In this time of the 2019-2020 Cornoavirus pandemic I have been seeing comparisons to the 1918 Flu pandemic. In particular, there have been reports about how deadly the flu was in Philadelphia where the Reuther's lived. In the 1st 6 months of the pandemic, 17,500 Philadelphians died of the flu, 4500 in one week and 837 on 12 October, the deadliest day. Around the world, 500 million were infected, about 25% of the world's population. It is usually estimated that 25 to 39 million died.
So I started to wonder if I might be better able to survive the coronavirus since my Reuther's did very well in surviving the 1918 flu. I know - - There is no basis in fact or science for this theory, but it sounds good to me and I am going to hold tight to this idea for mental health purposes.
It may seem a bit morbid, but . . . I would like to document the effect of the coronavirus pandemic on our lives. Please send me anything you would like to share - lockdown stories, deaths, survival, the ones who died alone of the normal illnesses because visitors were not allowed in the hospital, etc. Please email me at reutherca@outlook.com. Thanks.
Below is my summary on the 1918 Flu and our families. More to come.
The Reuther's - All of Christian & Emilie's children (that survived childhood) survived the 1918 flu including my great-grandparents Henry & Anna Reuther. Christian's brother Henry's (Georg Heinrich) children were also in Philly, and survived. So far, the only Reuther I have found who died is Mary Reuther, daughter of Herman G & Ernestine Reuther of Clinton County. She is reported to have married and died of the flu in 1918. I am still looking for her husband and documentation for her death. No luck so far.
The Hager's - All of the immigrants John & Marie Hager's children Annie, Charles & Bessie survived as did all of Charles & Maggie's children.