Cholera
No town in the state of Ohio suffered as severely, in proportion to its population, from the cholera epidemic of 1849 than did Clifton. The disease made its appearance in the hotel or village tavern. A stranger came into the village in the evening, suffered through the night and died the next morning. Seven deaths in all occurred in the tavern, and two took place in a dwelling directly opposite to the hotel. Other deaths took place in the neighborhood until the total hit 40. The water used in the tavern was taken from a street well. No deaths took place on the high ground because the source of their water was a different aquifer.
The Cedarville News
Cedarville, Ohio
January, 1996
p. 8
Information from:
History of Greene County
by R.S. Dills,
Dayton, Ohio: 1881.