Livingston County, Illinois - Chapter 20: Phenomena - Calamitous Events, 1909

Chapter 20: Phenomena - Calamitous Events

REMINISCENCES OF THE DEEP SNOW OF 1830-31 - HIGHWATER OF 1859 - HAVOC CAUSED BY FLOOD IN VERMILION RIVER - LIST OF PRINCIPAL SUFFERERS - WIND STORMS - DESTRUCTIVE HUBERICANES OF 1859 - LATER VISITATIONS - PONTIAC, ODELL, FAIRBURY AND AMITY TOWNSHIP SERIOUS SUFFERERS.

The early settlers had very hard times during the first year or two on account of the deep snow which fell in December, 1830. There were but three families in the county, V. M. Darnall in Indian Grove Township; Isaac Jordon, who located on the north banks of the Vermilion river, southeast of Pontiac; and Frederick Rook, who settled on a creek, which still bears his name, some five miles west of Pontiac. This fall of snow was phenomenal, and its like, probably, had never occurred before and certainly has not since, within the limits of the state. Snow began fall- Ing on the morning of December 28th, and it continued for three days until it had reached a depth of five feet. This was followed by a drizzling rain, which turned to sleet, the weather became intensely cold, and the whole face of the country was covered with a sheet of ice. The storm was very destructive to game. It is said that deer by the hundred starved to death, and those that survived were so emaciated that they were unfit for food. Quail and grouse also perished in great numbers. ,

The day before this snowfall commenced, Mr. Darnall started for the home of John B. Thompson, his brother-in-law, on the Mackinaw, to procure a supply of pork for his family, going in a wagon; and, although it was but eight miles distant, on account of this extraordinary snowfall he wás prevented from returning home for nearly a week, Taking half a hog, he started home on horseback. He had no compass to guide him. The snow was so deep that the horse would sink to the saddle girths. It was a perilous undertaking and many times he thought it useless to proceed. But he continued on his journey, and just as the sun was setting, he noticed smoke

At the end of the snowfall, Mrs. Darnall dressed herself in her husband's trousers and cleared a path to the rail pen where there were three calves, which she drove into the cabin to keep them from perishing. Mr. Darnall succeeded in killing two wild hogs which roamed near his cabin; and this helped to fill the family larder. The snow lay on the ground for nearly three months, and during that period he cut down enough timber to make 3,000 rails. The branches he gave to his stock to browse on, and on this, together with a small allowance of corn, he wintered nine heads of cattle and fifteen sheep. For two months he saw no human being, except his family. until his brother-in-law, John B. Thompson, came over from Mackinaw.

When Isaac Jordon and Frederick Rook and their families came to this county, but a short time before this snow, they brought with them a few cattle. The chance to cut hay for their stock was very slim, and their dependence was upon spots of buffalo grass. But the winter coming on earlier than was expected, all hope for stock to live was cut off, unless they could find sufficient bass or linwood to cut down for their cattle to browse upon. Then came the deep snow, followed by the heavy sleet, which formed such a heavy crust that the cattle could not be driven through the snow. This crust continued for seyeral months and most of their stock died of starvation and cold. Their supplies for the household ran short during the deep snow, and famine stared their families in the face. The nearest place for provisions was across the prairie southwest toward Mackinaw. No team could travel, even if they had had one, so they made a sled and started on foot, first making and putting on snow shoes, as was then the custom of the Indians, and then they made for the Mackinaw settlement, some thirty miles distant. There they obtained two bushels of corn each, shelled it, and started for home in the same way as they had gone, arriving home on the evening of the second day. Mills for grinding corn and wheat were not available in those days, so they made mortars out of the boulders found on the banks of the river, and pounded the corn sufficiently to make samp, or made hominy. When this supply was gone, they

The High Water Of 1869

It is not within the memory of men' who have resided in Pontiac since the town was laid out, that so severe a rain and so disastrous a flood has been known, as visited us during the last three days of June and the first four days of July, 1869. Being aware that tbe human mind is subject to extravagance, and is apt to think every severe rain the hardest, every cold day the coldest, and every hot day tbe hottest, and it is possible that some one has seen a heavier rain than that of Friday and Saturday, June 26 and 27, 1869, yet we don't believe it. Old citizens of Pontiac, whose word is as good as an oath at any time, tell us that the river never was so high before or since at this place, and we believe them. When it commenced raining Friday afternoon, people in town waited until the rain should be over before attempting to go home, but they finally concluded they would not walt for it to stop; in fact, it did not stop, but if possible, rained harder and harder each hour through the night. When daylight broke Saturday morning, all the sloughs and low places were full, and by actual measurement the rain had fallen from ten to fifteen inches during the day and night. Many chimneys in Pontiac which had never been known to fill up with water so as to run out of the stove-pipe hole, had poured out great streams of sooty water upon the floor and carpet of the unfortunate occupants. At intervals during the day Saturday, heavy falls of rain came down, increasing the prospect for a general flood. The water in the small streams and low places throughout the county had become so high that railroad travel was considered dangerous, and all freight trains were stopped. On Saturday, the river was rising rapidly, and before night the water was running across the south side of the wagon bridge in Pontiac. During the night, the river rose to an unprecedented height, and Sunday morning the sight was most terrifying. Every house south of the river, with the exception of a few on the hill, was surrounded by water, and in some near the river the water nearly reached the second floor, while all of the houses situated on the low ground north and northeast, and northwest of the Central school building on the north side of tne river, were surrounded by water, many of them having two feet of water on the floor. The road leading east of Pontiac was one uninterrupted sheet of water to the timber, where boats might have plied the whole distance. The north slough running from the Duff farm at the east across the town and along the north boundary of it, presented the appearance of a navigable river. Lots and farms, which had been considered exempt heretofore, now paid tribute to the flood. The damage to fences, gardens and crops in that locality was immense, and every bridge was swept off the slough. But along the Vermilion river the damage was the most severe. No dwellings were swept off, very few trees and logs came down, but out-houses, fences, sheds, etc., were swept away in great numbers. On the south side of the river, the water covered all the high table land to the extreme limits of the town, the old fair grounds, the cemetery, and extended up considerable distance to the west and south. All day Sunday, boats were in requisition helping those out of their houses who were in danger of getting drowned out. Pigs, chickens, horses and cattle that were turned loose from the stables, were circulating around to find dry ground. At the Vermilion bridge, Street Commissioner William Perry was at work, and with the assistance of Seymour Bennett, Captain Wheeler and George Pullman and others, succeeded, after an almost superhuman effort, in saving the bridge. At the railroad bridge, a large number of laborers were engaged in carrying iron and stone on for weight, cutting away the siding to allow the water to pass through, and warding off the fiood-wood that made its way down the river. L. E. Kent's cattle sheds were inundated, and several head of live stock were drowned. Taken altogether, Sunday, June 28, 1869, was the most exciting day Pontiac has ever witnessed, and we shall not be deemed irreverent if we put in a petition that the like may not be known again. John Geiger, who lived on Water street, where the home of Charles St. John is now located, was drowned while attempting to save his fence on Sunday afternoon. He asked one of his little girls to go to the house and get a chain for his use, and she returned just in time to see her father sink to his death. The body was recovered an hour later. Geiger was a harness maker, a member of the Masonic lodge, and a good citizen. His family consisted of a wife and six small children.

in Pontiac from Saturday on acount of the flood, Started on horseback for his home in Owego township on Monday morning, and rode his horse into a deep hole just east of the village and was drowned before help could reach him.

Daniel Markle, a farmer living near Chatsworth, was also drowned in the Vermilion about four miles above the Chatsworth bridge, while attempting to ford the river with a team of horses.

The Pontiac Woolen Mills company were quite severe sufferers, the water coming up some five feet on the first floor, stopping all the machinery for over one week.

N. B. Kindred lost 40,000 brick at his yards east of Pontiac. All the ice houses along the Vermilion in Pontiac were fiooded, and the citlzens were compelled to do without this necessary article during the remainder of the summer.

A portion of the bridge over Indian creek near Fairbury was swept away, but was soon repaired. The bridge over the south branch of the Vermilion at Forrest was so badly damaged that trains were not permitted to cross it for three days.

The village of Pontiac, during the flood, was an island and a small one at that. The waters of the slough from the east reached a point this side of where the Kipp lumber yard is now located, and extended west along Prairie street to the Alton tracks. Citizens living on the high ground north of the slough constructed a large raft holding fifteen people and came to the village to do their trading in this manner for over a week. The raft was landed near the Central school building.

One of the grandest celebrations of the Fourth of July was to have been held in Pontiac on Monday, July 5, 1869. It was a county affair, and delegations from all over were to be present. The fair grounds were to be-used for that purpose and the War Governor of Illinois was to address the people. The celebration had to be abandoned, as not enough dry space could be found in the village for the people to congregate. -

Destructive Wind Storms

DESTRUCTIVE WIND STORMS. A hurricane passed over this county on May 26, 1859, demolishing houses, tearing up trees, prostrating fences, and making complete wreck of everything in its path. It swept over a belt half a mile wide, and traveled in a northwesterly direction over the county, the principal damage being done in Pike, Rooks Creek, Esmen, Avoca and Pontiac townships. In Rooks Creek township, it blew down the house of M. D. Edgington. Striking the timber below Remick's mill, it tore down the largest trees, and sent limbs flying over the prairies to a distance of three miles. Further on, it struck the house of Delos Robinson, scattering the boards of the house, furniture, cooking utensils, clothing, etc., in every direction, leaving nothing but a stove and floor to mark the spot where the house stood. Three feather beds were blown away. A wagon stood near the house, the tongue of which was driven under the corncrib with such force by the storm that three men were unable to draw it out, and a team had to be used for that purpose. The home of Samuel Schlosser was made a perfect wreck, and strewn all over the prairie. William Bruckner's house was blown to pieces, not a stick of it being left within half a mile of where the house stood. Two miles of fence on the farm of Hiram Young was scattered in all directions. The dwelling house of Arthur Chambers in Rooks Creek was .destroyed, not a stick being left on the place. Alva Potter had a part of the roof of his house blown off, together with ten acres of timber. E. Stratton's house, in Pike township, was blown off its foundation and his corncrib sent flying some eighty rods. Presley Breckenridge had an orchard destroyed and David Breckenridge had a general distribution of his fence all over the prairie. So violent was the storm that it bent two lightning rods on his house almost double. Joseph Perry had 160 acres of timber almost totally destroyed. No lives were lost, although some of the escapes were miraculous.

One of the worst hurricanes which ever passed over this county occurred at 4:45 o'clock on the afternoon of November 26, 1859, the most damage being done to the town of Pontiac, although that place at that time was not largely inhabited. The tornado came from the southwest and lasted but a few minutes. The roof of the court-house, cupalo and gablé end were blown down, involving a loss of $1,500. A two-story house belonging to Frederick Sinsel was torn to splinters, burying Mrs. Sinsel, her little son, and Miss Margret Gibson beneath the ruins, but fortunately none was seriously injured. The roofs of J. W.

Strevell's hardware store, John Geiger's harness shop, Babcock's new warehouse, Martin Dolde's carpenter shop and H. C. Challis's blacksmith shop, were blown off. The dwellings Mrs. Hull and John Sheets were scattered to the winds, and dwellings of Charles Barker and Charles Knight were blown from their foundations and turned around. Barns all over the village were demolished.

ODELL. - On Wednesday, May 12, 1886, at 3:45 in the afternoon, Odell was struck by a terrific hurricane which demolished business houses, dwellings, unroofed half of the principal business block, laid waste fences, trees, sidewalks, and spread general havoc in its track. For several hours a heavy black cloud had hung in the west and later two clouds rose from the east and northeast, and these and the dark cloud seemed to be attracted to each other, and meeting, developed into the tempest which bore eastward toward the town, demolishing Hoke's livery stable; crumbling into a mass of debris the hardware store of Samuel Cole, burying six persons in the ruins, and injuring two children; hurling the old mill off its foundation, demolishing into fragments the hay sheds and hay press adjacent; unroofing the Eastern Hotel and half of the buildings in that block, as well as blowing in the end of the Angell brick building; unroofing the Alton elevator and Vincent's two warehouses; the old school house was completely demolished; the Congregational church was moved from its base; one corner of Matthiessen's brick building was blown off; Frank McGinley's cottage was taken from its foundation and set bottom side up; Kelman's photograph car was blown into splin ters; Buchanan's carpenter shop was destroyed; the barns of Jobn McWilliams, Jeremiah Clay, Frank Finefield, R. R. Puffer, E. Vaughan, Capt. Salters, Hial Hamlin, James A. Hunter, were demolished. Lottie Zwiefel, a girl aged six years, was caught by the wind and hurled onto the railroad track, inflicting fatal injuries from which she died the following morning. The loss to buildings and damage to stock of goods by the rain, was estimated at $50,000. N

FAIRBURY. - On Monday June 25, 1877, a destructive wind and rain storm passed over Fairbury, entailing a loss of $25,000. The storm struck the city at 11:30. It came from the southwest and traveled in a northeasterly direction. The west coal shaft building was blown to pieces, but the main part of the building, tip- ple, and machinery were left intact; Walton's grain storehouse was turned over onto the T. P. & W. railroad tracks; and Free Will Baptist church was shattered, the outer course of brick having been torn out nearly the entire length of the building; the regular Baptist church had the west end of the north side of the roof blown away, the interior of the building being damaged by the downpour of rain; the amphitbeater at the fair grounds was shoved from its moorings about sixteen feet at one end, and eight feet at the other; Isaac Kerr's paint shop was totally demolished; Michael McDonald's house, in the east part of the city, was lifted six feet away from its foundation; the Methodist parsonage was lifted from its foundation pegs and set over east about five feet, breaking the floor and otherwise rendering the house untenable. The most terrible wreck of all was the Methodist church building, a two-story brick structure, which had been dedicated on Sunday, December 81, previous. The wind seemed to lift the whole upper story bodily from the lower portion of the in every direction. The main part of the roof fell on the two lots east of the church, a portion of the falling timbers striking the dwelling house of A. R. Carmen, demolishing a part of the kitchen. The south gable of the church building was left standing, as was also a portion of the lower story of the west wall, upon the inside of which was seen the motto, "In God We Trust." The walls were afterward torn down. In a number of instance, trees two feet in diameter were torn out by the roots and caried some distance away. The Methodist church congregation held services in McDowell's hall until January 20, 1878, when their new church was dedicated.

Amiry TOWNSHIP. - A destructive storm passed through Amity Township on the afternoon of June 20, 1870. The cyclone formed: three miles southwest of Cornell, and taking a northwest course carried almost everything before it. The first house in its path was Joseph Long's. It was slightly damaged, but his barn was destroyed. Ira Cook's house, occupied by Samuel Plymier, was totally demolished. Plymier was in the house at the time, but only received slight injuries. William Van Camp's barn was torn into shreds. It then crossed Vermilion river and tore large trees up by the roots and piled them in every shape imaginable. William Sutcliffe's house was moved ten feet. David Pond's kitchen was torn to pieces. Ezra Parker's kitchen was carried thirty feet and the east half of the roof was torn away. Richard Connor's house, barn, shed and every building was swept from the place. Mr. Connor and wife were both badly injured. The school house near Mr. Connor's place was torn to pieces. School was in session at the time, and the teacher, Miss Nettie Myers, got the children around her by the door, and a little son of Douglas Morrison was the only scholar injured, C. C. Leonard's house was partially wrecked, and one horse killed in his barn.