Smallpox in Florence's African-American Community in 1865-1866.

Subject

Community

Description

A Series of records documenting the outbreak of smallpox in Florence in December of 1865-1866, with the first cases being reported in Florence's African-American community.
1. Records of the Corporation of Florence, Ala., December 15, 1865, p. 444.

Called Meeting, Dec. 15, 1865

A called meeting of the board of aldermen of the town of Florence, Friday morning December 15, 1865 at the office of Judge [Vincent M.] Benham present his Honor W. B. Wood Mayor pro-tem, Al. Jno. W. McAlister, V. M. Benham, Z. P. Morrison, Wm Ragsdale, W. T. Price, Joseph Milner, & Geo. W. Karsner.

Pest House
Small Pox

His Honor the Mayor stated that the board was called together for the purpose of providing a Pest house for cases of Small Pox. A case of a Negro woman and several of her children has been reported to him as sick with the Small Pox in [the] heart of our town.

After some discussion on the subject of a Pest house and the place to put it on motion a committee of two was appointed to get some house and have it removed and put up at or near Seaton Spring, and if a house cannot be got the committee be authorized to procure suitable lumber and have a pest house built.

Committee on Pest House

Al. Morrison & Farmer were appointed said committee.

On motion the Town Constable was authorized to procure proper supplies for Milly Weakley & her children during this time of their sickness of Small Pox and have it charged to the corporation.

No other business being before the board on motion they adjourned.

Approved

Jas. B. Irvine

Mayor

Attest

Josiah Pollock, Clerk
2. Records of the Corporation of Florence, Alabama, January 2, 1866, p. 445.

Called Meeting, January 2, 1866

A called meeting of the Board of Aldermen of the Town of Florence Ala. Held at the office of Judge [VM] Benham Tuesday night January 2, 1866 . . .

Committee on Pest House Report

The Committee on Pest [house] reported that Mr. Coffee offered to sell a good double log cabin out at the Wood place for a reasonable price and suggested the Vineyard as a suitable place to put it.

On motion, Al. McAlister the committee was authorized to accede to the proposition of Mr. Coffee and have the house removed and [illegible word] at the vineyard as soon as practicable. . . .

3. Alabama State Census, 1866, Schedule No. 2, Colored Population, p. 6.
The Vineyard, where the first pesthouse was located, was situated at the north end of what later became Wildwood Park. That area was originally part of Dr. James W. Stewart's (ca. 1812-aft. 1867) Stewart's Springs plantation and resort, overlooking a series of springs on what is presently the 700-900 block of Dixie Avenue in West Florence, which had a series of grape vineyards on a hill, hence its name.

A local African-American woman named Milly Weakley and her children were the first to be diagnosed with smallpox in December of 1865. This family of four, a mother and three small children, was taken care of during their sickness by the city.

In the 1866 Lauderdale County, AL State Census a Milly Weakley, aged 30-40, was enumerated with two males under 10 years and 1 female under 10 years in her house.

I find a Milly Weakley, widowed, age 46, occupation listed as "laborer," with an 8 year-old boy named Jim (b. 1872) listed as her son, on South Market St. (now Wood Ave). in the 1880 federal census.

A 60 year-old Millie Weakley (b. 1839), her 27 year-old widowed son James (b. 1877), and a 19 year-old boarder named James Jones, were enumerated on Vulcan St. in East Florence in 1900. By 1900 this Millie Weakley had had a total of six children, with four still living in 1900.

If these are the same Milly Weakley (the ages are right) then apparently Mrs. Weakley and some if not all of her children survived their 1865-1866 bout with smallpox. Nothing more is known of these Weakleys at this time.

Creator

Florence City Clerk Josiah Pollack

Source

1-2. Records of the Corporation of Florence, Alabama, 1865-1866.
3-4. 1866 Alabama State Census, Lauderdale County, Schedule No. 2, Colored Population.

Publisher

1-2. The City Clerk's Office, Florence, Alabama
3-4. Ancestry.com

Contributor

Lee Freeman

Rights

Images are available for educational and research purposes. This image may not be reproduced for commercial purposes without the express written consent of the copyright holder. It is the responsibility of the interested party to identify the copyright holder and receive permission.

Format

Jpeg

Language

English

Type

Still Images

Files

Records of the Corp of Florence, ALa, Dec 15, 1865, p 444.jpg
Records of the Corp of Florence, ALa, Jan 2, 1866, p 445.jpg
Weakley.jpg
Milly Weakley 1866.jpg

Collection

Community

Citation

Florence City Clerk Josiah Pollack, “Smallpox in Florence's African-American Community in 1865-1866.,” Shoals Black History, accessed April 26, 2024, https://shoalsblackhistory.omeka.net/items/show/1226.