The second major outbreak of cholera in the United States was in 1849.  This outbreak in North America took the life of former United States President James K. Polk. Cholera, believed spread from ships from England, spread throughout the Mississippi river system killing over 4,500 in St. Louis, MO. and over 3,000 in New Orleans, LA as well as thousands in New York City. In 1849 cholera was spread along the California, Mormon and Oregon Trails as 6,000 to 12,000 are believed to have died on their way to the California Gold Rush, Utah and Oregon in the cholera years of 1849-1855.   It is believed that over 150,000 Americans died during the two cholera pandemics between 1832 and 1849.