Where was Virginia when William died.

Maybe she and the children were out of town.
Vicksburg experienced a Population boom after the Civil War.
The Population was about 15,000 by 1878.
When the Yellow Fever appeared, everyone that could left town.
I saw somewhere that the Population in the midst had been reduced to 5,000.
2 out of Three left.
There was no reason to stay.
Nothing was going on.
The Streets were deserted.
There was a Vicksburg Colony in St Louis, Chicago and Cincinnati and I am sure other places.
In addition other people moved in with family and friends in the Country.
Mr. Rockwood and Mr. Fairchild both were wealthy men and could have gone and done most anything.
They chose to stay.
However, the families may well have gone elsewhere.

Sam P