Nesbitt Memorial Library Journal, Volume 2, Number 3, September 1992 Page: 149
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The Epidemic of 1873, in Columbus, Texas
On Sunday, the 16th, there was one death on Spring street, between Milam
and Bowie.
Tuesday, the 18th, one death on Front street, between Walnut and Preston,
the second death in this house.32
Stiff norther blowing and bitterly cold.
Thursday, the 20th, one, on the corner of Washington and Front streets.33
Saturday, the 22d, one death on Front street, between Walnut and Crockett,
the third of this family.34
Sunday, the 23d, one death on Bowie, between Spring and Walnut streets.
Thursday, the 27th, there were two deaths, both negroes, on Spring street,
between Travis and Front.35
Monday, December 1st, there were three deaths, two of the same family,
on Jackson street, between Live Oak and Prairie, and one at the corner of Travis and
Crockett.36
Tuesday, the 2d, one, on Spring street, between Milam and Bowie.
Wednesday, the 3d, one, the second in the house, corner of Travis and
Walnut streets, northeast corner of public square.37
Thursday, the 4th, one, corner of Live Oak and Walnut streets.38
Wednesday, the 10th, one, corner Prairie and Jackson streets.39
Thursday, the 11 th, one, Bowie street, between Spring and Walnut.4'
Friday, the 12th, one, on Spring street, between Milam and Bowie; had black
vomit and haematuria.41
Sunday, the 14th, one, corner Crockett and Front streets.42
of Travis and Preston Streets in Columbus (see Deed Book K, Office of the County Clerk, Colorado County,
Texas, page 166, in which Glenn's purchase of lot 1 of block 4 on May 9, 1859 is recorded).
32 Editor's note: According to The Fayette County New Era of November 21, 1873, John C. Miller,
at the time, mayor of Columbus, died on the November 18. The address Dr. Harrison gives is not as precise
as it might be (since Preston and Walnut are two blocks apart), but it does correspond to that given for the
death of "the young man of excellent habits," herein identified as Miller's son Thomas H. Miller, which
occurred on October 20. No one who died in the epidemic on November 16 has been identified.
33 Editor's note: Caroline Billert, who died on November 20 (see The Galveston Daily News of
November 22, 1873).
34 Editor's note: Johnette Miller, the wife of John C. Miller and mother of Thomas H. Miller (see The
Galveston Daily News of November 23, 1873).
35 Editor's note: Neither the person who died on Bowie Street nor the two blacks who died on Spring
Street have been further identified.
36 Editor's note: The Fayette County New Era of December 5, 1873 chronicles all three deaths:
W. T. S. Compton and his daughter Mary, and James W. Fields, who was city marshal when he died.
37 Editor's note: No victim on December 2 has been identified. The victim who died on December
3 was probably James W. Smith, whose death by yellow fever during the epidemic is confirmed by a letter
written to The Colorado Citizen in 1897 by his cousin, James Maret (see The Colorado Citizen, August 12,
1897) and whose date of death is provided by his probate file (Probate file 748, Office of the County Clerk,
Colorado County, Texas).
38 Editor's note: The victim on December 4 was Albert Dickson Darden (see The Galveston Daily
News of December 6, 1873).
39 Editor's note: Presumably Nannie Grigsby, whose death is reported in The Galveston Daily News
of December 11, 1873.
40 Editor's note: There is one person who died on December 11, 1873 buried in Columbus: Sophia
Fritz, who is buried in the City Cemetery. She was fourteen when she died. However, she has not been
definitely identified as a yellow fever victim.
41 Editor's note: The victim was Carl Morris, a store keeper (see Probate File 730, Office of the
County Clerk, Colorado County, Texas and The Galveston Daily News of December 14, 1873).
42 Editor's note: Apparently Sarah E. McDowell (see The Fayette County New Ere of December 19,
1873 and the 1870 Federal Census of Colorado County).149
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Nesbitt Memorial Library. Nesbitt Memorial Library Journal, Volume 2, Number 3, September 1992, periodical, September 1992; Columbus, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth151386/m1/21/?q=nesbitt%20memorial%20library%20journal: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Nesbitt Memorial Library.