Influenza Pandemic, Resident Travels to Chicago to Become a Cartoonist

In 1919, the world was hit by a deadly influenza pandemic, which caused 20 to 40 million deaths worldwide. The most vulnerable group were those between the ages of 20 and 40 years old. In the United States, one fourth of the population was affected. Despite the pandemic, on January 30, the brickyard reopened in Gonzales with O.B. Robertson as manager. In March, Congress failed to repeal the daylight savings time act, so it remained in effect for the year. On March 6, the names of forty-two war victims from the county were printed. Gonzales was one of thirty-five counties in the state that produced over one million bushels of corn for the year. On March 27, Michelson Brothers moved their store from the 600 block of St. Joseph Street to the 500 block, next door to Smith Brothers business. Dr. Stahl also set up his medical practice in Gonzales around this time. On May 1, J.S. Lewis let a contract for the complete remodeling of a stable adjoining Plaza garage. J.F. Beasley Auto would occupy the building on Block 11. On May 22, Vernon Conway traveled to Chicago to work as a cartoonist for the Chicago Tribune. Stahl Bros. shipped out two carloads of eggs with 500 cases per car on June 5. On June 29, the Guadalupe River flooded, cresting at 26.3 feet, followed by another flood on July 24, cresting at 28.8 feet on August 26. Despite the floods, school opened on September 15 with 454 students enrolled. The Guadalupe River flooded again on September 26, cresting at 27.10 feet, and then again on October 13, cresting at 31.9 feet, and on October 18, cresting at 34.10 feet. In August, there were nine deaths and twenty births reported in Gonzales County.