All of Lucy’s and Joseph Sr.’s children became ill with typus fever, or typhoid fever as we call it today. In this epidemic of 1812 -1813 many thousands of people died. Through the power of their faith in the Lord, God in his mercy heard their prayers and all their children were healed, even Catharine who was a baby, having been born July 28, 1812. Their son, Joseph, however, developed complications, and was in severe pain which caused him to suffer terribly. The doctor didn’t know what he could do to help him. Lucy’s health failed her from caring for him, and his older brother, Hyrum, stepped in to assist.
As I already mentioned we moved to Lebanon, New Hampshire in the year of 1811. Here we diligently worked to provide for the needs of our children. We doubled our efforts to obtain the world’s goods and to educate our children. We enrolled our children in school as they had not had the privilege of much formal education.
Our second son, Hyrum, was enrolled in Hanover Academy and the rest who were old enough we enrolled in the closest common school. My husband and I were doing everything we could to provide for the welfare of our family and the Lord blessed us.
This state of things did not continue long. The typus fever came to Lebanon with great rage and fury. Our family was also affected.
First Sophronia came down with the disease, next Hyrum, who was taken while at school, and came home sick; then Alvin; and then one after another was taken down, until all except myself and my husband were in bed.
Sophronia became very ill. A doctor came for 3 months, continually giving her medicine, and finally on the 90th day said that she was so far gone that it was no use giving her any more medicine and he wouldn’t be coming again. That night she lay motionless and looked as if she was waiting for death.
As my husband and I looked upon our darling child we clasped our hands and fell upon our knees by her bedside and poured out our grief to God in prayer and supplication, asking him to spare our child’s life. Did the Lord hear our petition? Yes, he did and before we rose to our feet, we knew that she would be healed. However, after we got up from prayer she was not breathing.
I threw a blanket around her, picked her up and began pacing the floor with her. Those present thought that I was crazy for they believed that my child was dead, and they told me so. But I would not for a moment give up hope of again seeing her breathe and live. I am sure that you can sympathize with me. Are you a mother or a father who has lost a child? You know how I felt as I pressed my child to my bosom! In that moment would you have felt to deny that God had the power to save your child. I did not.
At length she sobbed. I still pressed her to my breast and continued to walk the floor. She sobbed again, then looked up into my face and she began to breathe quite freely. My soul was satisfied, but my strength was gone.
. I laid my daughter on the bed and sunk by her side, completely overcome by what had happened. From that time forward Sophronia continued mending, until she entirely recovered.
Joseph, our third son, was only sick with typus fever for a couple of weeks. One day after recovering from the illness he screamed out with terrible pain in his shoulder. In a short time, he appeared to be in such agony that we feared that he had something very serious. We immediately sent for the doctor.
The doctor, after examining him, felt that the pain was caused by a sprain, but Joseph declared that he had not been injured in any way. He said that the severe pain had come on suddenly and he did not know the cause of the pain.
The doctor insisted that the cause of the pain must be due to a sprain. The doctor anointed Joseph’s shoulder with bone liniment but it did not relieve his pain and the severe pain continued. Joseph had two weeks of extreme suffering. The doctor came back for a closer examination and found a large fever sore had gathered between his breast and his shoulder. He immediately lanced it, and a full quart of the matter was discharged.
After the sore was lanced Joseph said that the severe pain left it and shot like lightning down his side into the marrow of the bone of his leg. Joseph cried out, “Oh father, the pain is so severe, how can I bear it!”
His leg soon began to swell, and he continued to suffer in great agony for the space of two weeks. During these days, I carried him much of the time in my arms in order to minimize his suffering as much as possible. Due to my exertion and concern for Joseph I became ill.
Hyrum, who was rather remarkable for his tenderness and sympathy, now desired that he might take my place.
We laid Joseph upon a low bed and Hyrum sat beside him, almost day and night, holding the affected part of his leg in his hands and pressing it between them, so that his brother might be able to endure the pain which was so excruciating that he was scarcely able to bear it.