It could have been cholera, a quote from the page below, "1866: New cholera wave strikes Illinois with deadly force, stimulating feverish interest in sanitary and public health organizations everywhere, especially in Chicago, where Herculean but futile efforts to ward off cholera were expended." Losing 32.5 per 100 inhabitants, Chicago experiences the highest mortality rate in her history. http://www.iltrails.org/ilhealth.htm There were also many outbreaks of disease during the civil war era. In 1865 and 1866 many soldiers would have been coming home possibly bringing disease with them. I was really curious if this was widespread in woodford. Thanks to those of you that have replied. Mary