Joseph Manders, d. 1909, African American, elephantiasis
As we have seen, it can be difficult to find any information out about African Americans in the online records. Joseph Manders was about 65 years old in 1909 when he died at home in Wilmington of elephantiasis. Joseph Mander (not Manders) appears in only one census, that of 1900, for Christiana Hundred, New Castle County, Delaware. At the time, his age was not given. He was working as a farm laborer, was married to his wife Anna, 26 (born in October 1873), and a daughter named Kate, age 5 (born in February 1895). Anna reports that she has had two children, both of whom are still alive, but only child was living with her and Joseph. Joseph died on September 22, 1909 in Wilmington. His certificate of death says he was 65 in 1909, making his date of birth ~1844. Unusually, he died of elephantiasis (see below). This is a horribly painful and disfiguring parasitic disease contracted through the bite of an infected mosquito. He was buried in the NCCH Cemetery under either #1043 or #1053.
Wife Anna and daughter Kate do not appear in subsequent census records. The only mention in the newspapers is a short report in 1911 of Kate getting into an argument with a friend, Mamie Bush, as they walked along 2nd Street. They succumbed to fisticuffs and ended up biting each other. Kate made a police report, but when Mamie showed up and they both admitted to having bit the other, all charges were dismissed.
From google.com: “Lymphatic filariasis, commonly known as elephantiasis, is a painful and profoundly disfiguring disease. It is caused by infection with parasites classified as nematodes (roundworms) of the family Filariodidea that are transmitted through the bites of infected mosquitos.” It causes obstruction of the flow of lymph through the affected region, usually either the lower limbs or the scrotum, resulting in gross swelling and disfiguration. Only do a google images search on elephantiasis if you have a very strong stomach.
To see his COD and the newspaper article about Kate, click HERE.
Wife Anna and daughter Kate do not appear in subsequent census records. The only mention in the newspapers is a short report in 1911 of Kate getting into an argument with a friend, Mamie Bush, as they walked along 2nd Street. They succumbed to fisticuffs and ended up biting each other. Kate made a police report, but when Mamie showed up and they both admitted to having bit the other, all charges were dismissed.
From google.com: “Lymphatic filariasis, commonly known as elephantiasis, is a painful and profoundly disfiguring disease. It is caused by infection with parasites classified as nematodes (roundworms) of the family Filariodidea that are transmitted through the bites of infected mosquitos.” It causes obstruction of the flow of lymph through the affected region, usually either the lower limbs or the scrotum, resulting in gross swelling and disfiguration. Only do a google images search on elephantiasis if you have a very strong stomach.
To see his COD and the newspaper article about Kate, click HERE.