Back in February I had asked if anyone on the list knew anything about an epidemic in February March 1880 time period in the Holt County area. I have found the following: The Holt County (Missouri) Sentinel February 20, 1880 Quite a number of the village children are still struggling with the measles. Few cases still of diptheria. The latter disease seems to assail its victims with intense malignancy an attacking being almost the same as death. Sorry to note four death this week. One, a little son of Wm. Griffith, living eight miles northwest of us. The lad was but four years old and had been sick but two days with scarlet fever, terminating fatally Saturday morning. Word has just reached the city that a daughter of Mr. Griffith died on Monday morning. The grevious (sic) event following so suddenly the death of a son, makes it a seriously bitter cup for the stricken family. Schuyler Barrett, a boy about thirteen, died Thursday evening, after a week's struggle with diptheria. The family are temporarily here for the winter, having arranged to go upon a farm in the county in the spring. They formerly resided in Iowa. Mr. Lease's child died Sunday at their home in the north east part of the city. The funeral was preached at the Christian church. Vicky Drake dvicky@primenet.com

Thanks for this interesting (and sad) bit of history, Vicki. I wonder how Patrick Sipes, who helped me so much with Holt Co lookups, is doing; he lives in ShowLow, AZ, which is in the path of a terrible wildfire. Patrick, our thoughts are with you. Jean Edwards in CA