During 1918 there was an epidemic of influenza that appears to have affected the entire country, but perhaps Vermilion Co., IL was not affected so much?

Below is an excerpt from the obituary of a Vermilian Co. individual who died during this epidemic, although his death occurred in FLA and his body was shipped back to Vermilion Co. for burial.

“SOLDIERS’S BODY ARRIVED SUNDAY- Funeral of Private Alva B. Cooper, Who Died at Camp Jackson, Will Be Held This Afternoon.

The body of Alva B. Cooper, a Vermilion County boy who died at Camp Jackson, South Carolina a week ago today, arrived in Danville Sunday afternoon, accompanied by M. Engard of the military police as an escort, and the mother of the young soldier, Mrs. G.M. Cooper. The body was taken to the E.R. Pape funeral home and later was removed to the home of the parents, a short distance southeast of Georgetown, where the funeral services will be held this afternoon at 2 o’clock. The interment will be made in the Yankee Point cemetery.
VICTIM OF INFLUENZA
Private Cooper was a victim of influenza with the resultant pneumonia. He was stricken about ten days before he died and passed away in the camp hospital on the morning of Dec. 3, 1918. The delay in shipping his body was due to the large number of deaths that have occurred at Camp Jackson within the last few weeks..."


Jean