1882 Smallpox Outbreak in Travis County
By: Craig Peterson

The records of the Swedish Methodist Church say the churches in Austin and Decker were shut
down for two months in 1882 when smallpox killed ten members at Decker, including the new
minister who had only preached one service. The records say the minister was Peter Newberg,
and it mentions two adults, August Cedarblad and Ida Peterson, the rest being unnamed
children.

The Austin Weekly Statesman for 09 Feb 1882, lists a very full (and graphic) report of the
outbreak by the doctor in charge. It appears all were moved to Austin and were housed in tents
referred to as The Small Pox Hospital located “across the river.”
Combing all written accounts, the following is believed to be the names and date of death:

08 Jan 1882 Lizzie Olson (all Olson’s are the children of Peter & Emma Olson)
22 Dec 1881 Ivy (or Ira or Isa) Olson
22 Dec 1881 Clara Amelie Olson
Recovered Sally Olson
05 Jan 1882 John E. Olson
08 Jan 1882 August Cedarblad
Recovered Emma Lundell (wife of F.A. Lundell)
Recovered Anna Lundell
05 Jan 1882 Amanda Engquist
20 Jan 1882 Carl Witting (son of Rev. Victor Witting)
Recovered Peter Olson
10 Jan 1882 Rev. Peter Newberg
15 Jan 1882 Ida Peterson
Recovered Joe Cooly
Recovered John Engquist
15 Jan 1882 William Engquist
Recovered E. (G) Engquist
Recovered H. Engquist
Recovered J. Keenan

Ivy S. Olson is recorded as buried in Oakwood Cemetery. There is a _____Olson buried in
Oakwood on 23 Dec 1881, which could be Clara Ameillia Olson. No other burial records have
been found, but it is believed they were buried at the site of the Small Pox Hospital on the
south side of the Colorado River.

The Austin Weekly Statesman. (1882, February 9). Austin, TX.