George and Timotheus marrying on 18 Jan 1867. I will have to find the source.

By the 1870 Census (Eastern District), Timotheus was 23 years old. She is married to George Bland Sublett living on a farm with his parents William J Sublett and Sarah, Timotheus also has 2 children, Ida (born 1868) and Emma (born 1869).

In the 1880 US Federal Census, Timotheus was keeping home raising her children. At this point she had 7 children. They are living on a farm in Falling River East (Enumeration District 41), Campbell County.

In the 1900 US Federal Census (ED 22), Timotheus and George are living with her daughter Ida and her family. My great-grandfather John Thomas is also listed as living there. This document contains vital information because it asks the persons whether they were married or not and how many years married. Timotheus and George indicate that they had been married 36 years. So, it puts their marriage date in 1864 or 1865.

Timotheus died on 9 December 1918, two days after her 73^rd birthday. She is buried in Gladys, Virginia.

 

Timothia Jane Bailey Sublett

 

 

 

 

George Bland Sublett

George Bland Sublett was my 2nd great-grandfather.  He was born to William J. Sublett and Sarah Hammersley on 14 October 1847 in Nottoway, Virginia.  If you are reading this, you are probably wondering where is Nottoway.  I was too, so I had to look it up.   It is located about an hour southwest of Richmond, Virginia.   It turns out that it was initially inhabited by the Nadawa Indian tribe.  The name was later changed to Nottoway (source:  http://www.nottoway.org/history.shtml).

According to the 1850 Census, George lived with his parents and siblings, Matthew, James and Melinda in Dinwiddie, Virginia.  This is about 35 miles due east of Nottoway.  By the 1860 Census, the family moved again.  They are now living in Campbell County.  This is about 103 miles northwest.  George’s father is listed as owning property valued at $975 dollars.  George’s sister is still living at home, but the older boys Matthew and James are not.  George is 13 years old.

In 1861, the War between the States begins.  In 1864, George enlists in Company E, of the 11th Infantry Regiment of Virginia.  George later becomes a Prisoner of War having been captured at Five Forks on 2 April 1865.  George was subsequently released on 20 June 1865.  I am unsure how long he remained enlisted.  I haven’t been able to find any documents.

After the war, he marries Timeotheous Jane Bailey about 1867.

By 1870 the US Census comes around again.  He is 22 years old, living back home with his parents, his wife and two daughters, Ida and Emma.  There is also a young black boy named William Jones, age 10 living at the residence listed as a nurse.  I am unclear what that means.

George and Timotheus go on to have 5 more children,  William Yancey Sublett, Leila Mitt Sublett, Mattie D. Sublett, John Thomas Sublett (my great-grandfather) and Mary E. Sublett.

There is a lot more to share about George, but we will both have to wait for a later time.

George Bland Sublett
Buried at Sharon United Methodist Church, Naruna, Virginia

I will have to remember to tell you about this headstone.

Until later, I will be exploring backwards!

 

 

John Thomas Sublett

John Thomas Sublett was my great-grandfather.  He was born 20 August 1877 in Campbell County, Virginia.  John Thomas was the sixth child of seven born to George Bland Sublett and Timotheus Jane Bailey.

According to the 1880 US Census, they were living in Falling River, Campbell County.  His father George was listed as a farmer.  By 1900 however, John Thomas (age 22) and his parents George and Timotheus are living with his sister Ida Sublett Dyer and her family.  Ida’s husband Tom Dyer, is listed as owning a farm.

By the 1910 Census, John Thomas “JT” is now listed as married and living with his family in Falling River, Campbell County, Virginia.  His wife, Georgia Kate Holt are listed as have been married for 9 years.  This would estimate their marriage about 1901.  Claudia, Anne, and Lacy all show up on this census.  JT is listed as a farmer renting his land.

The 1920 Census, JT and his wife are still living in Falling River Campbell County.  Claudia, Anne, Lacy and Mae are listed as well.  JT’s father George Bland is listed as a widow and is living with them.

According to the 1930’s census, JT is listed as a Foreman for the State Highway.  Georgia is there raising the last two girls, Mae and Clarice.  Georgia’s mother now resides with them (Sue Holt).  They also list Ralph Dudley (Boarder).  This census asks the participants the age at first marriage.  JT (25) and Georgia (17).

The 1940 census was just released this year.  According to it, JT is a maintenance patrolman for the Highway Department.  JT and his wife, list his nephew Fred Sublett and Georgia’s mother Sue Holt as residing within the home.  We also know for certain that they live and own the Naruna home (13 County Road 605, Naruna).  Fred Sublett is listed as the Farm laborer.  It is probably safe to assume that he was running the farm.

One of the interesting things I learned about JT came from the inscription on his cemetery marker.  It indicated and Larry Burruss (first cousin 1x removed) confirmed that he was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.  It is an interesting organization built upon three links-Friendship-Love-Truth.  The basic premise is to work together as a community of variety of trades for the common good.  You can read more about them here.  http://www.ioof.org/aboutus.html

I will post more about JT at a later post.  I just wanted to get his timeline down.

John Thomas Sublett and Georgia Kate Holt Sublett

JT and Georgia in front of Family Home