While novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is certainly the talk of the town right now, a hundred years ago, my 2nd great uncle, Benjamin Newton Dean, met an untimely fate by the hands of a related disease, influenza.
Benjamin Dean sitting on the front steps of “the old Hogg place” on Wheeling Creek in West Virginia.
It’s unclear whether Benjamin succumbed to the famous 1918 “Spanish” Influenza Pandemic, or whether his strain was a mutated version, as his death did not take place until August 1920. But what is clear is the seriousness of these viruses and the importance of taking every precaution to prevent their spread.
Benjamin Dean was only 20 years old.
That’s right. He wasn’t an adolescent, and he certainly wasn’t elderly by any respect. He was 20 years old! He was born May 30th, 1900 in Sand Hill, Marshall County, West Virginia to John Alexander Dean, Jr. and Mollie (Boyce) Dean. He was short with a medium build, dark hair, and blue eyes.
In September of 1918, at the age of 18 and during the height of the flu pandemic, Benjamin registered for the World War I draft. At this time in his life, he had already established his trade as a farmer, following in his father’s footsteps.
WWI Draft Registration Card for Benjamin N. Dean, 1918.
Less than 2 years later, in February of 1920, Ben was living with his brother Chester Dean, my great grandfather, and the two were farming the land together. Unfortunately, family time was not destined to last much longer. A short 2 months later, in April of 1920, Ben took ill and stayed ill through August of that year. His official cause of death was given as Tuberculosis, with Influenza being a contributing factor.
This just goes to show how important it is to practice good hygienic behaviors in today’s COVID-19 pandemic. If a single carrier transmits the deadly virus to someone susceptible to its pulmonary effects, the result can be fatal — even to a 20 year old.
History is repeating itself exactly 100 years later. Please consider Benjamin Dean’s story a dire warning.
Please, wash your hands. Please, stay home.
A 20 year old may soon thank you for saving their life.
Standard Certificate of Death for Benjamin Newton Dean, 1920.
Great job. I love the tie in to current times while paying tribute to your 2nd great uncle.
Thank you, Missy. It was interesting to me that I found no deaths tied to the flu pandemic in my direct line -- only some collateral lines.
Great picture of the Old Brick House. My grandfather , first wife and 5 children lives there at turn of century, 3 youngest children born there. We were in that house many times in the 60's, had a Spring house, barn, outhouse, smokehouse that I remember well.It eventually was torn down in early 70s by Coal Mine Co. There is still a cemetery associated with it near by.