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Ora Herbert Watts was a World War I soldier who entered service May 25th of 1918. He trained and was stationed at Camp Lee, Virginia. Ora contracted the Spanish Influenza and had rapid onset symptoms. According to his father, he was "in the best of health" on Tuesday and succumbed to illness on Wednesday. This demonstrates just how alarming the illness was - a soldier in his prime cut down in a single day. Ora's funeral was not open to the public due to "the highly contagious nature of the plague"(3). Ora Watts left this Earth on October 1st, 1918, when he was 28 years old. He was the son of Charles Franklin Watts and Virginia Cyrus Watts and brother of Lora E Watts, Lena Watts Harper, and Ivan Richard Watts.

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Cabell County World War I Memorial Boulevard entry for Ora H. Watts

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The 1918 Spanish Influenza Pandemic ravaged the world in a way man had not seen in generations. One of the few truly worldwide pandemics, the 1918 Spanish Influenza Pandemic claimed an estimated 50-100 million deaths worldwide(1). This number is more than both world wars combined. In 1918, Spring Hill Cemetery was one of the primary cemeteries for Huntington, West Virginia. As such, a number of victims from the Spanish Influenza Pandemic are buried here. The Spanish Influenza hit Huntington fairly hard with 200 deaths, most of which occurring in the month of October(2). Even Huntington's Mayor, Leon S. Wiles, perished from the flu. On this tour, you will visit 17 gravesites of Huntington residents who perished from the Spanish Influenza Pandemic. 

Please keep in mind during the tour that you are visiting the final resting places of these people. Please treat all graves and the cemetery with the utmost respect and courtesy. Do your best not to step on top of a person’s final resting place and follow all posted rules.


Ora Herbert Watts

A tour of the victims of the Spanish Influenza Pandemic of 1918 buried at Spring Hill Cemetery

Frank Bright is the first grave we will be visiting on our tour of Spring Hill's many Spanish Flu victims. He is one of three individuals buried in the 1918 expansion of Spring Hill, which was built to accommodate for the influx of death brought on not only due to the Spanish Flu, but also World War 1. Frank was also known to Huntington as "Fatty", as he was, at the time, the heaviest person in Huntington, weighing in at 300 pounds. Frank Bright left this Earth on October 8th, 1918. Frank was the son of Roderick Dean Bright and Emma Jane Samuels Bright and brother to Charles William and Jenny.

The 1918 Spanish Influenza Pandemic ravaged the world in a way man had not seen in generations. One of the few truly worldwide pandemics, the 1918 Spanish Influenza Pandemic claimed an estimated 50-100 million deaths worldwide(1). This number is more than both world wars combined. In 1918, Spring Hill Cemetery was one of the primary cemeteries for Huntington, West Virginia. As such, a number of victims from the Spanish Influenza Pandemic are buried here. The Spanish Influenza hit Huntington fairly hard with 200 deaths, most of which occurring in the month of October(2). Even Huntington's Mayor, Leon S. Wiles, perished from the flu. On this tour, you will visit 17 gravesites of Huntington residents who perished from the Spanish Influenza Pandemic. 

Please keep in mind during the tour that you are visiting the final resting places of these people. Please treat all graves and the cemetery with the utmost respect and courtesy. Do your best not to step on top of a person’s final resting place and follow all posted rules. 



Frank Samuel Bright

Lyle Franklin Mahan is our second gravesite and our first World War I soldier on our tour. As the Spanish Influenza Pandemic had its beginnings in the final year of the first World War, many of its victims were soldiers. It is estimated that 45,000 American soldiers died from the Spanish Flu and its opportunistic infections(3). Lyle was drafted into the American Expeditionary Forces on June, 14th 1918. At the end of his training, he sailed out from New York on October 5th, 1918. His destination was to be France. His sister, Carrie Ethel Mahan Bagby, missed sending him off as it had already sailed away. Unfortunately, this would have been the last time the siblings would ever see each other. When Carrie returned home, she soon fell ill. She left this Earth on October 19, 1918 at the estimated age of 24. Unknown to the family, Lyle would too pass away, just a few days prior to his sister on October 15th at the age of 27. The family received word of his passing on October 25th via telegram. They were the children of Nannie Scott Kirk Mahan and Robert Mahan.

The 1918 Spanish Influenza Pandemic ravaged the world in a way man had not seen in generations. One of the few truly worldwide pandemics, the 1918 Spanish Influenza Pandemic claimed an estimated 50-100 million deaths worldwide(1). This number is more than both world wars combined. In 1918, Spring Hill Cemetery was one of the primary cemeteries for Huntington, West Virginia. As such, a number of victims from the Spanish Influenza Pandemic are buried here. The Spanish Influenza hit Huntington fairly hard with 200 deaths, most of which occurring in the month of October(2). Even Huntington's Mayor, Leon S. Wiles, perished from the flu. On this tour, you will visit 17 gravesites of Huntington residents who perished from the Spanish Influenza Pandemic. 

Please keep in mind during the tour that you are visiting the final resting places of these people. Please treat all graves and the cemetery with the utmost respect and courtesy. Do your best not to step on top of a person’s final resting place and follow all posted rules.

Lyle Franklin Mahan and Carrie Mahan Bagby

The gravesite of Earnest Cecil Fullerton can be found just behind the large obelisk labeled "Harvey". Earnest Cecil Fullerton was a World War I soldier who was drafted on June 4th of 1917. Prior to his enlistment, he had two of his toes on his right foot amputated for unknown reasons. He was a part of the Provost Guard Company at Camp Meade in Maryland. He contracted the Spanish Influenza while stationed there and left the Earth on October 24th, 1918 when he was 31 years old. He was the son of Ezekiel P Fullerton and Elizabeth Pendleton Fullerton and brother to May and Harrison Morton Fullerton.

The 1918 Spanish Influenza Pandemic ravaged the world in a way man had not seen in generations. One of the few truly worldwide pandemics, the 1918 Spanish Influenza Pandemic claimed an estimated 50-100 million deaths worldwide(1). This number is more than both world wars combined. In 1918, Spring Hill Cemetery was one of the primary cemeteries for Huntington, West Virginia. As such, a number of victims from the Spanish Influenza Pandemic are buried here. The Spanish Influenza hit Huntington fairly hard with 200 deaths, most of which occurring in the month of October(2). Even Huntington's Mayor, Leon S. Wiles, perished from the flu. On this tour, you will visit 17 gravesites of Huntington residents who perished from the Spanish Influenza Pandemic.

Please keep in mind during the tour that you are visiting the final resting places of these people. Please treat all graves and the cemetery with the utmost respect and courtesy. Do your best not to step on top of a person’s final resting place and follow all posted rules. 

Earnest Cecil Fullerton

Claudia Lee Trainer Pilcher was another victim of the Spanish Flu that much not is known about. What is known is that she married into the family she is buried with, as her parents are buried in Indiana. Her husband, Hiram, was the city treasurer and remarried 10 years after Claudia's death. Claudia contracted the flu on October 7th and left this Earth on October 13th, 1918. If Spring Hill shows us anything about the pattern of death in Huntington, it is that a majority of Spanish Influenza victims died mid-October with the worst dates being October 15th and 16th. Claudia was the daughter of William E Trainer and Rosa Lee Garner Trainer and sister of Annie F. Trainer Keffe, Clarence Edawrd Trainer, and Raymond E. Trainer.

Claudia Lee Trainer Pilcher

Obadiah B. Smith Jr. was another soldier who lost his life to the Spanish Influenza Pandemic. He is, to our knowledge, the only man of color on this tour. It can be inferred by birth dates as well as the location that Obie's father was likely a slave at birth. His mother, being born only days after the Civil War ended, was born free. Obie entered service on July 16th, 1918, and was stationed at Camp Dix in New Jersey. His brother, too, entered service according to his grave marker, however no records of his service could be found. Obie fell ill in early October. In the telegrams sent to his family, it was mentioned that Obie had been stricken by double pneumonia that was brought on by the Spanish Influenza. Obadiah left this Earth on October 5th, 1918. He was the son of Obadiah B. Smith and Nannie B. Cosby Smith and brother to Bessie M. Smith Brown and Irvin D Smith.

The 1918 Spanish Influenza Pandemic ravaged the world in a way man had not seen in generations. One of the few truly worldwide pandemics, the 1918 Spanish Influenza Pandemic claimed an estimated 50-100 million deaths worldwide(1). This number is more than both world wars combined. In 1918, Spring Hill Cemetery was one of the primary cemeteries for Huntington, West Virginia. As such, a number of victims from the Spanish Influenza Pandemic are buried here. The Spanish Influenza hit Huntington fairly hard with 200 deaths, most of which occurring in the month of October(2). Even Huntington's Mayor, Leon S. Wiles, perished from the flu. On this tour, you will visit 17 gravesites of Huntington residents who perished from the Spanish Influenza Pandemic. 

Please keep in mind during the tour that you are visiting the final resting places of these people. Please treat all graves and the cemetery with the utmost respect and courtesy. Do your best not to step on top of a person’s final resting place and follow all posted rules. 

Obie Smith Jr.

Sarah Priscilla Thornburg (nee McGinnis) was one of the few mothers who perished from the Spanish Influenza Pandemic who is buried at Spring Hill. She was also one of our oldest victims, passing on at the age of 80. Though Sarah herself did not give birth after having the Spanish Flu, it is important to note the impact of being pregnant while being sick with the Spanish Flu. Pregnancy made women much more susceptible to Spanish Influenza. Pregnant women were 50% more likely to contract pneumonia. Of that 50%, half of them were likely to die(3). If a woman did not succumb to the flu, their fetus died - miscarriage rates escalated at the end of 1918. Women who were pregnant, survived the flu, and then gave birth were having weaker babies. The Spanish Influenza negatively impacted a small portion of The Greatest Generation's population in this way. Sarah would not live to see this generation, as she left this Earth on December 23, 1918. She is the only person on this tour to have died in December. She was wife to John William Thornburg and mother to Georgie Eliza Thornburg and Henry Orsamus Thornburg.

The 1918 Spanish Influenza Pandemic ravaged the world in a way man had not seen in generations. One of the few truly worldwide pandemics, the 1918 Spanish Influenza Pandemic claimed an estimated 50-100 million deaths worldwide(1). This number is more than both world wars combined. In 1918, Spring Hill Cemetery was one of the primary cemeteries for Huntington, West Virginia. As such, a number of victims from the Spanish Influenza Pandemic are buried here. The Spanish Influenza hit Huntington fairly hard with 200 deaths, most of which occurring in the month of October(2). Even Huntington's Mayor, Leon S. Wiles, perished from the flu. On this tour, you will visit 17 gravesites of Huntington residents who perished from the Spanish Influenza Pandemic. 

Please keep in mind during the tour that you are visiting the final resting places of these people. Please treat all graves and the cemetery with the utmost respect and courtesy. Do your best not to step on top of a person’s final resting place and follow all posted rules. 


Sarah Priscilla McGinnis Thornburg

Lillian F. McCurdy was a student at Marshall University, which you may have heard is just down the road from here. She was planning to attend Columbia University after graduating. Lilian was estimated to be either 19 or 20 when she contracted the Spanish Influenza. Like most on this tour, she died in the October of 1918. Huntington was not alone when it came to the terrifying month of October 1918. In fact, October of 1918 was the deadliest month in American history, and it was due to the flu. With no CDC and a significant portion of medical experts being drafted into World War I, American citizens were at the mercy of the Spanish Influenza Pandemic. It was up to public officials - Mayors, health commissioners, etc. - to determine what was to be done about the pandemic. It was estimated that 195,000 Americans lost their lives in the month of October alone(3). Lillian was one of those October victims. No death certificate has been located at this point, so the exact date that Lillian left this Earth is unknown. She was daughter to Azel McCurdy and Sue E Sensensey McCurdy and sister to Azel McCurdy, Janice M McCurdy, and Corydon Enslow McCurdy.

Lillian F. McCurdy

Charles Wentworth Bockway is our youngest stop on the tour. Charles was only 4 or 5 years when he contracted the Spanish Influenza. Though Charles would have been to young to participate in school, his siblings were not. The issue of keeping schools open or not was a debated topic during the pandemic. Some cities, such as New York City, opted to not close schools as it was the best way to monitor students. This also gave the city an opportunity to educate children about the pandemic, in hopes that they would pass this information on to their parents. Unfortunately, this was not the case in Huntington as cases swelled in the area. Local health officials closed down "the public schools, Marshall College, all theaters, revival meetings, billiard parlors, dance halls, and other crowded places" on October 8th in order to slow the spread of disease(2). Charles left this Earth sometime in October of 1918. He was the son of Frank Wallace Bockway and Minnie E Henderson Bockway and brother to Frank Wallace Bockway Jr., Beulah Gilbert Bockway Smith, and Henderson Augustus Bockway.

Charles Wentworth Bockway

Eliza J Hale Shaw was buried in a lonely grave. Though her death certificate indicates she was married, no record of her husband could be found. Her parents can also be found on her death certificate, however their gravesites are not in Spring Hill. Eliza contracted Spanish Influenza in early October, which likely exacerbated her heart defect. She left this Earth on October 12th, 1918 at the age of 40. She was the daughter of Thomas Hale &amp; Mahala Gullet. Note that this section of the tour will be the most numerous with seven individuals being buried in this section of the cemetery.

Eliza J Hale Shaw

Charles Franklin Gibson is another tale of a lost wife. His own, specifically. It was recorded in The Herald-Dispatch that Charles and his wife both became infected with the Spanish Influenza, passing away within days of each other. When searching near his gravesite, no trace of his wife can be found. One would assume that Mary Garnett Gibson, who also passed on in 1918 and is buried just a few plots to the right of Charles would be his wife. Records indicate, however, that Mary was the wife of William Beard Gibson, who is buried elsewhere. Charles left this Earth on October 13, 1918, when he was either 32 or 33. His family is officially unknown.

Charles Franklin Gibson

Harry Edgar Messersmith was one of the few cases in which the primary cause of death was listed as Spanish Influenza rather than pneumonia. Though he did contract pneumonia, his doctor felt as though the Spanish Influenza was more contributory to his death. Though the Spanish Influenza Pandemic was driven, of course, by the Spanish Influenza, most people succumbed to the secondary infection of pneumonia, making pneumonia an "opportunistic infection". This is incredibly important today, as any future influenza strain that behaves similarly to the Spanish Influenza will behave in the same way(3). Harry Messersmith left this Earth on October 21, 1918. He was the son of William Messersmith and A. Ellen Poore Messersmith and brother to John Robert, Carl Dellie, Chloe, and George Lonly Messersmith.

Harry Edgar Messersmith

Roy C Harless was a sailor and was the first person on our tour to perish from the Spanish Influenza. Roy enlisted on July 17th of 1918, leaving behind his pregnant wife Rhonda. When news came that Roy was sick, Rhonda had just given birth and was ill from unknown causes. She had not yet named their son, as she wanted him to name his boy. Unfortunately, Roy succumbed to his illness and was never able to meet his son. Rhonda Harless made a recovery and decided to name the child after his father. Roy C. Harless Jr. went on to carry out his father's legacy by enlisting during World War II. Roy Jr's son, Wayne, also carried on the family tradition and joined the air force. The Harless family had three generations of soldiers who fought for our country. Roy C. Harless Sr. passed away on September 24th, 1918 at the age of 21. He was the son of Joseph W Harless and Zena C Harless.

Roy Clarence Harless

Charles Crayton Booth, like many in Huntington, was employed by the C&amp;O freight depot. Collis P. Huntington, who the city is named after, was the main driving force behind the C&amp;O railroad's construction, without which Huntington would not have blossomed into the city it is today. Many of the victims of the Spanish Influenza buried here were in some way connected to the C&amp;O railroad. Charles left this Earth in October of 1918 when he was 33 years old. He was the son of William Fleming and America Bailey Booth. He married twice - the first time to Luena Mains Carter Gruber, who passed away in 1914, then to Bessie Underwood McMullen. Charles had a large family, totaling eight siblings.

The 1918 Spanish Influenza Pandemic ravaged the world in a way man had not seen in generations. One of the few truly worldwide pandemics, the 1918 Spanish Influenza Pandemic claimed an estimated 50-100 million deaths worldwide(1). This number is more than both world wars combined. In 1918, Spring Hill Cemetery was one of the primary cemeteries for Huntington, West Virginia. As such, a number of victims from the Spanish Influenza Pandemic are buried here. The Spanish Influenza hit Huntington fairly hard with 200 deaths, most of which occurring in the month of October(2). Even Huntington's Mayor, Leon S. Wiles, perished from the flu. On this tour, you will visit 17 gravesites of Huntington residents who perished from the Spanish Influenza Pandemic.

Please keep in mind during the tour that you are visiting the final resting places of these people. Please treat all graves and the cemetery with the utmost respect and courtesy. Do your best not to step on top of a person’s final resting place and follow all posted rules.  

Charles Crayton Booth

Vera Fay Davis Shank was married to Hugh Poindexter Shank, who is buried next to Vera. On top of the headstone, there is a sundial of which the gnomon is missing. There is also a carving of an hourglass with wings along with the inscription "Night Follows Darkness". Surrounding the dial are indicators of where the sun's rays will hit on the solstices and equinoxes throughout the year. Truly a beautiful piece worthy of recognition. Vera Shank eft this Earth on October 30th, 1918 when she was between 23-24 years old. She was the daughter of Morris B and Virginia Davis.

Vera Fay Davis Shank

Unfortunately not much is known about the next victim of the Spanish Influenza Pandemic. Joseph Weekly, however, does have one of the more unique headstones of the tour. It has unfortunately suffered significant damage in the past 100 years, however the marbles embedded within the headstone itself are quite beautiful. Joseph is buried next to his brother, Fred, who died when Joseph was only four years old. The year of Fred's death is not known, however the context implies he died young. Joseph himself was quite young, dying at the age of either 15 or 16. The Spanish Influenza was particularly hard on the young due to a condition known as Cytokine Storm. Essentially, the immune system would overreact to the flu, which can weaken the lungs. This made secondary infections - particularly pneumonia - more likely. This overreacting by the immune system is more likely to happen in young individuals, as their immune system has been exposed to fewer illnesses(3). Young Joseph likely suffered from this condition, though we will never truly know for sure. Joseph left this Earth in October of 1918. He was the son of Henry W Weekly and Cora Alice Kelley Weekley and brother to Fred, Charles Edward, Rosella Corra, and Frank Earl.

The Spanish Influenza Tour of Spring Hill

Ora Herbert Watts

Introduction

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Backstory and Context

Sources

Additional Information