The Sarah Sale Tombstone

         Records show that 7,849 people died in New Orleans in 1853 alone due to yellow fever, a huge number considering its population at that time was only 103,000. Although 1953 had the highest single-year figure, death tolls in following years were close behind. Studies show that the vast majority of victims were immigrants who had not developed an immunity to this mosquito-borne viral infection.  For this reason, it was mistakenly believed that African-Americans were immune to the infection, when, in fact, it was simply because they had inhabited yellow fever regions for generations and had developed immunities.  And it was not until the 1950s that mosquito control became effective in eliminating yellow fever; there is still no known cure for the disease.

   Sarah and Rev. Parker had been temporarily living in Lewisburg ministering to local Indians, enslaved people, and settlers. At that time, mosquitos were the worst element of living in South Louisiana.

       Reverend Parker, ordained as deacon and then elder, had been serving in the area for some time.  After Sarah's death, he remarried and had three sons. He was later transferred to New Orleans, where he continued as pastor until he was appointed presiding elder of the district. He also edited  the New Orleans “Christian Advocate,”   was elected a bishop, and was locally known as both a writer and speaker; he died in New Orleans in 1885.

  So, Sarah Sale’s Lewisburg gravestone provides a bit of insight into  early Louisiana life and history.