Shep's Place Family Tree

William A. Mart & Betsey Page.
State of Ohio Gallia County. I hereby certify that I joined in the holy state of matrimony, William Anderson Mart, and Betsey Page, on the 14th day of April; April 29 1836.
John Strait M.G.

CHOLERA
Deaths in New Orleans for the ...ending 17th inst., were 296--...88 reported by cholera, and Asiatic cholera.

Cincinnati Commercial of the ..s symptoms of the cholera exhibited themselves in the case of ..Gosney, who died in Covington, Ky. a day or two before in Nashville papers of the 21st, there was up to that time no account of the cholera. Mr. Ford of Messrs. H. & B. Douglass, died after a 24 hours' attack. There were ....cases, all malignant and fatal.

Cholera prevails in Clarksville, where up to the 20th, 17 cases ...deaths occurred.

St. Louis, during the week ending the ...2th inst., of sixty-four deaths are of cholera; and during ...period thirteen cases.
..ate Journal says:--A friend...New Orleans on the 21st...on us this morning, who... at the time of his leaving, cholera was making fearful ravages to the city, and that the disease... prevailing to a greater or lesser ...on every boat which as... river from the lower Mississippi.

Cholera is characterized by the abrupt onset of diarrhea and vomiting that is often so severe that death from dehydration can occur within a matter of hours. Widespread fear and panic would often results from rumors that cholera was suspected to be in an area. What caused the disease and what caused it to spread were unknown at that time. The theory of the time held that cholera was caused and spread by vapors. The smells generated by the disease were interpreted as the cause.

An account of this epidemis is recorded in the Hardesty'e History of Gallia County ‎(1882)‎. The illness apparently entered the county when a Walnut Township resident, William Martt, assisted a family with a move in Lawrence County. He became ill immediately upon returning home. He was cared for by his family and neighbors. He died within a week. During that week other members of his family and friends came down with the disease. By the time the epidemic had run its course about two weeks later, a hundred people had become ill and thirty-seven, including eight members of the Martt family, had died.

Credit for subduing the epidemic was given to a Clay Tp. farmer, Mr. Middleswarth. He had no medical training, but had been given a recipe for a cholera cure from a physician in New Orleans. He worked among the stricken, giving nursing care and advice....He deserved enormous credit for the care he gave to those people. In numerous cholera epidemics widespread panic would ensue, and the victims were often abandoned, even by their own families.

The disease is spread by fecal contamination. Handling clothing and bedding of infected people could easily cause infection. In the cities, sewage contamination of water supplies was a major source of spread. But in 1849 none of this was known.

A report from a Gallipolis newspaper:

Health of Gallipolis
We have one death to report, by cholera, in town, since our last issue. On Monday a black man, who was at work on the wharf, was taken about 8 o'clock A.M., with violent cholera symptoms, and died some time in the after part of the day. This case was without doubt the result of imprudence, the deceased having been drunk and otherwise much exposed the day previous.
We hear of a number of cases of diarrhoea; but they have readily yielded to the influence of medicine.
There was a death on Tuesday, a mile above town, being a well marked case of cholera. His name was Simon Vanotwick, formerly of Chatauque county, N.Y.
With these exceptions, we hear of no deaths in town, or the immediate vicinity.
By our telegraphic reports it will be seen that the disease is abating in Cincinnati and other towns along the river. We have hopes that the worst is past.

The Gallipolis Journal
19 July 1849 Gallipolis, Gallia Co., Ohio

THE CHOLERA.
A general apathy, at the present time, seems to pervade all classes--politics and business are alike forgotten, and the mind is absorbed in contemplating the ravages of the cholera. There appears to be no immunity from it. The rich, and poor, the old and young, the inhabitants of the cottage as well as the indwellers of the palace, are alike subject to its attacks. For awhile many were seen flying from the crowded city, seeking refuge in the country, where gushing spring of ure water abound, and where the pure air of the forest is found, uncontaminated by exhalations arising from decompositions of animal or vegetable remains. But no spot can boast of an exemption from its attacks.
During the past week, our people have been more than usually excited upon the subject. The disease has come near tothem than at anytimg heretofore, doing its work very speedily and with an uncommon fatality.
On Wednesday of last week the disease made its appearance in the neighborhood known as "Greasy Ridge," some twelve or fifteen miles from town, and up to Sunday evening, in a space of a few miles square, there had been near twenty deaths, nearly every case proving fatal. At one time there was no less than eight corpses in one house, where they were suffered to lay for day for the want of assistance to bury them.
To add poignancy to the calamity, we have to state in connection herewith--Dr. James H. Hebard. Being called upon, he repaired to the scene of desolation, and while attending upon the sick was stricken down and died in a few hours after the attack. He died Sunday evening, and on Monday his remains were brought totown and interred.
Who among us is to be the next victim is known only to Him who governs the Universe.....

14 March 1857 Gallia County Court House

WILLIAM MARTT'S ESTATE
This day the second and final administration account of John Waugh and Giles Griswold Administrators of the Estate of William A. Martt deceased, having been filed in the Probate Court of Gallia County, Ohio, under oath for Settlement on the fourteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty seven, and continued for hearing and examination to this day. Notice therof having been given according to law, was examined and compared with the vouchers accompanying the same, and found correct as therein stated, and ordered to be recorded, by which said account, it appears that there are no funds in the hands of said Administraors belonging to said Estate, and that said Estate is fully settled.

William Martt's Estate came to $686.75. The Administrators were John Waugh and Giles Griswold.

Of the debts to William Martt paid were Lewis Nida $8.66; Isaac Martt $3.20; Elizabeth Nida $2.50; Mary Nida $3.15; Lydia Martt $1.30; Nathaniel Martt $1.66; and Peter Nida $1.92. Under debts not paid: Vinton Burnet.

To the Estate of William A. Martt ? to me Nathaniel Martt for tax paid by me $172.80; Doctor Bill paid by me $2.00; for one Coffin paid for by me $1.50, total $5.22.8

I have written that Wm. A. Martt's estate came to $686.75.5 ‎[pounds?]‎; then I have written that William's estate was valued at about $280.

26 June 1857 Guardianship Papers Gallia Co. Court House

William A. Martt's Minors
This day Elizabeth Frances Martt, aged sixteen years on the ninth day of June in the year A.D. 1857, and Eliza Ann Martt, aged fourteen years on the 14th January 1857, minor children of William A. Martt, deceased, personally came before the Probate Court of Gallia County, Ohio and made choice of Emmor Fox for their Guardian. This was accepted with a surety of $1,000
James A. Tipton July 27, 1857
‎[? Gave Nathaniel $530.80]‎

Elizabeth F. Mart and Eliza A. Mart, minor children of Wm. A. Mart Deceased, to Nathaniel Mart: Doctor, For furnishing clothing and boarding from 12 September to June 22nd 1857 $40.

In the Gallia County Historical Society's "Cemeteries of Walnut Township", the birth dates of Willam A. Martt and his wife Emily Page, who died in the cholera epidemic of 1849, are different from those mentioned.

Tom Saunders recorded in 1976 that William Martt was born April 25, 1804 and Elizabeth Page, wife of William was born May 3, 1805. I think that the stones were difficult to read. They were definitely born in 1814 and 1815.