EPIDEMICS OR ILLNESSES
Updated 08/24/2023
EPIDEMICS OR ILLNESSES - An epidemic is defined as a widespread occurrence of an infectious disease within a specific period of time. A pandemic affects an even greater geographical area, with people in multiple countries, and sometimes on multiple continents, becoming infected.
Some of the more famous early pandemics include the "Spanish Flu" of 1918 - 1920 which claimed an estimated 20 million lives, the "Black Plaque" of 1346 - 1350 which resulted in the death of an estimated 50 million people, and the lesser known, but most deadly, Plaque of Justinian of 541-542 A.D. which is estimated to have killed 100 million lives (approximately one-half of the entire world population at that time). The United States has experienced several epidemics and/or pandemics to include the Spanish Flu (influenza), typhoid fever, diphtheria, smallpox virus, yellow fever, scarlet fever, and even the measles, some of which caused the death of many residents of the Auburn-area. An illness is defined as a disease or sickness affecting the body or mind of a single individual. While hundreds of Auburn-area residents have died from illnesses over the decades, this webpage focus upon those individuals who have died from either epidemic-related issues or from more unusual or unique illnesses. |
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Auburn-area known epidemics
in chronological order
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Circa 1877 - Diphtheria, scarlet fever and typhoid epidemics were all present in portions of Pennsylvania in 1877. At least ten people were interred within Auburn that year. Six of those ten were children sixteen years of age or younger. Three of the ten had their cause of death identified on the website findagrave.com as "consumption" (tuberculosis), possible stillborn (died on same day as birth), and killed by a train, while the other seven were not listed with a cause of death; but at least two of those individuals had a higher probability of having died from one of the epidemics of that year.
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September, 1890 - The Auburn Borough Council meeting minutes dated September 5, 1890 contained the brief entry of "typhoid epidemic raging in town".
During the 1890s, a typhoid pandemic was prevalent throughout portions of the United States as well as elsewhere in the world. Typhoid is an infectious food- and water-borne disease linked to poor sanitation. Unsanitary conditions, combined with fouled water-supplies and limited health amenities, provide the ideal conditions for the spread of the disease. Its greatest impact occurs during the long, hot summer months when fluids are consumed in greater quantities, thus increased the risk of exposure. Considering that the Schuylkill River was often the dumping ground for local sewage waste and garbage, as well as increased risks of contaminated ground water, the high risk of a pandemic of this nature within Schuylkill County was inevitable. At least fourteen Auburn-area residents died and were buried in Auburn during the year 1890. None of them were specifically identified as having died from typhoid fever. Some of them appear to have died from other causes (stillborn; advanced age). However, at least two of them seem like possible candidates of the typhoid pandemic. Anna Moyer (50 year old) and Lillie Moyer (17 year old) were mother and daughter, and both died at some point in 1890 (no specific date of death mentioned for either). A few other younger individuals who may not have been able to survive typhoid also were deceased in 1890 to include Ida E. Berger (15 year old); John H. Lindemuth (4 year old) and Joseph Lawrence (6 year old). However, it should be emphasized that it is inconclusive as to whether their deaths were attributed to typhoid. An interesting entry in one woman's demise is that Mary Koch Ebling was born in 1846 and died in 1934. A notation was made that she had "survived a severe bout of typhoid". She would have been approx. 44 years old in 1890 and it is unknown if she might have contracted typhoid fever during that pandemic. |
Circa 1890s - "Malaria fever has made a severe attack in Auburn. Samuel Kramer, brakeman on the P & R, J. Lawrence and two of his children, also two of Jackson Shoener's children, are laid up with the same disease. Dr. Quail is in attendance. Mr. Charles Mengel, who has been ill with malaria fever, is on duty, his son Walter is able to be about." (Undated and non-sourced news article)
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1901 - A smallpox epidemic spread throughout Pennsylvania infecting many residents of the Auburn area. The children were especially vulnerable to this plague. The aggressive spread of this disease resulted in the need to quarantine victims as an attempt to minimize the risk of exposure.
The Auburn Shale Brick Co. provided an abandoned old house in "Shoener's Dale" near Auburn to be used for quarantine purposes. The structure was quickly and crudely repaired before afflicted patients were transferred there - many of whom subsequently died from the disease. Once the epidemic had finally run its course and the threat was considered to be non-existent, the building (referred to during the quarantine as "the Pest House") was burnt to the ground as a means of destroying any lingering vestiges of the disease. At least fourteen people were interred within Auburn during the year 1901. Although none of the fourteen listed on the website findagrave.com specifically mentions dying from complications of smallpox, the majority of those interments did not list any cause of death, so it cannot be ruled out. Additionally, eight of the fourteen individuals who died were children, varying from infancy to sixteen years of age. |
1918-1922 - Spanish Flu pandemic - In Pennsylvania alone, the Spanish Flu killed an estimated 50,000 people. The actual number will never be known because many rural deaths went unreported, and burials were often hasty and undocumented. This pandemic killed over 50 million people worldwide between 1918 and 1922, and infected roughly one third of the world's population. Listed below are sixteen Auburn-area residents who died as a result of the Spanish Flu between the months of October and December, 1918. They include, but are not necessarily limited to:
Anderson, Emma Bace
Auman, Mary Blanche Condon Boyer, Annetta R. Kramer Fessler Clauser, Guy Lester Kramer, John Elmer Kuhns, Alice Rishel Long, Herbert E. Mellon, Edward Mellon, Gertrude Mellon, William Mengel, David Arthur Overdorf, Sarah Mellon Peiffer, Harry Mahlon Petry, Katie Elizabeth Mengel Schaffner, Edna May Ney Staller, William Henry |
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Victims of epidemics or unusual illnesses (alphabetical by surname)
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Anderson, Emma Bace -
Emma (Emeline?) Bace Anderson was born in Pennsylvania on 12/06/1891. She was the daughter of Alois K. Bace and Diana Freeman Bace. Emma was a sister to John De (D.?) Bace and Lynn Bace, and a step-sister to Bertha Anna Bace, Clarkson D. Bace, Kate Alice Bace Walborn and Maggie (Margaret?) D. Bace Slough. Emma married Herbert Anderson and they had the following children: Alois Anderson, Ethel Anderson, Gerald (or Jerald?) Franklin Anderson, Helen Anderson, Ira Anderson, Lester Anderson and Richard Anderson, as well as an unnamed infant who died in 1917. Emma died from complications of the Spanish Flu on 10/12/1918. She is interred within the St. John's Church cemetery, Cemetery Road, Auburn, Schuylkill County, PA. |
Auman, Mamie (Margaret?) -
Mamie (Margaret?) Auman was born in Pennsylvania in December of 1892. She was the daughter of George Auman and Mary A. Kinsey Auman. She was a sister of Annie (Anna, Annetta or Annette?) Auman, Charles Auman, Harry (Harold?) Bernard Auman, Joseph Kinsey Auman, Lettie Auman (NOTE: "Lettie" can be a dimunitive nickname for such names as Charlotte, Colette, Elizabeth, Letitia, Scarlett or Violet), Sallie (Sara or Sarah?) Auman Beggs, and William Harrison Auman. In October of 1905, twelve-year-old Mamie became ill with diphtheria. She battled the disease for eight days before finally succumbing to it on 11/01/1905. She was interred within the Auburn Church of God cemetery, Cemetery Road, Auburn, Schuylkill County, PA. If Mamie's sad death wasn't sufficient misery for her surviving family, the death of her father, George, less than two months later, would be. George was so heart-stricken and depressed over the loss of his "favorite" daughter that on Christmas Day of 1905, he went alone to visit her gravesite, lay down and placed a stick of dynamite on his chest before detonating it, thus committing suicide, perhaps in a desperate effort to rejoin with his beloved daughter. Further details about George's demise can be found on this website's webpage titled "Suicides". |
Auman, Mary Blanche Condon -
Mary Blanche Condon Auman was born in Pennsylvania on 08/27/1893. She was the daughter of William F. Condon and Margaret A. Brady Condon. She was a sister of Alice M. Condon Auman. Mary married, and was the first wife of, William Harrison Auman (who married Mary's sister Alice approximately two years after Mary's death). Mary and William had at least one child by their union: Mable G. Auman Ney. Mary died in Auburn, Schuylkill County, PA, on 10/23/1918 during the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918 - 1922. According to the website findgrave.com, the implication is that she died of influenza. Whether or not her cause of death can be attributed to the disease is uncertain at this time. Mary was interred within the Auburn Church of God cemetery, Cemetery Road, Auburn, Schuylkill County, PA. |
Bace, Alois K. "A. K." -
"Death of Squire A. K. Bace, Auburn: Squire A. K. Bace died, Tuesday afternoon at 3:45 o'clock, at his home, on Main st., of bright's disease. He was in ill health the past 5 months, but never bedfast. The funeral will take place Saturday, May 14." - Reading Eagle, Reading, PA. Wednesday, May 18, 1898, Page 4. (Note: Bright's Disease is the "antiquated" term for kidney diseases which would include acute or chronic nephritis.) (Note: The newspaper article has an incorrect date for the funeral listed as it states in "future-tense" that the funeral will take place Saturday, May 14...and yet the article is dated May 18th and records indicate Alois died May 17th...the correct date for the funeral would have been the following Saturday, May 21st, 1898.) Alois K. "A. K." Bace was born in Germany circa 07/04/1834. At some point he immigrated to America and eventually settled in Auburn, Schuylkill County, PA. Alois married twice; first to Sarah A. Delong Bace (who died in 1884). By this union they had the following children: Bertha Anna Bace, Clarkson D. Bace, John De (D.?) Bace, Kate Alice Bace Walborn and Maggie (Margaret?) D. Bace Slough. Approximately two years after his first wife Sarah died, Alois married Diana Freeman Bace in 1886. They had the following children: Emma Bace Anderson and Lynn Bace. Alois died in Auburn on 05/17/1898 and was interred within the St. John's Church cemetery, Cemetery Road, Auburn, Schuylkill County, PA. |
Bartolet, John Ruben
("son of Benjamin") - "Summit Station - AUG. 19 - A son of Benjamin Bartolet suddenly died on Wednesday morning of summer complaint, after an illness of about 24 hours. The remains were interred in Summer Hill cemetery on Sunday. Rev. Jacob Kline officiated." - Reading Eagle, Reading, PA. Wednesday, August 20, 1879 Page 2 (Note: "Summer Complaint" was a "polite" term for the condition of acute diarrhea, which normally occurs during the hot Summer months, and afflicts mostly infants and very young children. The primary cause of the illness is due to bacterial contamination of food and is frequently associated with poor hygiene.) John Ruben Bartolet was born on 06/21/1874, the son of Benjamin B. Bartolet and Fietta Wenrich Bartolet. He was a brother of Benjamin W. Bartolet, Catherine A. Bartolet Wagner, Frank Lewis Bartolett (Bartolet), Howard E. Bartolet, James M. Bartolet and Mary J. Bartolet. John died at the age of five years old on 08/11/1879 and was interred in the St. Paul's Church cemetery, Summer Hill Road, South Manheim Township, Schuylkill County, PA. |
Betz, Sarah G.
Sarah G. Betz was born in Pennsylvania on 02/18/1842. She is believed to have been the wife of Isaac Betz, who was memorialized for his military service on a veterans' plaque located in the middle of the Auburn Cemetery, Mill Street, Auburn, Schuylkill County, PA, but no known interment site is located at that cemetery for either Isaac or Sarah. Sarah is mentioned on the website findagrave.com as having a sister who survived her, a "Mrs. Jacob Sowers", as well as a daughter who survived her, a "Mrs. William Dietrich of Pottsville". Sarah died in Pottsville, Schuylkill County, PA, on 06/04/1904 of "Bright's disease" after having undergone surgery to remove fifty-four gallstones. (Note: Bright's Disease is the "antiquated" term for kidney diseases which would include acute or chronic nephritis.) Sarah is believed to have been interred within the Auburn Cemetery as mentioned above; however, no physical evidence, nor burial or church records, support that claim. |
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Borkey (or Burkey), Sadie Moyer &
Borkey (or Burkey), Wesley Moyer Sadie (Sara or Sarah?) Moyer Borkey (or Burkey) was born in Auburn, Schuylkill County, PA, on 12/14/1872. Wesley Moyer Borkey was born on 03/16/1874. Both Sadie and Wesley were children of Samuel P. Burkey (or Borkey) and Sarah R. Moyer Burkey (or Borkey). Sadie and Wesley were siblings of each other and of a sister, Carrie Moyer Burkey (or Borkey) Reber. Sadie died at the age of four years old in Auburn on 02/22/1877. Wesley died less than one week later, at the age of two years old, in Auburn on 02/28/1877. They were interred within the Auburn Church of God cemetery, Cemetery Road, Auburn, Schuylkill County, PA. Although a cause of death has not yet been found when researching these two individuals, these children from the same family died less than one week apart in the year 1877. At least two epidemics were known to be prevalent in 1877 - diphtheria and scarlet fever. The likelihood that their deaths may have been related to one of these epidemics is quite possible. |
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Boyer, Annetta R. Kramer Fessler
Annetta R. Kramer Fessler Boyer was born in Schuylkill County, PA, on 06/22/1893. She was the daughter of Lewis T. Kramer and Alice H. Reber Kramer. Annetta was a sister to Herman R. Kramer, Luther R. Kramer and Stella R. Kramer Sowers. In 1911, Annetta married Joseph Fessler. They had one daughter, Lula May Fessler Ney. In 1918, Annettta married Raymond George Boyer. The website findagrave.com did not list any children by that union. Unfortunately, in that same year, on 10/30/1918, Annette died in Berks County, PA, of the Spanish Flu at the age of 25. She is interred in the St. John's cemetery, Cemetery Road, Auburn, Schuylkill County, PA. |
Clauser, Guy Lester -
Guy Lester Clauser was born on 04/07/1900. According to Guy's great-nephew, Jere Mack-Clauser, Guy died as a result of the Spanish Flu pandemic. Guy was only 18 years old when he passed away on 10/22/1918. Guy is interred within the St. Paul's Church cemetery, Summer Hill Road, South Manheim Township, Schuylkill County, PA. |
DeLong, Florence -
"Auburn - Florence, the 3-year old daughter of Annie DeLong, died of membranous croup. Funeral, Monday at 10 o'clock. Interment in St. John's Cemetery. Rev. Henry Lisse, of Orwigsburg, will officiate." - Reading Eagle, Reading, PA. Saturday, January 11, 1896. Page 4. (Note: Membranous croup is a partial blockage of the airway caused by inflammation of the larynx, trachea or bronchi. The illness most commonly occurs in infants and young children.) (Note: Florence DeLong has no visible grave marker at St. John's Church cemetery. The church records do not reflect an interment site, nor do they reflect an actual interment having occurred within this cemetery for Florence. No other DeLongs are interred within the St. John's Church cemetery. The website findagrave.com has no listing for a child named Florence DeLong having been interred that year anywhere within the United States.) A possible family has been tentatively identified for Florence using the website findagrave.com. The site has a listing for an Anna "Annie" Susan Moyer DeLong who was born in Auburn, Schuylkill County, PA on 12/19/1876. She would have been nineteen years of age at the time Florence passed, indicating she may have been sixteen years old and was married when she gave birth to Florence (not likely, but still possible). At some point, she relocated to Berks County, but it is not unreasonable to believe she may have still been residing in her hometown of Auburn at the age of nineteen (when Florence died). Anna died in Berks Count at the age of eighty-one...sixty-one years after Florence had passed. The website findagrave.com lists only one known child of Anna's, that of a Harold C. DeLong, who was born a year after Florence died. It is feasible that whomever created the listing on findagrave.com for Anna's death in 1957 (keeping in mind that the listing may have been created decades after Anna's own death) was not aware of Florence's birth and death almost seven decades prior to Anna's. If Anna "Annie" Susan Moyer DeLong was Florence's mother, then Florence would have been the daughter of Anna, previously mentioned, and Howard N. DeLong. She would have also been a sister of the previously mentioned Harold C. DeLong. Whether or not this family was the same one from which Florence was born is uncertain at this time. |
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Dissinger, Mitchell C. -
Mitchell C. Dissinger was born on 12/18/1890 in West Brunswick Township; Schuylkill County, PA. She was the daughter of John G. Dissinger Sr. and Elizabeth "Lizzie" G. Hummel Dissinger. She was a sister of Annie R. Dissinger Kerschner, John G. Dissinger Jr., Nora Mae Dissinger Berger and Raymond Milton Dissinger. Mitchell died at the age of fourteen of tuberculosis on 01/05/1905 in Auburn and was interred within the Auburn Cemetery, Mill Street, Auburn, Schuylkill County, PA. |
Foulk (or Folk),
Rosa "Rosey" Mary - "Auburn - The funeral of Rosa Folk took place from the residence of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Folk. Deceased was afflicted with measles and contracted pneumonia, which caused her death. She was 9 years old. Undertaker W. H. Christ had charge." - The Reading Eagle, Reading, PA. Saturday, Feb. 1, 1896 page 4. Rosa "Rosey" Mary Foulk (or Folk) was born in Schuylkill County, PA, on 04/29/1887. She was the daughter of Peter S. Folk and Emmaline "Emma" M. Blaber Folk. Rosa's mother, Emmaline, was the mother of at least five children, some of which are presumed illegitimate, by at least four different men to include Adam Hummel, Francis Augustine Mengle, Peter S. Folk and William Petry (Sr.?). On the website findagrave.com, only Peter S. Folk is shown to have actually married Emmaline. Emmaline is listed on the website as having been interred within the Auburn Church of God cemetery; but no physical evidence, nor burial or church records, exist to support that claim. However, four out of five of Emmaline's known children are interred within this cemetery: Albert, Carrie, Rosa and William. Rosa was a step-sister of Albert Francis Mengle, Caroline "Carrie" Louisa Petry Hurst Brophy, Elizabeth "Lizzie" G. Hummel Dissinger and William Daniel Petry* (Jr. or Sr.? *This William's father was also named William, plus this William had a son of his own named William Daniel Petry). Rosa died in Auburn, Schuylkill County, PA, on 01/29/1896 due to medical complications from having been inflicted with the measles. She was interred within the Auburn Church of God cemetery, Auburn, Schuylkill County, PA. Her grave marker is inscribed with her pet name of "Rosey" instead of her given name of Rosa. |
Frehafer, Lovia Petry -
Lovia Petry Frehafer was born in Auburn, Schuylkill County, PA, on 07/15/1889. She was the daughter of Josephy Petry and Sarah Ida Bautsch Petery (Petry) Smith. She was a sister of Estella Petry Miller and Ida (Adelaida or Adelaide?) Bessie (Elizabeth?) Petry. Lovia married Guy Frehafer in 1908. The website findagrave.com does not list any children by this union. Lovia died in Auburn on 09/29/1910. Her death certificate lists the cause of death as being "tuberculosis of lungs". (Tragically, her father, Joseph, died approximately four years later from "pulmonary tuberculosis"; and Lovia's sister, Estella, would die approximately eight years after Lovia from "pulmonary tuberculosis"). The same document also states that Lovia was interred within the St. John's Church cemetery, Cemetery Road, Auburn, Schuylkill County, PA; however, no physical evidence, nor burial or church records, exist to support that claim. |
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Heisler, Mamie (Margaret?) Koch -
(circa 1900 - 01/22/1917) "Auburn, Pa. - Mrs. Mamie (Koch) Heisler, died on Monday morning at the home of her parents, from typhoid fever. She was 16 years of age and will be buried Saturday in the lower cemetery. This is the third death in that household within eight weeks. A brother and grandfather having preceded her." (The Pinegrove Herald, Friday, January 26, 1917) The "Pine Grove Herald" featured the above-cited news article under the byline "Auburn". Since the byline was for Auburn, PA, the assumption would be that the "lower cemetery" mentioned above would be within that town since no other town was mentioned. Within the town limits of Auburn, there were only three public cemeteries, two of which were on the northern side of town, elevated above the majority of the town and adjacent to one another. The third, the Auburn Cemetery, was located on the southern portion of town at a lower elevation, and would be the only cemetery of the three that could be described as "the lower cemetery". No physical evidence, nor burial or church records, exists to either support or refute this interment information. A search of the website findagrave.com does not have any obvious listing for any other "Heislers" from the same household as having been interred in either 1916 or 1917 anywhere in Schuylkill County, so no further information is available at this time about Mamie's brother or grandfather who preceded her in death. |
Holland, Dennis -
Dennis Holland was born on 06/21/1843 in Pennsylvania. He was the (illegitimate?) son of David Holland and Mary Shuyett. He was a brother of Henry Holland. Dennis served in the military during the Civil War. He was a Private in Company H of the 2nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry; and he served from 02/25/1864 to 09/06/1865. He was listed as Wounded In Action (W.I.A.) with a "gun shot wound". He received a military pension of $6 per month for varicose veins, a rupture and piles. Dennis married Lucy A. Airy Holland. The website findagrave.com does not list any known children from this union. His civilian occupations included those of a farmer and a Reverend. Dennis died on 05/14/1911 in Tilden Township, Berks County, Pa. His Death Certificate description was that of a single black male (which is in conflict with his findagrave.com listing as having been married. His wife died nineteen years prior to Dennis, so his status should have been that of "Widower" instead of "single"). His Cause Of Death was listed as "Tuberculosis of Lungs". He was interred within the Salem-Berne Methodist Church cemetery, Berks County, PA. |
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Kraemer, Mrs. -
"Mrs. Kraemer, of Auburn, wife of the canal boat captain who was drowned above Reading, on hearing the news of the death of her husband immediately fainted, remained in a comatose state, and in a few hours was dead. She leaves five children." (The Elk County Advocate, November 29, 1877) (Note: The website "findagrave.com" has no listing for any Kraemer who died in 1877 as having been interred anywhere within Pennsylvania. Her interment site is currently unknown.) |
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Kramer, John Elmer -
John Elmer Kramer was born on 04/13/1896 in Schuylkill County, PA. He was the son of George Kramer and Elizabeth Shoener Kramer. He was a brother of Alice Kramer Fisher, Amanda Kramer Fisher, Harry Kramer, Katie Kramer Faust, Pheope (Pheobe) Kramer Wenerich Wildemuth (or Wildermuth) and Samuel Kramer. According to the website findagrave.com, John was inducted into the U.S. Army on July 23, 1918...making him a World War I veteran. John was a Private in Company B, 3rd Dev. Battalion, 155 D.B. and "died while in service during the Influenza Pandemic" on 10/03/1918. His official place of death is listed as Rives, Prince George's County, Maryland. John is interred in the Auburn Church of God cemetery, Cemetery Road, Auburn, Schuylkill County, PA. |
Kramer, Mabel -
Mabel Kramer was born circa 1869. She was the daughter of Lewis Kramer and Emma L. Klock Kramer Killinger. She was a sister of Anna F. Kramer Hower; Leroy Kramer and Robert W. Kramer; as well as she would have been a step-sister of Helen E. Killinger Ryan but she died prior to Helen's birth. Mabel died of consumption (tuberculosis) sometime in December, 1886, approximately five months after her father had died from pleuro pneumonia. Mabel was interred within the St. John's Church cemetery, Cemetery Road, Auburn, Schuylkill County, PA. Her grave marker is enscribed with the statement "in her 18th year", but according to the website findagrave.com, she would have either been only 16 or, more likely, 17 years of age when she died. |
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Kramer, Sadie Louisa -
"MISS SADIE KRAMER DIES - Hummelstown, Pa., Feb. 4 - Miss Sadie Kramer, aged 32, of Rutherford Heights, died on Saturday from dropsy...The body will be taken to Auburn, Pa., for burial." (Harrisburg telegraph newspaper, February 4, 1918) The website findagrave.com has a listing for a Sadie Louisa Kramer who was born on 10/25/1885 in Schuylkill County, PA and died on 02/02/1918 in Rutherford Heights, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. She is listed as having been the daughter of Abraham L. Kramer and Alice Louisa Herbst Kramer. Sadie is also listed as a sister of John Henry Kramer, Lucian F. Kramer, Robert S. Kramer and William J. Kramer. The site mentions that Sadie was unmarried, that she died of tuberculosis, and was subsequently interred at the "Auburn Cemetery" (Mill Street, Auburn, Schuylkill County, PA). There exists no definitive physical evidence, nor burial or church records, to substantiate her interment at this location. However, a newspaper article from the "Harrisburg Telegraph" newspaper dated 02/04/1918 (pictured and quoted here) states Sadie died from "dropsy"*. *Note: "Dropsy" is an antiquated term for what is today referred to as edema (a swelling of the soft tissues due to an accumulation of retained water. This symptom has several causes to include congestive heart failure). The website findagrave.com also indicates that her parents, Abraham and Alice, along with her siblings Lucian and Robert, are all interred in the Auburn Cemetery on Mill Street, although no definitive physical evidence, nor burial or church records, exist to substantiate any of those interments at this location. |
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Kuhns, Alice Rishel -
Alice Rishel Kuhns was born in Pennsylvania on 07/08/1856. She was the daughter of Elias Rishel and Catharine (or Katherine) Deibert Rishel. She was a sister of Albert Diebert (Deibert) Rishel, Charles Deibert Rishel, Elias Deibert Rishel, John Deibert Rishel, Katie (Catharine or Katherine?) D. Rishel, Morris Deibert Rishel, Susanna Elizabeth Rishel (who died when she was approximately eight years old) and William Deibert Rishel. Alice married Francis S. Kuhns. They had at least two children: Lillian Kuhns Emery and Robert G. Kuhns. Alice died in Weissport, Carbon County, PA, on 12/24/1918. Her death certificate states that she was widowed and that her occupation was listed as "house work". The cause of death was listed as "Influenza". This death was during the peak of the Spanish Flu pandemic. |
Ladner, Christian -
Christian Ladner was born on 10/02/1824 in Chester County, PA. He was a son of John Christian Ladner and Catharine Ladner. Christian married Catharine Schulce Ladner. They had the following children: Hattie Ladner (who died at the approximate age of six years, nine-and-one-half months) and Irene Ladner Gressang. Christian died of "consumption" (tuberculosis) on 03/24/1878 in Auburn, Schuylkill County, PA and was interred within the St. John's Church cemetery, Cemetery Road, Auburn, Schuylkill County, PA. |
Long, Herbert E. -
Herbert E. Long was born in Upper Bern Township, Berks County, PA, on 04/22/1895 . He was the son of Preston Benjamin Long and Kate Amelia Berger Long. Herbert was a brother to Jenny (Jennifer?) Emma Long Werner, Robert Milton Long, Sally (Sara or Sarah?) E. Long Fritz and Stella (Estella or Estelle?) M. Long Rhine. According to the website findagrave.com, Herbert was a U.S. Army veteran during World War I. He began his service on 11/28/1915 and served as a Corporal in Company M & Machine Gun Company, 29th Infantry, 17th Division until his death on 10/14/1918. The website states Herbert "died from broncho-pneumonia (probably brought on by the flu during the Influenza Pandemic)...Contrary to what some records claim he was not killed in action". Herbert is interred within the Auburn Church of God cemetery, Cemetery Road, Auburn, Schuylkill County, PA. |
Mellon, Edward -
Edward Mellon was born in Auburn, Schuylkill County, PA, on 12/27/1898. He was the son of Henry Mellon and Mary Heck Mellon. Edward was a brother of Annie (Anna or Annette?) Mellon Rhein, Gertrude Mellon, Laura Mellon Wenrich, Mamie (Margaret?) Mellon, Sarah Mellon Overdorf and William Mellon. Edward also had a step-sister (by his mother) named Katie (Catharine or Katherine?) Elizabeth Mengel Petry. Edward died in Pottsville, Schuylkill County, PA, on 10/24/1918. He died during the Spanish Influenza pandemic, along with his siblings Gertrude, Sarah and William (all within 13 days of each other). Edward's step-sister, Katie, died on 10/20/1918, presumably also as a result of the Spanish Influenza. Edward is interred within the St. John's Church cemetery, Cemetery Road, Auburn, Schuylkill County, PA. |
Mellon, Gertrude -
Gertrude Mellon was born in Auburn, Schuylkill County, PA, on 08/27/1903. She was the daughter of Henry Mellon and Mary Heck Mellon. Gertrude was a sister of Annie (Anna or Annette?) Mellon Rhein, Edward Mellon, Laura Mellon Wenrich, Mamie (Margaret?) Mellon, Sarah Mellon Overdorf and William Mellon. Gertrude also had a step-sister (by her mother) named Katie (Catharine or Katherine?) Elizabeth Mengel Petry. Gertrude died in Pottsville, Schuylkill County, PA, on 10/27/1918 at the age of 15. She died during the Spanish Influenza Pandemic, along with her siblings Edward, Sarah and William (all within 13 days of each other). Gertrude's step-sister, Katie, died on 10/20/1918, presumably also as a result of the Spanish Flu. Gertrude is interred within the St. John's Church cemetery, Cemetery Road, Auburn, Schuylkill County, PA. |
Mellon, William -
William Mellon was born in Auburn, Schuylkill County, PA, on 11/24/1894. He was the son of Henry Mellon and Mary Heck Mellon. William was a brother of Annie (Anna or Annette?) Mellon Rhein, Edward Mellon, Gertrude Mellon, Laura Mellon Wenrich, Mamie (Margaret?) Mellon and Sarah Mellon Overdorf. He also had a step-sister (by his mother) named Katie (Catharine or Katherine?) Elizabeth Mengel Petry. William married Lillie Mae Boehmer Mellon Long in 1914. William died in Auburn on 10/17/1918. He died during the Spanish Influenza Pandemic, along with his siblings Edward, Gertrude and Sarah (all within 13 days of each other). William's step-sister, Katie, died on 10/20/1918, presumably also as a result of the Spanish Flu. William is interred in the St. John's Church cemetery, Cemetery Road, Auburn, Schuylkill County, PA. |
Mengel, David Arthur -
David Arthur Mengel was born in Auburn, Schuylkill County, PA, on 08/08/1884. He was the son of Reuben A. Mengel and Fiana Briegel Mengel. David was a brother of Ellen Victoria Mengel Nagle, Gertrude Mengel Christ, Henrietta Mengel Long, Katie (Catharine or Katherine?) Louisa Mengel Fisher, Rosa Amanda Mengel Berger and Tamsen M. Mengel Kershner. David married Annie Cora Clauer Mengel in 1905. They had the following children: Dora Mengel Goodhart and Guy Arthur Mengel. The website findagrave.com lists that David died in Auburn as a result of the Spanish Influenza on 10/23/1918. He is interred within the St. John's Church cemetery, Cemetery Road, Auburn, Schuylkill County, PA. |
Miller, Estella Petry -
Estella Petry Miller was born in Auburn, Schuylkill County, PA on 09/15/1882. She was the daughter of Joseph Petery (Petry) and Sarah Ida Bautsch Petery (Petry) Smith. She was a sister of Ida (Adelaida or Adelaide?) Bessie (Elizabeth?) Petry and Lovia Petry Frehafer. Estella married Marion Miller. Although the website findagrave.com does not list any children by this union, it is believed that Estella may have previously had an illegitimate son, William Henry Steffy (Jr.?), with William Henry Steffy (Sr.?) of Auburn, PA. Estella died in Reading, Berks County, PA, on 08/18/1918. Her death certificate indicates a cause of death as "pulmonary tuberculosis". (Tragically, her father, Joseph, died approximately four years earlier from "pulmonary tuberculosis"; and Estella's sister, Lovia, died approximately eight years before Estella with a cause of death listed as "tuberculosis of lungs"). According to findagrave.com, Estella is believed to have been interred within the St. John's Church cemetery, Cemetery Road, Auburn, Schuylkill County, PA; however, no physical evidence, nor burial or church records, exist to support this claim. |
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Miller, George T. -
George T. Miller was born on 09/27/1872 in McKeansburg, Schuylkill County, PA. In 1900, he married Ellen Nora Clauer Miller Long. He died of "consumption" (tuberculosis) in Auburn, Schuylkill County, PA, on 03/09/1902...four months before his first-born child arrived: Mary M. Miller Herring, who never had an opportunity to know her father. He was interred within the St. John's Church cemetery, Cemetery Road, Auburn, Schuylkill County, Pa. NOTE: George T. Miller's grave, located within the St. John's Church cemetery, Cemetery Road, Auburn, Schuylkill County, PA, has an accompanying G.A.R. (Civil War) medallion beside it; yet George was born approximately seven years after that war ended if his grave marker is correctly engraved. As a result, either George didn't serve in the Civil War and this medallion does not belong with this grave, or, less likely, his grave marker is incorrectly engraved. In either case, his military service during the Civil War is presently highly doubtful. |
Moyer, Annie -
"FOUR CASES OF TYPHOID REPORTED. Registrar W. H. Robinson, of the Board of Health, received four reports of typhoid in the county yesterday, three in Pottsville and one in Auburn. They are...and Annie Moyer, aged 51, of Auburn." Undated and unidentified newspaper source. Note: The website findagrave.com has a listing for an Anna Moyer who was born in 1840 and died in 1890 at the age of either 49 or 50 years as having been interred in the Auburn Church of God cemetery, Cemetery Road, Auburn, Schuylkill County, PA. Whether this Anna Moyer is the same individual as "Annie" Moyer is uncertain, especially since there is a slight discrepancy in their ages. |
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Overdorf, Sarah Mellon -
Sarah Mellon Overdorf was born in Auburn, Schuylkill County, PA, on 02/15/1902. She was the daughter of Henry Mellon and Mary Heck Mellon. Sarah was a sister of Annie (Anna or Annette?) Mellon Rhein, Edward Mellon, Gertrude Mellon, Laura Mellon Wenrich, Mamie (Margaret?) Mellon and William Mellon. She also had a step-sister (by her mother) named Katie (Catharine or Katherine?) Elizabeth Mengel Petry. Sarah married Charles W. Overdorf in 1918 at the age of 16, but unfortunately she died later that same year on 10/30/1918. Sarah died during the Spanish Influenza pandemic along with her siblings Edward, Gertrude and William (all within 13 days of each other). Sarah's step-sister, Katie, died on 10/20/1918, presumably also as a result of the Spanish Flu. Sarah's place of death is listed as Port Clinton, Schuylkill County, PA. She is interred within the St. John's Church cemetery, Cemetery Road, Auburn, Schuylkill County, PA. |
Peiffer, Harry Mahlon (Jr.?) -
Harry Mahlon Peiffer (Jr.?) was born in South Manheim Township, Schuylkill County, PA, on 07/08/1894. He was the son of Harry Peiffer (Sr.?) and Clara Zimmerman Peiffer. He was a brother of John Peiffer. The website findagrave.com lists no wife or children for him. Harry (Jr.?) died in Auburn, Schuylkill County, PA, on 10/19/1918. The website findagrave.com indicates that he died as a result of the Spanish Influenza pandemic. He is interred within the St. John's Church cemetery, Cemetery Road, Auburn, Schuylkill County, PA. |
Petery (Petry), Joseph -
Joseph Petery (or Petry) was born in Schuylkill County, PA, on 04/25/1861. According to the website findagrave.com, Joseph was the son of Daniel Petery and Catherine (or Katherine) Bias Petery; however, his death certificate (pictured on right) states his mother was Urma Ricedoff or Risedoff (the handwriting is difficult to decipher). Researching this conflict of information further, it appears that Daniel Petery didn't marry Catherine Bias Petery until 1868. Therefore, Joseph, born in 1861, would have been the son of Urma, not Catherine. A thorough search of the website findagrave.com did not produce any viable results for an Urma Ricedoff, Risedoff, Petery or Petry of this era having been interred anywhere in the United States. Under the presumption that Daniel and Urma may have been married*, then Joseph was a brother of Charles Petry and Joanna Petry Seidel; and a step-brother of Ellen Petry Balthaser, Francis B. London (who may have been an illegitimate child of Urma's and George London), Jacob John Petery, and Louisa Petry (who died at approximately eight years of age). *NOTE: Daniel sired two children from 1854 to 1858 (presumably with Urma); then didn't produce any other children until after his marriage to Catherine in 1868, at which point he sired an additional three children in just three years. A possibility exists that either Urma was terminally ill for some portion of this ten year hiatus before finally dying; or that she possibly died early but Daniel spent several years mourning her before remarrying. Joseph married Sarah Ida Bautsch Petery (Petry) Smith in 1868. They had the following children: Estella Petry Miller, Ida (Adelaida or Adelaide?) Bessie (Elizabeth?) Petry and Lovia Petry Frehafer. Joseph died in Quincy, Franklin County, PA, on 11/11/1914. His death certificate (pictured on right) lists his cause of death as "pulmonary tuberculosis". (Tragically, approximately four years prior to his death, his daughter Lovia died of "tuberculosis of lungs"; and approximately four years after his death, his daughter Estella died of "pulmonary tuberculosis"). According to the website findagrave.com, Joseph was interred within the Auburn Church of God cemetery, Auburn, Schuylkill County, PA; however, no physical evidence, nor burial or church records, exist to support that claim. |
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Petry, Katie Elizabeth Mengel -
Katie Elizabeth Mengel Petry was born in Auburn, Schuylkill County, PA, on 03/07/1881. She was the presumably illegitimate daughter of Adam Mengel and Mary Heck Mellon. Katie was a step-sister (by her mother) of Annie (Anna or Annette?) Mellon Rhein, Edward Mellon, Gertrude Mellon, Laura Mellon Wenrich, Mamie (Margaret?) Mellon, Sarah Mellon Overdorf, and William Mellon. Katie married William Daniel Petry (Sr.?). They had the following children: Anna May Petry Eckert, Charles William Petry, Elmer Robert Petry, Helen Irene Petry Kline, John Claude Petry, Katie (Catharine or Katherine?) Elizabeth Petry Leiby and William Daniel Petry (Jr.?). Katie died in Auburn, Schuylkill County, PA, on 10/20/1918, leaving seven juvenile children behind. She is presumed to have died as a result of the Spanish Influenza due to the fact that she died within days of four of her step-siblings: Edward Mellon, Gertrude Mellon, Sarah Mellon Overdorf and William Mellon...all of whom perished due to the Spanish Flu. Unlike her four deceased step-siblings, who were all interred within the St. John's Church cemetery, Katie is interred within the Auburn Church of God cemetery, Cemetery Road, Auburn, Schuylkill County, PA. |
Quail, Charles Edward Jr. -
"Charles E. Quail, Jr., son of Senator C. E. Quail, of Auburn died, (while he was a Senior attending) at the Philadelphia medical college, of typhoid fever last Thursday, and was buried at Auburn (Schuylkill County, PA) on Sunday afternoon. Mr. F. V. Filbert and wife attended the funeral." - Pinegrove Herald, Pine Grove, Schuylkill County, PA, Friday, April 11, 1902, page 3. This Charles Edward Quail Jr. was born in Auburn, Schuylkill County, PA, on 05/28/1879. He was the son of Doctor/Senator Charles Edward Quail Sr. and Emma Catherine Weishampel Quail. He was actually the second son of Charles Sr. and Emma who had been named "Charles Edward Quail Jr.", but his like-named brother passed away over six years before this Charles Edward Quail Jr. was born. In addition to the prior Charles Edward Quail Jr. who predeceased this Charles Edward Quail Jr.'s birth, this Charles Jr. was a brother of Emma Lula Quail Filbert (who is mentioned in the above-cited newspaper article as having attended his funenral), Florence "Flora" Juanita Quail Lesher (who unfortunately was scheduled to, and subsequently did, get married just six days after this Charles Jr. died), and Foster Koehler Quail (who died from typhoid fever in 1892 when this Charles Jr. was only thirteen years old). This Charles Edward Quail Jr. died in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA, from nephron-typhoid fever on 04/03/1902 and was interred within the Auburn Church of God cemetery, Cemetery Road, Auburn, Schuylkill County, PA. |
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Quail, Foster Koehler -
Foster Koehler Quail was born in Auburn, Schuylkill County, PA, on 06/23/1869. He was the son of Doctor/Senator Charles Edward Quail Sr. and Emma Catherine Weishampel Quail. He was a brother of the first Charles Edward Quail Jr. who died of unspecified causes at the age of four (1868-1872), the second Charles Edward Quail Jr. who died of nephron-typhoid fever at the age of twelve (1879-1902), Emma Lula Quail Filbert, and Florence "Flora" Juanita Quail Lesher. Foster was employed as a physician at the Turkey Gap Coal and Coke Company of Ennis, West Virginia in December, 1892 when he contracted typhoid fever and remained stricken with this disease for sixteen days. Dr. Foster Koehler Quail died of typhoid fever in Ennis, McDowell County, West Virginia on 12/21/1892. He preceded his father's death date by exactly sixteen years. Foster was interred within the Auburn Church of God cemetery, Cemetery Road, Auburn, Schuylkill County, PA. |
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Raush, Emanuel -
Emanuel Raush was born in circa 1840, the son of Benjamin Rausch and Catharine William Rausch. While in his early twenties, Emanuel joined the battle efforts in the Civil War. He enlisted on 06/22/1863 and served as a Private in Company G, 27th Regiment of the Pennsylvania Infantry. Unfortunately, Emanuel died of typhoid fever on 07/26/1863 at the Academy Hospital in Chambersburg, Franklin County, Pennsylvania. A grave marker for Emanuel is located within the St. John's Church cemetery, Cemetery Road, Auburn, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, but it is uncertain as to whether his remains are actually interred within this site. |
Reed, Alberta Agnes Clauser-
"AUBURN SHALE. Auburn, Nov. 7. - Another case of diphtheria is reported in this borough, the victim of the much-dreaded disease being Miss Alberta, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Clauser. Extra precautions are being exercised by the borough authorities to prevent the spreading of the disease." Another undated and non-sourced news article states ""Diphtheria is prevalent at Auburn". (Editor's note: Diphtheria is an acute, highly contagious bacterial disease-causing inflammation of the mucous membranes, formation of a false membrane in the throat that hinders breathing and swallowing, and potentially fatal heart and nerve damage by a bacterial toxin in the blood. It is now rare in developed countries because of immunization.) (Note: We are happy to report that not only did Alberta survive her potentially deadly case of diphtheria, but she eventually married, had two children, and lived until at least 87 years of age.) Alberta Agnes Clauser Reed was born in Auburn, Schuylkill County, PA, on 10/13/1887. She was the daughter of Jacob William Clauser and Carrie V. Krammes Clauser. She was a sister of Arthur Jacob Clauser, Clarence Clayton Clauser, Earlin Francis Clauser (gender uncertain as both "Earlin" and "Francis" can be a spelling for either a boy's or a girl's name) and Reynold Ray Clauser. Alberta married Wilson Reed. They had the following children: Brua W. Reed and Letha Alberta Reed Hoover. Alberta died in 1975 and was interred within the Northumberland Memorial Park, Stonington, Northumberland County, PA. |
Rishel, Elias D. (Jr.?) -
Elias D. Rishel (Jr.?) was born in Pennsylvania on 10/21/1851. He was the son of Elias Rishel (Sr.?) and Catharine Deibert Rishel. He was a brother of Albert Diebert (Deibert) Rishel, Alice Rishel Kuhns (who died from the Spanish Flu in 1918), Charles Deibert Rishel, John Deibert Rishel, Katie (Catharine or Katherine?) D. Rishel, Morris Deibert Rishel, Susanna Elizabeth Rishel (who died at approximately eight years of age), and William Deibert Rishel. The website findagrave.com has no listing of Elias having had either a wife or children. He died in Pottsville, Schuylkill County, PA, on 09/30/1877 from "consumption" (tuberculosis) according to that website. He was interred within the Auburn Church of God cemetery, Cemetery Road, Auburn, Schuylkill County, PA. |
Schaffner, Edna May Ney -
Edna May Ney Schaffner was born in South Manheim Township, Schuylkill County, PA, on 05/03/1897 She is believed to have been the illegitimate daughter of Benjamin Ney and Phoepe "Pheobe" Kramer Wenerich Wildemuth (or Wildermuth). Edna married James McKinley Schoffner (or Schaffner) in 1918. They had one child, Adam Ralph Schaeffner (or Schaffner), born on 03/24/1918. Edna died in Auburn, Schuylkill County, PA, on 10/12/1918, tragically leaving behind a six-and-one-half month old baby boy. According to the website findagrave.com, Edna died as the result of the Spanish Influenza. Edna is interred within the Auburn Cemetery, Mill Street, Auburn, Schuylkill County, PA. |
Staller, William Henry (Jr.?) -
William Henry Staller (Jr.?) was born in Berks County, PA, on 04/18/1880. He was the son of William Henry Staller (Sr.?) and Emmalina A. Long Staller. William was a brother of Irvin Clinton Staller, James Washington Staller and Jeremiah Albert Staller. William married Emma R. Berger Staller and they had two children: Iva E. Staller and Nora R. Staller Seifert. William died in Auburn, Schuylkill County, PA, on 10/17/1918. According to the website findagrave.com, William died as the result of the Spanish Influenza. He is interred within the Auburn Church of God Cemetery, Cemetery Road, Auburn, Schuylkill County, PA. |
Steffy, William Henry (Jr.?) -
William Henry Steffy (Jr.?) was born in Auburn, Schuylkill County, PA, on 11/03/1898 . He is believed to have been the illegitimate son of William Henry Steffy (Sr.?) and Estella Petry Miller. He was a step-brother (by his father) to Alverna Steffy, Irene May Steffey (Steffy), Leona Josephine Steffey (Steffy), Roscoe Steffy, Samuel Kenneth Steffy, William H. Steffy (not to be confused with the person about whom this posting was made), and an unnamed deceased male infant. William died in Auburn, Schuylkill County, PA, on 04/14/1908, at the age of nine. The website findagrave.com lists his place of interment as St. John's Church cemetery, Cemetery Road, Auburn, Schuylkill County, PA; however, there is no physical evidence, nor any burial or church records, that support that claim. Findagrave.com also lists his mother, Estella, as having been interred within this cemetery, but again there is no physical evidence, nor burial or church records, to support that claim. The following news article probably pertains to this individual. The Lehighton Press - Volume 31, Number 2, dated Friday April 24, 1908 (ten days after William died) reads: “Nail Scratch Kills a Boy. What was believed to be only a slight wound resulted in blood poisoning and the death of the twelve-year-old son of William Steffy at Auburn. The lad was cutting wood, when he sustained a scratch on the finger by accidentally running against a nail protruding from a board”. Although there is an age discrepancy between the information on findagrave.com (nine years old) and the news article (twelve years old), there is no record of any other son of a "William Steffy" of Auburn having died in April, 1908; so it is a reasonable assumption that one of the two ages cited are incorrect and that this was the same individual. |
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