Snips from the 1850s

 

1842 – freak weather

I found this doozy from the Rushville True Republican from July 15, 1842. The RTR copied it from the Franklin Democrat, which was published in Brookville. It appears a rather peculiar storm, possibly a tornado included, did some serious damage.

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Storm – A very destructive hail storm passed through this county on Sunday last, accompanied with wind and rain; we learn that great destruction of timber, fences, &c., was done, and that whole fields of corn, wheat and oats were entirely destroyed by the hail which fell in great quantities as large as hen's eggs, and in some places, we are told, they drifted up to the depth of three feet.

One gentleman from Springfield township, informs us that he had twenty acres of corn entirely destroyed, also his oats; of his wheat he will perhaps be able to save one third.

Mr. Glidewell, of Fairfield Twp., informs us that his entire crop, consisting of 160 acres, is destroyed so that he will not realize a single bushel of grain from it; his grass is also destroyed.

The farms clear through the county, as far as we can learn, N.W. To S.E., for the width of from one to two miles, has shared the same fate. So great a destruction of property has never been known in this section of country.

– Franklin Democrat, July 8.

Map of the Glidewell farm, 1855