Matters Genealogical
A picture from the California branch of my family.
From left to right: My Great-great grandparents James Monroe Stafford* and Mary Elizabeth Vierling Stafford, and my Great granduncle Eugene “Poss” Stafford. As best as I know, James and Mary died in the 1919 flu.
*Note to genealogy researchers: This is not the James Monroe Stafford from Texas, but rather the Mississippi James Monroe.
Thanks for posting the picture. When I forwarded the picture to you, I also included the comment which was made by your dad’s cousin Cal that they had died in the “great plague.” I assumed he meant the flu epidemic of 1918-19, not being aware of any other plague that might have taken them out. Southern Mississippi was hit hard then, but as it turns out, James Monroe Stafford died in 1921 and Elizabeth died in 1927. It is possible they died of the flu, but they did not die during that epidemic. I have found there was an outbreak of the plague (bubonic plague) in 1921, but it did not reach the United States. So—it is an interesting story, but it is not true. Perhaps someone’s memory of that terrible time in 1918-19 was somehow grafted onto the memory of their deaths.
Also, Eugene “Poss” was your grandfather’s brother. Therefore, he was your grand uncle (or great uncle).
You have one too many “greats” in there.