In 1884, Andrew Sinclair Sr. (1829-1899) endured the devastating loss of multiple family members during a virulent smallpox outbreak that swept through Hungerford Township in Hastings County, Ontario, Canada. A case of the ‘black measles’ was misdiagnosed in Belleville and the carrier returned home to the isolated rural community just in time for harvesting season. As neighbour helped neighbour the spread was tragically accelerated, resulting in at least 200 local infections