“The second of Enoch’s three daughters, Mertie, went to the neighbor’s to see what had been discarded when the [neighbor’s] house was fumigated after an illness in that family.  She played with a doll, contracted the disease, and she [Mertie] too, died.”

So writes Mary Wilson in her book, “The History of Lake Mills” (published 1983).

Myrtle (“Mertie”) died in 1887 and was buried in the family plot at Rock Lake Cemetery.

And then14 years later (in 1901), Addie (wife #2) allegedly died of diphtheria.

Despite the fact that Addie’s attending physician was also the county health officer, and despite the fact that the physician publicly proclaimed it to be the most fast-acting and virulent case he’d ever seen, and despite the fact that the Fargo Mansion was the social hub of Lake Mills, and despite the fact that Enoch Fargo’s business employed 86 people (risking their exposure as well), and despite the fact that it was his own wife that died (which must have exposed him to a multitude of Addie’s germs), despite the fact that Enoch’s own daughter died when contagion laws were not followed with adequate haste, and despite the fact that the State Board of Health has stringent laws on this matter, the Fargo Mansion was apparently not quarantined or even fumigated.

It boggles the mind.

And yet, it fits nicely with the story if you realize that Addie probably did not die of diphtheria. Which was in accord with what Oatway reported to the State Board of Health a few months later. (Oatway’s report to the State Board of Health in 1901 stated that there were no cases of diphtheria in Lake Mills in 1901.)

If the Fargo Mansion had been quarantined, it surely would have made the Lake Mills Leader. And if they’d quarantined the house, wouldn’t Enoch have been required to remain at home, confined within the four walls of his 7,500 square foot manse?

Was the mansion quarantined after Addie's death? Apparently not.

Mertie is buried next to her father and mother at the Rock Lake Cemetery.

There are three foot stones on this side of the family marker. Mertie's is on the far left, and then Mary and then Enoch. Mertie's inscription on the family marker is next to that bush.

Was there a placard like this on the Fargo Mansion after Addie's death? You'd think if there was, it would have made the local newspaper.

In December 1900, three different "happenings" at the Fargo Mansion made the front page of the Lake Mills Leader. (Unfortunately, the microfilm/copy feature at the L. D. Fargo Library cut off the upper left hand corner of most of my copies.)

The first exciting tidbit that appears on the above page is the story that Mrs. (Addie) Fargo attended a convention in Milwaukee.

The second big news item in this same paper (front page, no less) was that E. J's barn now had electric lights. Also a pretty exciting event.

And I saved the best for last. The happy couple had a big dinner Tuesday night and the viands were wonderful! Now if these three items appeared on the front page, you'd have to think that a real news item - like the quarantine of the Fargo Mansion - would also have been mentioned.

What really happened to Addie?

To learn more, click here.

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