Monday, April 19, 2010

Tornado in Ringgold County

INGART GROVE, RINGGOLD CO., IOWA,
April 18, 1862.

C. DUNHAM – Dear Sir: On the 15th inst. there was one of the greatest tornadoes passed through this part of the country, ever known to the Oldest Settlers. It commenced by hailing. Hail stones, fell thick and fast, as large as a hens eggs; then came the storm from the south west, accompanied with heavy thunder and vivid lightning. The storm spread over a strip of country about two miles wide. The damage done was considerable. It dashed to pieces a two story frame house belonging to Amos Butler. – Mr. B. with his family were all in the house, and what is remarkable, none were seriously hurt, notwithstanding the house was all in fragments. There was also a log house belonging to Mr. Wm. Arnett was all smashed in the general ruin, the family were all in the house, Mr. and Mrs. A. considerably hurt. A building being repaired up for the Post Office at this place, was all torn to smash, but no loss to the office. Almost all the houses in the country was uncovered, every fence blown down, and some places in Ingart Grove, half the largest timber is blown or twisted down. Such was the fury of the storm, the first we have had in this part of the country. God grant that it may be the last.

M. S. TRULLINGER.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 3, 1862, p. 1

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