A Methodist minister that tended to the families that lost loved ones became ill himself.

Carbon County, PA.

My grandfather was a Methodist minister that tended to the families that lost loved ones. He became stricken with it himself, along with his infant son, my late uncle. They both survived it, but my grandfather developed emphysema from the scarring in his lungs and died before his time. My uncle also had severe lung issues his whole life and also died young.

Attached are photos of my grandfather, Rev. George H.G Rowland, his wife Velma, and their infant son George Jr.  The photos were likely taken around 1916, two years before the outbreak. 

My grandfather was born and raised in the Fox Chase area of Philadelphia and had many family members that lived there.  They lived in Carbon county at the time of the outbreak.  My grandfather, a dedicated Methodist minister, was 26 years old and my uncle George was around 3 years old when they were hit with the influenza.  The story goes that they both nearly died at the time. 

My grandfather had spent countless days presiding over funerals of his parishioners and tending to families struck hard.  He never fully recovered and died of emphysema at age 74 after struggling his whole life with lung issues.  My uncle had severe asthma and COPD and died at age 63.  While they may have survived the flu, they both suffered for the remainder of their lives from the scarring it did to their lungs. I recently read a few books on this horrendous outbreak.  I had no idea how devastating it really was to the Philadelphia area. 

Contributed by Joann Rowland Ay, Granddaughter of Rev. George H.G Rowland.