The 1862 Crouseville Diphtheria Epidemic

Six Months of Tears

Incredibly deadly, highly infectious and totally merciless, the 1862 Crouseville Diphtheria Epidemic brought its misery and sorrow to family after family. It killed relentlessly for six months until finally it ran its course. It started upriver in the late winter of 1861 and hit Crouseville with hurricane force in January 1862.[37],[38]

The disease thrived in the cold winter months and preyed on family members (such as women and children) who stayed cooped-up at home. Men were less afflicted because they had more outdoor winter activities, where they could breath fresh air and, most significantly, have less contact with the sick. Women, as caregivers for their children and desperately attempting to help the distressed families of relatives unfortunately, with nothing but good intentions, become carriers of the disease themselves.

Diphtheria, an infectious disease of the throat, attacked mainly the women and children of Crouseville. Once diphtheria took hold in the body, the throat would turn gray and swollen, followed by difficulty breathing, high fever and weakness. Toxins released from the bacteria damaged the heart, kidneys and nervous system. Death usually followed.[39] In 1862 the only defenses were home remedies, patent medicines, quarantine,[40] and prayers.

Families became isolated as neighbors refused to come near a home that carried diphtheria as they were terrified of contracting the deadly disease, knowing how it could quickly devastate an entire family. Outside Crouseville the Cray family lost six children to the disease between February 1, 1862 and March 15, 1862. Other diphtheria deaths from outside Crouseville occurred in the Blackstone, Braddock, Holmes, Sharp, Stoddard, and Wilder families.[41]

The community was put on alert as the chilling news spread of the epidemic’s first Crouseville victim, 7 year old Ann Russell, the daughter of Henry and Esther (Crouse) Russell. Ann died February 9, 1862. Grabbing hold of the family with its vice-like grip, the deadly diphtheria would not relent.

Twenty three month-old daughter Hannah Russell passed away February 27th, and eight days later on March 7th, 3 year old son Harris Russell died. By now the epidemic was like a wildfire that nobody could put out.

Gould and Hepsy Crouse, the parents of Esther Russell, still had children at home. Daughter Lucinda, age 11, died February 21st, followed by daughter Huldah, age 14, on March 6th. Abraham, a son of Gould and Hepsy Crouse, lost his wife, Caroline (Christie), age 21, on March 23rd, and Abraham’s brother William lost his wife, Prudence (Churchill), age 22,  on May 19th.

A sad and steady stream of epidemic victims were being buried in the Pioneer Cemetery on the south side of the Aroostook River. George Churchill, age 19, died February 27th. Hepsibath, the 3 year old daughter of Stephen and Charlotte Harris, lost her battle with the disease on March 8th. John and Sarah Adam’s daughter Ada Ann, one month shy of 3 years old, died March 16th. Four days later Ada Ann’s six year old brother, James Adams, passed away.

On May 15th, Joshua and Deborah (Estey) Christie lost their 14 year old son, Thomas. Another son of Gould and Hepsy Crouse, Jeremiah and his wife Esther (Christie) Crouse lost their 5 year old daughter Louisa on June 7th. Thankfully, Louisa Crouse was the last victim to die in the 1862 Crouseville Diphtheria Epidemic.

It should be noted that many other unrecorded Crouseville residents undoubtedly contracted diphtheria, and though sick for many months, had an immune system that was just strong enough to win the battle over the deadly disease. For the surviving Crouseville residents the coming years would be one of putting back the pieces of shattered lives.