336. Mulat's First Influenza Victim 1918

Updated: Jul 1, 2020

On October 21, 1918, the small Santa Rosa community of Mulat was introduced to the sting of death from the dreaded Spanish Influenza. Up until now, the lumber town had avoided what was hitting nearby Pensacola so hard as well as the nation and the world. But the victim was none other than John A. Howell, the community's postmaster since April 2, 1902.

John was born in North Carolina in 1853 and migrated to Florida many years afterwards. Upon arrival, he became associated with Simeon Otis (1866-1929) in the lucrative lumber business. Simeon owned a lumber mill in Bagdad plus other lumber connections in Mulat. For twenty years the two were connected in business before John was seriously injured in the performance of his job. But Simeon was able to assist him in obtaining the position of "postmaster" for Mulat that he occupied for the next sixteen years. Ironically, John was filling the position left vacant by Virgil Paris Dillingham who had been there since September 29, 1900.

Dillingham was born in Kennebec, Maine and during the Civil War would enlist with the 1st Maine Cavalry only to reenlist two years later in the 1st Maine Infantry Regiment. Following the war, he returned to his trade as a shoemaker before being advised by his doctors to seek a warmer climate. He moved to Mulat in 1899 and was appointed as postmaster. He left the position in 1902 only to return to Pensacola in 1912 where he became the "post commander" of Pensacola's William T. Sherman Post 21 of the Grand Army of the Republic. He would pass away in 1925 and was buried in Barrancas Cemetery.

In the meantime, John took over the duties from Dillingham thanks to his friendship with Simeon Otis. The job was mainly clerical, which suited the debilitation caused by his injuries. Along with the job came the position of express agent for the L&N railroad and the two positions together gave he and his wife Mary a steady income. Upon John's death, Simeon is said to have grieved mightily over the loss of his old friend from the scourge of the hated virus. He was buried in what was known in those days as the "Pea Ridge burial ground", which I believe to be the Strickland Cemetery. Following his death, it appears that his wife Mary Emmett Howell, whom he married on August 31, 1902, may have also been appointed postmistress of Mulat according to her obituary.