Smallpox Fears

Fences Built Around Victims

by Frank Rathbun, April 28, 1955

Courtesy of The News Herald (originally published in The Mellus Newspapers)

Old Township Record Book Reveals Fear of Smallpox 100 Years Ago

A brief but fascinating story of how Downriver area (Wayne County, Michigan) residents a century ago battled against smallpox and cholera epidemics contained in a faded but well preserved book recently loaned to the Historical Society of Lincoln Park.

The book contains records of the Ecorse Township (Michigan) board from 1831, four years after the township was incorporated, until 1866.

On January 9, 1855, the board, met in the Ecorse office of David LeBlanc, then township clerk, "for the purpose of considering and devising means to, check the spread of the small pox, now in the house of Mrs. Drouillard near the church, and likely to infest the whole township."

DREADED DISEASE 

Smallpox 100 years ago was as dreaded as polio is today, and our forefathers lived in constant fear of an outbreak. The disease was often fatal, and even if the victim survived, he could expect to be scarred for life with pock marks on his face and body.

The board, after deliberation, resolved "that the Bourassa street be closed by a fence west of Monrow avenue (now West Jefferson), and also that High street be closed by a fence south of State street" (now Southfield).

It was further resolved that "all the inmates of the Drouillard House" be restricted within bounds of enclosure, and that other persons br prohibited from, entering the fenced area.

FIND SECOND CASE 

Four days later, the board again met to pass a similar resolution to include the home of Godfrey Robert, where another case had been reported.

A resolution vas adopted that "the house of the said Godfrey Robert be closed by a fence," with the further provision that any persons entering the property be "subject to the penalty of the law."

The record book does not mention the location of the Robert house, but the Drouillard residence was apparently near High street and Bourassa in Ecorse, near the vicinty of the old St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church which was torn down two years ago.

PRECAUTIONS WORK 

The board's precautions evidently prevented an epidemic, for an entry several weeks later provided that the two enclosure resolutions "shall cease to be in force from and after the sixteenth day of February."

Four years later, on January 1, 1858, the township board again learned that smallpox had been broken out in the community. Dr. L. P. Christian reported a case of smallpox in the home of George S. Bebee in the village of Wyandotte, then part of Ecorse Township (Michigan).

The board resolved that, "the house of S. H. Farnsworth above the railroad on Eureka avenue" be occupied as a hospital, and that Jerome Lee, the smallpox victim, be moved to the home. 

PLAN DROPPED 

Evidently the plan was not carried out, for on the following day the board again met and resolved that "George S. Bebee's family and all inmates of his house, together with said man (Lee) are not allowed to leave said premises" without permission.

In addition, the board resolved "that no person be allowed to enter upon said premises except the attending physician," who was instructed to change his clothing upon entering.

Doctors Nash and Fields were appointed "to go through the town and vaxinate (vaccinate) all persons that has not heretofore been vaxinated," and report to the board the names of each family and the number vaxinated.

Edward. Visger was township supervisor at the time, while other officers were James Visger, clerk, and William Witherspoon and Orrin Packard, justices of the peace. The board meetings were held at Packard's home in Ecorse. 

BILLS APPROVED 

On January 9, the board approved bills submitted by Dr. Nash for $46 and Dr. Field for $40, evidently for the vaccinations.

Eight years later, a new set of township officials were faced with possibility of a cholera outbreak. The board then included James A. Visger, as supervisor; Moses B. Widner, clerk, and Leander Furgason, John Hoersch and Bartholomew Russell, justices of the peace.

Meeting in the office of Furgason in Wyandotte, the board resolved, "Whereas in view of the probability of cholera visitng our country, it becomes the duty of this board to adopt measures, preventative and protective, against this or other diseases." The board ordered "every owner or occupant of lands and tenements to remove within 24 hours after notification by proper authorities, all nuisances, deposits of filth and other causes of disease."

The order was also applied to "the master of any vessel in any port or harbor in the township."

Any person failing to comply with the order was made subject to "penalty not exceeding one hundred dollars."

The clerk was as instructed to give notice of the order in Wyandotte, and the supervisor to give notice outside of Wyandotte.

ANOTHER PROBLEM 

Another less serious problem of the early township officials is also recorded in the book.

Each year, the board met early in January to issue licenses for taverns and grocery stores. Throughout most of the years covered by the book, tavern licenses were given to Daniel Goodell, Simon Rousseau, and Lewis Cicotte, at prices which increased from $1.25 in the 1830's to $6 in the 1840's.

Goodell's license was granted in 1831 after the board resolved that "Daniel Goodell is of good moral character and sufficient ability to keep a tavern that he has accomodations to entertain travelers, and that a tavern is absolutely necessary at that place for the actual accommodations of travelers."