Woodford County, Illinois - Chapter 13, 1910

WOODFORD county has been comparatively free from serious storms and epidemics, yet there have been epidemics in its history that wrought havoc among the people and there have been storms that have carried destruction with them. In 1849 the cholera broke out and claimed numerous victims. All the horrors of the great plague were upon the pioneers. The agony of the sufferer, the isolation he had to endure, and the gloom of the silent burial by night were all present . In 1852 a second outbreak of the dread disease occurred. Among those taken from the prominent ranks of settlers was Ben. Major, founder of Eureka College. The loss of life was more serious than in the previous epidemics.

Storms. As has been observed the early settlers endured much from severe winters and great storms. The winter of 1830- '31 will always be remembered in history as the year of the great snoAV, causing widespread suffering, but the winter of 1836-7 witnessed a storm that wrought even greater destruction to stock and caused at least two deaths in the county. It was in mid-winter and the weather had been unusually mild. Suddenly it turned bitterly cold. Stock that was any distance from shelter was frozen before it could be reached. A Mr. Butler and his daughter in Partridge township were caught by the storm and before they could reach a place of safety both had been frozen to death. Their bodies were not found for several days and then they were frozen so stiff as to render it necessary that they be put in large boxes for burial when the weather would permit. Wind storms have also wrought havoc in the county at various times. It has been visited by several storms that have swept everything before them, and have left paths of ruin behind them. Fortunately the territory covered by these has been limited, yet they have left a record of destruction that is heart rending.

The first great storm occurred in 1858. It occurred May 13th, toward evening. It had been threatening during the day, but toward night a heavy wind began blowing from the west. It lulled a few minutes and the worst of the storm seemed passed, when the wind suddenly shifted to the north and blew a hurricane. It was not a tornado but a strong wind blowing with unexampled fury. It was widespread in its destruction and all parts of the county suffered from its ravages. Trees were uprooted or broken off; barns were destroyed; houses moved from their foundations or destroyed, and stock was injured. It is impossible that any adequate account of the actual damage can ever be given, so broadcast was its destruction.

Near Eureka the house of Jacob Felter was destroyed. The building was not entirely finished, and was probably not as strong as it otherwise would have been, yet it was near enough completion to enable the family to live comfortably in it. Mr. Felter had gone out during the lull to look after his stock, and the side of the house fell on him. His feet extended from under the wall and his wife tried to raise it from his body, but was unable to do so. When it was raised from him he was dead. Another death occurred as a result of the storm, Mrs. Otto, residing near Secor, being killed by it. In Clayton township Mrs. Susanna Tallyn had a thrilling experience, and a narrow escape from death. She still remembers with horror that terrible night with its dangers. Her husband was outside looking after the stock when the storm came up. They were also living in a house that was not completed, yet it was regarded perfectly safe. The storm destroyed the house and caught Mrs. Tallyn between the wall and the stove in such a manner that it was necessary to cut her clothing away before she could be removed. She and three small children were in the house together when the storm came, but as if by a miracle none of them were seriously injured. Mr. Tallyn, who was on the outside, was injured by having one of the out buildings fall on him. William AVorthington, who lived near Mr. Tallyn 's also suffered damage from this storm, while the house of Dolphus Forney was one of the many blown from its foundation. The night following the storm was one of fear and dread. It continued, tho less fiercely, during the night, and with the morning came a full revelation of the havoc it had wrought

The second great storm occurred October 19th, 1875. This time it was a fierce tornado, which crossed Roanoke and Clayton townships, doing vast injury to property and causing consternation among the people. This storm was first seen in the vicinity of Washington, and had the appearance of a great revolving mass of clouds in the air. There were abundant evidences of impending danger should it come to the ground. It did not come down, however, until it reached Woodford county, in the neighborhood of Roanoke township. It struck the Bingham school house and dashed it to pieces. School had just been dismissed and but for the foresight of the teacher, who just succeeded in getting the children outside the path of the storm, some of them would undoubtedly have been killed. It destroyed the house of E. E. Bingham, the family escaping by going to the cellar. At Thomas Marshall's, part of the house was destroyed, and a great stone in front of it was moved several feet. The storm took its course toward A. C. Bullington's house. Here the building was dashed to pieces, and Mr. Bullington and children saved themselves by clinging to the hedge. The Jeter school was next in its course and was broken into a thousand pieces. A part of the blackboard is said to have been found in Minonk township. C. H. Waldron's house was destroyed as was also Gideon Jeter's barn. Mrs. Charlotte Stimpert's house was destroyed. All the family but Philip succeeded in getting into the cellar. He was carried some distance with the house, but was finally dropped without serious injury. Mr. Stimpert still has a vivid recollection of the storm and its results. He remembers that they had four wagons, two of which were new, and the storm took the spokes out of every wheel but one. The front part of one wagon was carried a half mile. The house of Mrs. Mary de Freise was destroyed, and she was injured. George Leonard's house suffered the common fate, as did also Mr. Snyder's home. He was the only one killed in the county as a result of the storm. The barn and trees about Henry Memmen's place were blown down, and Wait Uphoff's house was completely destroyed.

The storm was not wide, the main track of it being little over a hundred feet in width. Corn, which was just ready for husking was blown to the ground, and husking was done with great difficulty. There were numerous freaks of the wind in its wild flight across the prairies. At George Leonard's the baby was picked up and left on a straw stack, practically uninjured but with its clothing torn from its body. Posts were drawn from the ground and carried a distance and dropped with their pointed ends downward with such force as to drive them into the ground as solidly as if they had been set there by the hand of man. A stove in which there was fire was picked up and set on a straw stack, setting it on fire. A molasses bucket was picked up at the home of Thomas Marshall and carried to Samuel Bally 's a mile away and the lid still remained on the bucket. Several horses were killed by having rails driven thru their bodies. A quilt from A. C. Bullington's was picked up near Minonk.

In Juno, 1899, a tornado passed over a pari of the county doing considerable damage. It came to the ground this side of Deer ('reek and moved in a northeasterly direction. It appeared to move up and down, striking one place and skipping the next. Southeasl of Eureka it wrought havoc in the midst of the timbers. Great trees were uprooted in large numbers, and there were many signs of the storm's terrible, work. The home of Robert Barrett was dashed to pieces. The occupants were absent at the time and suffered no injury. A number of other places were damaged, all ho no other house was destroyed.