The Spanish flu, like other strains of influenza, killed the very young and very old. Unlike most strains, however, it took its greatest toll on adults in the prime of life, including businessmen, housewives and munitions workers.

The Erie-area dead in 1918 included Charles "Chap" Spencer, 32, a member of one of Erie's oldest and most prominent families.

Spencer was a cashier at First National Bank, which had been founded by his grandfather, Judah Colt Spencer. Charles Spencer and his wife, Mary Spencer, lived on Millionaires' Row on West Sixth Street doors away from his parents' home, now the Spencer House Bed & Breakfast.

Spencer had become ill at a bankers' convention in Chicago. He returned home and was nursed by Mary, who in turn became critically ill.

Charles Spencer died on Oct. 10. He was the third-known Erie victim of the epidemic.

Irish-born Lillian Belle Anzer, 37, a housewife living on East 18th Street, died at Saint Vincent Hospital on Oct. 13. Her husband, Albert Anzer, 38, originally from Germany and a molder at Cascade Foundry, died in the hospital Nov. 2. Their daughter, Margaret, 13, died Nov. 10 at Saint Vincent.

Erie police Patrolman George Schneider, 33, died on Oct. 14. According to his funeral notice, two of his three daughters were critically ill.

George Minster, 72, a widower and quartermaster at the Pennsylvania Soldiers' and Sailors' Home, also died Oct. 14.

Guy Batchelder, 26, of German Street, died Oct. 20 at Hamot Hospital.

He had made shells at a local munitions plant, most likely American Brake Shoe and Foundry, the company that provided 7,000 marchers for the city's Liberty Loan parade.

His body was sent home to his family in Mill Village for burial.

William Huffman, 27, a laborer, of Raspberry Street, died Oct. 20 and almost was buried as "Jack Stanley," by Mrs. Jack Stanley.

"A Secret Service man came from Cleveland and identified him as Wm. H. Huffman, a deserter from the army," according to Burton Funeral Home records.

The real Jack Stanley was fighting in France.

William Wright was a student at Thiel College in Greenville. Described by the campus pastor as "a splendid young man," he enlisted in the army in July 1918 and died at Camp Hancock, Georgia, on Oct. 22.

Of five Thiel students who enlisted and died in military service, four died of Spanish flu.

Traveling salesman William Bennett, 65, of West Fifth Street, died at Hamot on Nov. 1.

"A box with watch, keys and some papers were sent to Miss Arlene Bennett, Newport, New Hampshire," according to Burton Funeral Home records. "Overcoat, cap and shoes sent to Board of Charity relative to the order of Miss Bennett."

Charles Allen Jr. was 1½ when he died at his family's East Second Street home Nov. 5, according to funeral home records.

Sister M. Anastasia Kebort and Sister Mary Gerard, of the Sisters of St. Joseph, had volunteered to nurse the sick at Saint Vincent Hospital.

Kebort, 22, was in her first year of religious life. She died Nov. 13.

Gerard died Dec. 16. She was 46 and had been in religious life 13 years.

Valerie Myers can be reached at 878-1913 or by email. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ETNmyers.