This picture was taken months ago when I was in Sunset Cemetery for a get pushed challenge. I spotted this headstone for a 4 year old. When I saw the date, I wondered if her death was related to the flu epidemic at that time (November 1918). At newspapers.com, in an issue of the Riley County Chronicle for November 29, I found this death notice:
"Four-year-old Annette Yocum, daughter of Mr. and Mrs John Yocum, died Wednesday, of pneumonia, at the home 910 Manhattan Ave. The funeral occurred Thursday at 2:00 pm and interment was made at Sunset Cemetery.
Mr. Yocum is a cook at the S.A.T.C. quarters at the college. The family came here from Kansas City only a week ago, and little Annette was ill with the "flu" at that time."
A year later, this memorial appeared in the Manhattan Weekly Mercury, November 25, 1919:
IN MEMORIUM
"Of Annetta Yocum, who died one year
ago today, November 25, 1918
Annetta, darling, Oh! we miss you
In the home you made so bright,
With your sweet smiles and laughter,
From the morning till the night.
Yes, we miss our blue-eyed darling,
As she sleeps her dreamless sleep,
But we know she is safe with Jesus,
And the angels' watch will keep.
Mother, Daddy, Brother, Grandmother
and Aunt"
Though the notice of her death calls her "Annette," the memorial says "Annetta" as did a death notice in a different paper. I'm guessing the odd spelling on the headstone may have been a result of the stone carver putting "Annette" by mistake and to correct it, rather than start all over again, adding an "a" on the end.
Little Annetta died more than 100 years ago during a worldwide epidemic. I hope and pray the children of this time will be safe as this school year begins -- many heading back into their classrooms at least part of the time.
@grammyn@randystreat this is the photo I told you about last week. I finally wrote the commentary, made it public, and moved it to a more current date a couple of days ago but just realized that you would never see it if I didn’t tag you because I had actually posted it months ago.
Thank you for tagging me Mary because you’re absolutely right I would have missed it otherwise! The photo is fabulous, and the accompanying story heartbreaking
