100 Year Old Weblog: illness

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May 21, 2025 ~ JUDGE G. L. CHRISMAN IS ILL AT HOME.

May 21, 2025

JUDGE G. L. CHRISMAN IS ILL AT HOME.

Former Member of County Court Is Not Expected to Recover.

Former County Judge G. Lee Chrisman is believed to be dying at his home, 719 West Maple avenue, Independence.

Judge Chrisman became ill about a year ago with stomach trouble. His strong vitality kept him up a few months and only of late has he been confined to his bed. Many of his old-time political friends called yesterday at the home, but none was allowed to go to the sick chamber.

Judge Chrisman is a brother of Mrs. Logan O. Swope of Independence, and was elected judge of the county court for two terms and as presiding judge for one term. During his terms of office there was much road building in Jackson county. Later, Judge Chrisman engaged in the newspaper business, purchasing the Kansas City Times. The newspaper venture was a losing proposition, and the greater portion of his fortune was lost in the venture.

Four years ago Judge Chrisman again made the race for nomination for county judge from the Eastern district, but failed. Judge R. D. Mize was elected. Judge Mize died a year ago.

Judge Chrisman was born in Jackson county, August 8, 1851, and was a son of William Chrisman, an Independence banker. He was reared in Jackson county and graduated at the forest Home Military academy of Anchorage, Ky., and was married November 26, 1872, to Lottie Duke of Danville, Ky. Mrs. Chrisman died twenty years ago. His second marriage was to a sister of his first wife, Mrs. Walter Gates. By the second marriage two children were born, both of them girls, who reside with their parents in Independ3ence.

May 19, 2025 ~ DR. PAUL PAQUIN VERY ILL.

May 19, 2025

DR. PAUL PAQUIN VERY ILL.

Health Director Believed to Be Threatened with Meningitis.

Dr. Paul Paquin, director of the public health, is very ill in his room at the new tuberculosis hospital, where he took up his temporary residence for the purpose of directing the beginning of the work at the institution. His symptoms indicate that he is threatened with cerebral meningitis, it is said. Dr. W. L. Gist, Dr. Paquin's assistant, and Dr. W. W. Duke are in attendance and declare his condition as serious.

It is believed that Dr. Paquin's illness is due to his unflagging attention to the cause of public health and the various plans he has been earnestly promoting toward protecting it. Hi has not been well for some time and became bedfast on Tuesday.

BOTH DIE OF PNEUMONIA. ~ George Fox's Death Occurs Just Week After Wife's Demise.

January 17, 2026

BOTH DIE OF PNEUMONIA.

George Fox's Death Occurs Just

Week After Wife's Demise.

One week from the day his wife died of the same disease, George A. Fox, a foreman for the Faultless Starch Company, died yesterday morning at his home, 1417 Belleview avenue, of pneumonia. He was 59 years old.

A week ago Sunday Mrs. Eugenia Fox died after a short illness and her husband displayed symptoms of the same disease at the time. She was buried, and at once Mr. Fox's illness became serious. Six children survive. They are George A. Rhode, Hill, Henry H. and Eugenia Fox, and Mrs. J. W. Lane.

Mr. Fox lived in Kansas City twenty-five years in the employ of the Faultless Starch Company. Funeral arrangements have not been made.

BITTEN BY DOG, IS DYING WITH RABIES. ~ STRAY PUP FASTENED TEETH IN LIP OF CHARLES W. YOUNG.

January 7, 2026

BITTEN BY DOG, IS

DYING WITH RABIES.

STRAY PUP FASTENED TEETH

IN LIP OF CHARLES W. YOUNG.

Police Ordered to Kill All

Stray Dogs in Kansas

City, Kas.

CHARLES W. YOUNG.

Two deaths within a few weeks, as a result of injuries inflicted by dogs suffering form rabies, has aroused public apprehension in Kansas City, Kas., to such an extent that extra precautions are being taken by the police department to protect the citizens against danger from this source. Orders have been issued by Chief of Police W. W. Cook to kill all stray dogs found in the city and a special officer has been detailed on this work. The general public has been notified to communicate with the police department with reference to any dog running at large.

Charles W. Young, a carpenter living at 436 Everett avenue, was bitten three weeks ago yesterday by a small fox terrier and is now in a critical condition at the Grandview sanitarium, where the attending physician said last night he could not live through the day. Violent convulsions, incident to the last stages of hydrophobia, have convinced the physicians that his condition is the result of the injury inflicted by the fox terrier.

A desire to relieve the suffering of a poorly fed tramp dog prompted him to reach down and pick up a little fox terrier, which promptly repaid this act of kindness by snapping his teeth through the lower lip of his would be benefactor.

The injury was dressed by a physician and Mr. Young continued with his daily work at the Union Pacific railroad shop. On Tuesday of this week he was obliged to quit work because of what he believed to be a severe cold in his throat. Yesterday morning Dr. Albert Huber was summoned and pronounced it a case of hydrophobia. The man rapidly grew worse and last night was removed to the sanitarium.

A small child was bitten several weeks ago by a mad dog in the northern part of Kansas City, Kas., and later died with what the physicians said was hydrophobia.

CURED OF ILLS OVER THE PHONE? ~ ABSENT TREATMENT PUT MRS. MOSTOW UNDER SPELL, WITNESSES SAY.

January 7, 2026

CURED OF ILLS

OVER THE PHONE?

ABSENT TREATMENT PUT MRS.

MOSTOW UNDER SPELL,

WITNESSES SAY.

Spiritualist Seeks to Prevent

Heirs From Depriving

Him of Bequests.

That by giving her absent treatment over the telephone for rheumatism and in other ways, John H. Lee, said to be a spiritualist, won the confidence of wealthy Mrs. Victoria Mostow, 71 years old, and thus influenced her to bequeath him property worth $35,000, was the substance of testimony given yesterday in Judge J. G. Park's division of the circuit court.

The occasion was the trial of a suit by which Lee seeks to have set aside deeds transferring to James P. Richardson, principal of the Prosso school, and nephew of Mrs. Mostow, the property left to Lee by will. The heirs have a suit pending to set aside the will.

The story told by witnesses in substance follows:

Mrs. Mostow was the wife of the late Randolph Mostow, and a sister of the late Dr. De Estaing Dickerson. From the latter she inherited a large amount of property. Mr. Mostow died in the summer of 1908. During his last illness, he summoned Lee and was given treatment. In this way Mrs. Mostow became acquainted with the spiritualist.

TREATED BY PHONE.

After her husband's death, Mrs. Mostow became a believer in spiritualism. Through the medium of spirits and mesmeric powers Lee claimed that he could cure every known ill. Mrs. Mostow put in a telephone at her home, at Thirty-fourth and Wyandotte streets, and when she became troubled with rheumatism, Lee would give her absent treatment over the phone. At this time he lived near 4800 East Eighth street, several miles across the city from his patient.

In January, 1908, Mrs. Mostow made deeds to property at 817 Main street, and her home on Wyandotte, to her only surviving heir in Kansas City, James P. Richardson, owner of the Prosso Preparatory school. This was done to escape the payment of the collateral inheritance tax, and to prevent the heirs in Chicago from securing any of her property. The deeds were not to be recorded until after her death.

LIVED WITH HER.

In the summer of 1908, it is charged, Lee secured so great an influence over Mrs. Mostow that he secured permission to move himself and family into her home. Here they have lived since. The taxes are said to have been paid by the Mostow estate, and during her lifetime all the household expenses were met by Mrs. Mostow.

After Lee had been living in the Mostow home a few months, it is charged, it was seen that he gained an influence over the aged woman, and she began deeding small pieces of property to him.

Mr. Richardson, seeing the trend of affairs and fearing that he might lose the property that was to be his at the death of his aunt, immediately recorded the two deeds. When Mrs. Mostow died, it was found that she had bequeathed the same two pieces of property to Lee.

Suit was brought in the circuit court by Lee to set aside the deeds, charging undue influence. A similar suit was also brought by Richardson and the Chicago heirs to set aside the will.

The evidence was all submitted yesterday in Judge Park's court. The final arguments will be heard some time next week.

PNEUMONIA EPIDEMIC HERE. ~ Other Infectious Diseases Are Prevalent Throughout City.

December 5, 2025

PNEUMONIA EPIDEMIC HERE.

Other Infectious Diseases Are

Prevalent Throughout City.

Pneumonia is quite prevalent throughout the city, and physicians say it has reached serious proportions. The severe and variable weather is a promoter of the malady. During December there were forty-two deaths from pneumonia. This is twelve more than for December of 1908.

Smallpox is another cold weather affliction, but thus far the city has been quite free from its ravages. Yesterday the second smallpox case since June 7, 1908, reached the attention of the health authorities. The victim was a white man and he was taken to the hospital for the treatment of infectious diseases from a house on Harrison street, between Seventh and Eighth.

Measles is another malady that is demanding the attention of the health authorities. It had its inception in the northeast part of the city, and has been steadily spreading.

SWOPE CISTERN IS BLAMED. ~ Brother-in-Law of Recent Victim Makes Seventh Case in Family.

January 4, 2026

SWOPE CISTERN IS BLAMED.

Brother-in-Law of Recent Victim

Makes Seventh Case in Family.

The typhoid fever epidemic has struck the seventh member of the Swope family, Dr. B. Clark Hyde, 3516 Forest avenue, a brother-in-law of the late William C. Swope, being the latest. Dr. Hyde has been ill for a week, but his physician, Dr. J. W. Perkins, says his condition is not serious. The fever is thought to have been caused by drinking water from a cistern at the Swope family home in Independence.

TYPHOID IN SWOPE FAMILY. ~ Attacks Still Another Member, Miss Stella Swope.

December 15, 2025

TYPHOID IN SWOPE FAMILY.

Attacks Still Another Member, Miss

Stella Swope.

Miss Stella Swope, another member of the Swope family, has contracted typhoid fever. Sarah Swope, her sister, was taken ill with the malady a few days ago. None of the invalids are in a dangerous condition. Miss Dixon, formerly governess, who came to the home with Margaret Swope, is seriously ill, but in no immediate danger.

Miss Lucy Swope is expected home today from New York, having left Paris upon hearing of the illness of the family, and the death of her brother, Chrisman Swope.

TYPHOID IN SWOPE HOME. ~ Niece and Nephew of Philanthropist Are Ill in Independence.

December 6, 2025

TYPHOID IN SWOPE HOME.

Niece and Nephew of Philanthropist

Are Ill in Independence.

Typhoid fever has broken out in several places in Independence and the health board expects trouble there. In the household of the late Thomas H. Swope, Margaret and Chrisman Swope, niece and nephew of the philanthropist, are seriously ill, and Dixon, governess of the Swope children, and a housemaid, also are reported affected with the malady.

The presence of the contagion in Independence caused another analysis of the city water. It was found to be in a satisfactory condition and physicians ascribe the cause to unsanitary plumbing or garbage.

ZONES OF CONTAGION NEAR THREE SCHOOLS. ~

December 4, 2025

ZONES OF CONTAGION

NEAR THREE SCHOOLS.

SCARLET FEVER AND DIPH-

THERIA IN SEVERAL SECTIONS.

Tin Drinking Cup Blamed by Medi-

cal Inspectors, Especially at

Benton -- Several Parochial

Schools Involved.

The medical inspectors going the rounds of the public schools have unearthed diphtheria and scarlet fever zones within the confines of Benton, Washington and Karnes schools. They are also learning from the daily returns of practicing physicians, of the existence of the two maladies among pupils of two or three of the parochial schools, but as the authority of the inspectors does not extend to schools of this description Dr. W. S. Wheeler, sanitary commissioner, has not felt justified in taking any voluntary official notice or action.

Of the parochial schools the worst afflicted is St. John's Parochial school, 534 Tracy avenue. This school, located in a district largely inhabited by Italian children, is conducted by the Sisters of St. Joseph. Yesterday Sister Superior Monica appealed to the health authorities to make an investigation. Dr. H. Delamater, chief inspector, made a personal visit to the school and was informed that ninety of the 160 pupils are detained at home by sickness. Within the last six days cases of scarlet fever have developed among the pupils, and Dr. Delameter fears that many who are home at home may have it. He will have an examination made of the school building as to its sanitary condition, and will have class rooms fumigated.

Washington public school is at the southwest corner or Independence avenue and Cherry street, and the Karnes school is at the northwest corner of Troost avenue and Fourth street. Large numbers of the pupils have scarlet fever, the majority of victims predominating among those attending Karnes school. The diphtheria is not as epidemic as scarlet fever. The attendants of these two schools live in the territory bounded on the south by Admiral boulevard, north by the river, west by Grand avenue and east as far as Lydia avenue. The majority of the cases are north of Fifth street and scatter as far to the east as Budd park. As an assistance to the health authorities in keeping in touch with the exact location of the disease, a large map of the city has been prepared, and when a case of diphtheria develops a green-headed pin is driven into the map, designating a particular territory, and when one of scarlet fever is reported the map is perforated with a red-headed pin.

MAP RAPIDLY FILLING.

The map describing the Washington and Karnes school districts is rapidly filling up with the pin indicators, but not as noticeably as the district in which Benton school is situated. At the latter school diphtheria is the most prevalent, and is giving some alarm. The infection is spreading with rapidity. Benton school is at the southwest corner of Thirtieth street and Benton boulevard, in a fashionable and well-to-do neighborhood. There are from twenty to thirty cases of diphtheria among pupils going to this school, and it is feared that the disease got its start from the drinking cups in use there.

"The drinking cup in the public schools is a menace to health and is a communicator and spreader of disease," said Dr. Delamater yesterday. "Its frightful possibilities were fully described by Dr. W. S. Wheeler in his last annual report, and he advises that it be relegated and sanitary fountains installed in the schools. The health of no child is safe when the tin cup is in use. While I am not directly charging the appearance of diphtheria at Benton school to the drinking cup, still there is plenty of room for that suspicion as the school building is new and should be sanitary."

ILLNESS REUNITES COUPLE. ~ Married Twenty-Seven Years, Divorced Three, Will Again Wed.

November 26, 2025

ILLNESS REUNITES COUPLE.

Married Twenty-Seven Years, Di-

vorced Three, Will Again Wed.

A marriage license issued yesterday in Kansas City, Kas., to Henderson James and Ella James is of more than passing interest to ones familiar with the story of their lives. It is a story of twenty-seven years of married life, then an interval of three years as divorcees, an application for a marriage license and the prospective reunion of two persons who began life as husband and wife on Thanksgiving day just thirty years ago in Lawrence, county, Ind.

The illness yesterday of Mrs. James, who is at the home of her son, Guy Henderson James, 305 Shawnee avenue, Kansas City, Kas., prevented the marriage of the couple, but it will be performed just as soon as she is convalescent. Four grown children will be made happy by the reconciliation of their parents.

"We decided it was all a mistake and determined to forget all about it," said Mr. James yesterday.

Mrs. James has been living at 53 Lombard street until recently, when she moved to her present address. She became sick a few days ago and her former husband, who is employed at the stock yards, came to take care of her. After talking the matter over they decided that they could not get along without each other. Mr. James is 51 years old and his prospective bride is 48.

BOY DIES OF HYDROPHOBIA. ~ Does Not Attempt to Injure Relatives, but Bites Self, Foams at Mouth When Face Is Washed.

November 7, 2025

BOY DIES OF HYDROPHOBIA.

Does Not Attempt to Injure Rela-

tives, but Bites Self, Foams at

Mouth When Face Is Washed.

John Benson Willets, 3 years old, whose parents live in the Missouri river bottoms north of Kansas City, Kas., died at 10 o'clock last night of hydrophobia caused by the bite of a dog, believed to have been mad, which was inflicted last September.

The father, A. M. Willets, was forced to move last summer by high water in the Missouri river. The family made its home at 2516 North Fifth street, Kansas City, Kas. While the boy and his sister, Grace, 14 years old, were playing, September 9, in front of their home, a dog attacked the boy. The animal's teeth went trough the child's hands. He was also bitten on the forehead. when the dog was beaten off by the sister the boy was badly lacerated.

Dr. T. C. Duncan, who lives in the neighborhood, treated the boy. The wounds healed, leaving only scars. Wednesday the father took the boy to a hay field on his place. That night the child began scratching his face and hands. Mr. Willets thought that it was caused by irritation of scratches the child had received in the hay field. When an attempt was made to wash his face to ease his pain the boy began to foam at the mouth.

Later he exhibited symptoms declared to be the infallible ones in hydrophobia cases. He would stand rigidly on his heels, and, with his body forming a bow, would touch the floor with his head. The boy did not attempt to bite members of the family in the paroxysms of the rabies, but inflicted wounds upon himself with his teeth.

TWELVE DIE OF DIPHTHERIA. ~ Total Cases for October, 138; Increase of 83 Over Last Year.

November 2, 2025

TWELVE DIE OF DIPHTHERIA.

Total Cases for October, 138; In-

crease of 83 Over Last Year.

During October there were 138 cases of diphtheria reported to the board of health. There were twelve deaths. For the same month a year ago there were but fifty-five cases of the disease reported.

"I didn't know know that there was such an epidemic," said Dr. W. S. Wheeler, sanitary superintendent, when his attention was called to the October record. "Unfortunately the ordinances are weak for a proper control of infectious diseases. Parents in most cases are very careless. They insist on sending their children to school when they complain of being ill. The child who complains of a sore throat may have diphtheria. In this way the infection is spread.

"I hope that when the hospital and health board meets Wednesday it will give me authority to start in on the contemplated inspection of public schools. In this way we will be able to detect contagious diseases among children. The council tonight transferred $5,000 to the health and hospital board for this purpose. It will be money well spent."

Scarlet fever also is rampant among children. The health authorities learned of sixty-five cases during October, against forty-five for the same month in 1908.

DEATH DUE TO DIPHTHERIA. ~ Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Corrigan Ill Less Than One Week.

October 17, 2025

DEATH DUE TO DIPHTHERIA.

Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bernard

Corrigan Ill Less Than One Week.

After an illness of less than a week, little Marie Louise Corrigan, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Corrigan, died yesterday morning of diphtheria. The funeral will be this afternoon at 2:30, and burial in the family plot at Mount St. Mary's cemetery. The baby was 18 months old.

TYPHOID WRECKS A FAMILY. ~ Two of Frank Young's Children Dead, Four Others Ill.

October 10, 2025

TYPHOID WRECKS A FAMILY.

Two of Frank Young's Children

Dead, Four Others Ill.

Two children dead within three days of typhoid-pneumonia, and four others seriously ill with the same disease, that is the plight of Frank Young of Linden, Mo., whose second child died yesterday at Wesley hospital.

Edith Young, 12 years of age, died Thursday at Linden. Clelland Young, 11 years old, died here yesterday at Wesley hospital.

Edith was buried in Linden, mo., Friday, and Clelland will be buried today by his sister's side.

One of the other children, a boy, is said to be critically ill.

MOTHER COLLAPSES IN DEPOT. ~ Carries Unconscious Form of Child From Train.

October 5, 2025

MOTHER COLLAPSES IN DEPOT.

Carries Unconscious Form of Child

From Train.

Carrying the unconscious form of her 2-year-old son, Morris, in her arms, Mrs. Lillian McGregor of Kackley, Kas., collapsed at the Union depot last night. The little fellow became ill on the train several hours before it arrived at the Union depot. As his fever grew, the child became hysterical and then lost consciousness. Drs. Harry Morton and E. D. Twyman were called to attend the child, which rapidly developed spasms. Mrs. McGregor was on her way to Fort Madison, Ia., where she expects to visit relatives.

HIS MOTHER TO A HOSPITAL. ~ So 10-Year-Old Son Starts to Walk to Clinton, Mo.

September 25, 2025

HIS MOTHER TO A HOSPITAL.

So 10-Year-Old Son Starts to Walk

to Clinton, Mo.

Ernest Wolf, 10 years old, weak from typhoid fever and just out of a hospital, started out last evening to walk from his home in the rear of Holmes and Twelfth streets, from which place his mother is to be taken to a hospital today to his father's at Clinton, Mo.

The little fellow expected to follow the railroad tracks. When he got to the Union depot he saw so many tracks that he became frightened and began asking questions.

According to Ernest's story which Mrs. Everingham verified through the authorities, his mother, Alice, has been so ill that she has not been able to work for almost a month and arrangements were made yesterday to take her to a hospital.

Mrs. Everingham arranged last evening with the Associated Charities to take care of the boy until his mother is able to support him again.

A BARNUM ALBINO DYING. ~ Joseph Lucasie Imported by Showman Fifty Years Ago.

September 24, 2025

A BARNUM ALBINO DYING.

Joseph Lucasie Imported by Show-

man Fifty Years Ago.

Joseph Lucasie, who was one of the Albino family which the late showman P. T. Barnum imported from Belgium to his museum in New York city, over fifty years ago, is dying of dropsy at the general hospital. It was thought last night that he could not survive through today. His hair is white as wool and his eyes are pink.

In his show bills, Barnum advertised the Lucasie family, consisting of four members, as being the last of a famous tribe of Albinos of Madagascar. They were Joseph's father, mother and sister. Joseph was 9, and his sister 12 years old. All were musicians.

Joseph was taken suddenly ill Wednesday afternoon at his home, 1117 Norton street.

COL. SWOPE IS IMPROVING. ~ His Friends Are Confident of His Early Recovery.

September 15, 2025

COL. SWOPE IS IMPROVING.

His Friends Are Confident of His

Early Recovery.

Colonel Thomas Swope, who has been confined to his room at the home of Mrs. L. O. Swope, South Pleasant street, Independence, was not so well yesterday morning, but last evening he was improved somewhat.

Colonel Swope is suffering from an attack of nervous prostration. There is hope for his early recovery.

RETURN FROM EUROPEAN TRIP. ~ Mr. and Mrs. Walton Holmes, Jr., Only Got to London.

September 10, 2025

RETURN FROM EUROPEAN TRIP.

Mr. and Mrs. Walton Holmes, Jr.,

Only Got to London.

Mr. and Mrs. Walton Holmes, Jr., have returned from their European trip, which was terminated at London owing to the serious illness of Mrs. Holmes. Mrs. Holmes is well on the way to recovery.

"It had been planned to tour Europe, but the sickness of Mrs. Holmes terminated everything and our only anxiety was to get back home," said Mr. Holmes yesterday. Dr. J. F. Binney was called from Kansas City to attend Mrs. Holmes.

While on the way over on the Cunarder Mauretania, Dr. Binney was called, with a Dr. McArthur of Chicago and the ship's surgeon, to perform an operation for appendicitis upon a boy on the ship. The patient has recovered. Mrs. W. H. Holmes, Sr., who was a member of the party, has not yet returned from Europe.