Yellow Fever 1867
Yellow fever, also known as yellow jack, struck Jeanerette in 1867. The Provost family in Jeanerette took a heavy blow with at least eight to ten members of the family dead from the viral infection transmitted by infected mosquitoes. Edmond Provost’s unnamed daughter died of yellow fever in August.[1] Luc (Alexander Luc) Provost died August 30 (my grandfather’s cousin twice removed).[2] Lucien Provost and Louise Provost were among the reported dead in September.[3]
Mosquitos infected another six members of the Provost family in Jeanerette with the deadly disease. They were reported dead in November 1867.[4] Included in the newspapers were Norbert Provost, his wife, Coralie Lange,[5] and Celestin Provost (probably their son-in-law married to their daughter Coralie Provost; Celestin and Coralie would have been second cousins, sharing great-grandparents Nicholas Provost and Marie Jeanne Prevost);[6] Madame S. Provost (Therese Laurae Provost wife of Stanislas Provost mentioned in Part 1);[7] Aurelie Provost (possibly Susanne Aurelie, daughter of Nicholas Philemon Provost and Marie Amelia Judice; she would have been a great-aunt to my grandfather) and an unnamed child of N. Provost.[8]
New Iberia lost 104 people in 30 days in an area of about 1200 inhabitants. Many people had left the area for safer a location.[12]
Depending on where one lived and the ordinances passed regarding yellow fever, the dead were to be buried immediately, and the place of death was to be fumigated with chloride of lime. Articles used by the deceased person were to be either disinfected or burned.[9] A hot mustard bath was sometimes administered to the sick in hopes of a remedy. It was not common knowledge at that time that mosquitoes were the carrier of yellow fever.
Brain Fever 1881
Three young girls were taken by brain fever in New Iberia in October 1881; two were from the Provost family.[10] One of the little girls was “Marie Virginie Provost, daughter of J. Edmond Provost and Herzeilie Pellerin, aged 9 years.” She was my grandfather’s first cousin once removed. A second girl was the daughter of Ophelia Provost and Charles Alcibiade Judice, Philomene Mathilde Judice, 8 years old.[13] She too was my grandfather’s first cousin once removed. Brain fever is known today as meningitis. It can be either viral or bacterial infection.
[1] “The Yellow Fever at New Iberia,” Barton Rouge Tri-Weekly Gazette and Comet (Baton Rouge, Louisiana), August 22, 1867 p.2, col. 4; digital image, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/image/354139587/?match=1&clipping_id=195444545 viewed 12 April 2026).
[2] “Yellow Fever at New Iberia,” The Weekly Iberville South (Plaquemine, Louisiana) 21 September 1867, p. 2 col. 3; digital image, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/image/368600981/?match=1&clipping_id=186783680 viewed 12 April 2026). Also, Hebert – Prevost, Luc m. Eulalie Delahoussaye Succ. Dated 2 March 1868 (SM Ct. Hse: Succ #2121).
[3] “Yellow Fever at New Iberia,” The Weekly Iberville South (Plaquemine, Louisiana) 21 September 1867, p. 2 col. 3; digital image, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/image/368600981/?match=1&clipping_id=186783680 viewed 12 April 2026).
[4] “Fievre Jaune,” The Opelousas Courier, 2 November 1867 ·p. 1, col.1; digital image Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/image/161578062/?match=1&clipping_id=195445540 viewed 12 April 2026.)
[5] Herbert – Lange, Coralie, M. 11 June 1838 Norbert Prevost (Frank. Ct. Hse, Mar v.3 #59).
[6] Hebert – Prevost, Coralie (Norbert & Caralie Lange). m. 8 Sept. 1862 Celestin Prevost (Charenton Ch.: v.1, p. 115).
[7] Donald J. Hebert, Southwest Louisiana Records (1750-1900) CD edition (Baton Rouge, Louisiana: Claitor’s Publishing Division 1975-2019); Prevost, Mrs. Stanislas d. 21-30 Oct. 1867 at age 25 yrs. of yellow fever (Charenton Ch.: v.1, p. 44).
[8] Since the child is unnamed, it’s likely that it was a child under 12 years old. Additionally, having just an initial for the name of the parent does not lead one to identify the child or parent with certainty.
[9] “An Ordinance Relative to the Health of the Town of Opelousus,” The Opelousas Courier (Opelousas, Louisiana), 15 September 1855, p. 1, cols 5-6; digital image, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/image/168319458/?match=1&terms=%22yellow%20fever%22 : viewed 10 March 2026).
[10] “Deaths” The Louisiana Sugar-Bowl (New Iberia, Louisiana), 6 October 1881, p. 3. col. 2; digital image, Newspapers.com(https://www.newspapers.com/image/332995864/ viewed 14 April 2026.