from Mt. Vernon Signal, Rockcastle County, Kentucky

Friday, October 25, 1918

Brodhead

Mrs. William Francisco died at her home here Thursday of last week at 4:30 in the afternoon, after a few days of intense suffering from influenza and resulting pneumonia.  Mrs. Francisco before her marriage was Miss Floy Tharp, daughter of Mrs. Bettie Tharp.  She was a member of the Christian Church and up to the past two or three years was active in church and Sunday school work, and was a mighty good woman.  She was ever ready to help those in distress and always administered to those who needed her services.  On the following day at 2:00 p.m. her remains were buried in the Christian Church Cemetery after short services by her pastor, Elder L. N. Bowling.  On Sunday afternoon at 5:30 the son of this good woman died with the same disease and his remains were buried beside his mother Monday afternoon at 2 o’clock.  John Farris was about 13 years old and one of the brightest boys in town and had many friends among his little associates.  Besides a heartbroken husband and father, the two are survived by a mother and grandmother, and two little daughters and sisters respectively and a host of other relatives.  Sympathy goes out to this heart broken mother and Mr. Francisco in this sad hour, but words of sympathy can only help to soothe the pain that death has brought to them, leaving them all broken up, and making their days sad and lonely.

At 4:30 o’clock last Friday afternoon Miss Martha Woodall died at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Woodall, with Spanish Influenza, and her body was buried at 2:00 o’clock Saturday afternoon, after short services at the grave by the Rev. A. J. Pike, in the Christian Church Cemetery.  She was a fine little girl and had many friends among her associates.

J. Douglas Martin, son of Mrs. R. S. Martin, and a splendid business man, died Tuesday afternoon at 5:45 o’clock.  He, too, was a sufferer of Spanish Influenza.  He had also been a sufferer for many years with asthma and hay fever.  His father, the late R. S. Martin, died about two years ago, and Douglas took over the Tobacco Manufacturing Plant and continued the business in a very successful manner, and had shut down the plant a few months ago, after he knew he was subject to be called into Army service at any time.  Douglas had many friends and no young man in our town will be missed more.  He was a member of Brodhead Lodge of Masons.  His mother, two brothers, Virgil and Dick Martin, and two sisters, Miss Isabelle Martin and Mrs. Byron Owens, survive him.  His remains were buried at the family burying ground about two miles from town Wednesday afternoon at 2:00 o’clock after short services at the grave by Elder L. N. Bowling.  The bereaved ones have much sympathy.

News reached us late Wednesday that C. A. Wheeldon was dead at his home in Lancaster.  J. W. Proctor, father of Mrs. Wheeldon, was called to his bedside early Wednesday but only reached him a short time before he died.  Mr. Wheeldon lived here for a number of years, but moved to Lancaster a year or more ago and has been following his occupation, that of barber, since casting his lot there.  His body was shipped here Wednesday night and will be buried with Masonic honors, but at this writing we are not informed as to the exact time or place.  Besides his widow he leaves three little children, father and mother and other relatives to mourn his loss.  We deeply sympathize with the bereaved ones in the loss of an affectionate husband and father.

The influenza epidemic is still raging in and around town, and before this letter appears in print a number of deaths will have been reported, as at least five or six persons are now just hanging on to life by a very brittle thread, and no chance held out at all for some.  Very few homes have escaped this terrible disease and while there are fewer now cases in town it seems to be spreading fast in the country and a large number of new cases are daily reported.

Mrs. J. M. Adams got a message Wednesday that her brother, a Mr. Skirvin, at Dry Ridge, was in a dying condition and she left immediately for his bedside.

Mrs. J. W. Masters left for Williamsburg, Monday, on account of the illness of relatives.