Erie County,
GEORGE C. HUNTINGTON examined:
Q. How long have you resided on Kelley’s Island?
A. Since the fall of 1838, with the exception of one year, from the fall of 1844 to the fall of 1845. Have been acquainted on the Island since 1835.
Q. What means have you of furnishing a statement of the character of the climate and sanitary condition of Kelley’s Island, and the neighboring islands, and the surrounding country?
A. I have been in the habit, during the entire period of my residence on the island, of noting extremes of temperature, and such casual phenomena as would, in my opinion, have any bearing on the general health of the place; and for more than five years past have made three records daily of everything connected with the changes of the weather, in the manner prescribed by, and under the direction of, the Smithsonian Institution.
Q. Please state the latitude, longitude, and height above tide-water, of Kelley’s Island; its population, and the general character of the island for salubrity.
A. My place of observation is in latitude 41° 35’ 44” N., longitude 82° 42’ 32” W. The level of Lake Erie is 565 feet above tide-water, and the island may in some places rise fifty or sixty feet above the level of the lake; but I think the mean height of the island would not vary much from twenty-five feet above the level of the lake. The popution, in April last, was six hundred and fifty-one. As to the salubrity of the climate, the matter will be best determined by the statistics given in answer to the next question.
Q. What has been the percentage of mortality, annually, on your island?
A. In answer to this question I give an abstract from the records of the “Cemetery Association.” This association was organized in May, 1853, since
| which time the whole number of interments has been | 43 |
| From this deduct, lost from vessels and washed ashore | 4 |
| Died in Nashville, from w’ds in battle, | 1 |
| 5 | |
| Whole number of interments in 11 years, | 38 |
| To this add, died here and taken else where for interment | 5 |
| Whole number of deaths in 11 years, | 43 |
| From diseases reported as follows; — | |
| Killed by premature blast 1, drowned 2, | 3 |
| Old age 3, intemperance 1, dropsy 1, | 5 |
| Still-born and infants but a few days old, | 8 |
| Dysentery and summer complaint, | 9 |
| Inflammation of bowels, | 3 |
| Diseases affecting respiratory organs, | 5 |
| Throat affection, age 76, age 50, . | 2 |
| Fevers (one contracted in army hospital), | 3 |
| Childbirth 1, congestion of brain 1, | 2 |
| Fits 1, not specified 2 | 3 |
| 43 |
The average population of the island for this period of eleven years has been, as appears by the returns of the township assessor, 428, which would give an annual mortality of 3.9; but if we deduct casualties 3, still-born and infants, which, although born alive, had not vitality enough fairly to commence the journey of life, 8; and one from disease contracted in hospital in Nashville, 1, it will reduce the number of deaths properly chargeable to disease and old age to thirty-one, or an annual mortality of 2.82 in a population of 428, This would be an annual mortality from all causes of one per cent., and from disease, including old age, an annual mortality of less than seventy-three-hundredths of one per cent. (0.724) By comparing these results with the tables of mortality in different sections of the country, the salubrity of our climate and the immunity from the ordinary diseases of the country enjoyed by the inhabitants of this island as compared with other localities, may be easily deduced.
Q. What is the distance of Kelley's from Johnson's Island, and is there any difference in the physical or sanitary peculiarities of the two islands?
A. Johnson's Island is about seven miles nearly due south from Kelley's Island, and I am not aware of any natural causes which should make any difference in the salubrity of climate or sanitary condition of the two localities, unless the difference in the water between Sandusky Bay and the open lake (the latter being considered rather more free from impurities) might be considered a difference, so far as it is used for culinary purposes or as a beverage.
Q. Is there any undue tendency to pulmonary disorders among the inhabitants of these islands? '
A. By reference to the answer to a preceding question, it will be seen that the whole number of deaths from diseases affecting the respiratory organs in a period of eleven years, and in a population averaging four hundred and twenty-eight, was but five, and of this number one was a transient person ; leaving but four cases in eleven years among those who could be properly called residents.
Q. Has Johnson's Island ever had a bad repute for unhealthiness ?
A. I have never heard Johnson's Island called unhealthy.
Q. Have you ever known any very fatal diseases among the inhabitants of Lake Erie?
A. The Asiatic cholera has passed through the lake region as an epidemic four times, I think, since it first made its appearance on this continent in 1832. I am not aware of any other very fatal diseases having prevailed in the lake region since my first acquaintance with it in 1830.
| STATE OF OHIO | |
s s. |
|
Erie County, |
Before me, the subscriber, a Notary Public in and for the County of Erie and State of Ohio, personally came G. C. Huntington, who, being duly sworn by me according to law, deposes and says that the statements above made are compiled from official and other reliable data, and that they are true according to his knowledge and belief.
GEO. C. HUNTINGTON.
Subscribed and sworn to before me,
July 4th, A. D. 1864.
[SEAL.] A. S KELLEY,
Notary Public.