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Charles Shepard 1886 – 1899

SHEPARD, SHEPPARD

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 9/24/2020 at 11:12:32

Source: Decorah Republican May 25, 1899 P 1 C 6

THE COLESBURG CYCLONE.
Four Persons Killed, Three Critically Injured, and Nine others Considerably hurt.
Last week just before going to press a telephone report came of a cyclone that passed along the county line between Clayton and Delaware counties. Full particulars came to hand only in Saturday’s papers. The storm came up Tuesday evening, about nine o’clock, and began about three miles north of Greeley station on the Calmar & Davenport line of the C., M. & St. P. railway. The Manchester Press report says the district passed over was a farming region 60 rods in width and covering a distance of ten miles. It traveled northeast, just missing the village of Colesburg. From the Press account we condense the following:
The first point to feel the effects of the cyclone was what is known as the old Kennedy place, occupied by the family of Mr. Bigelow. The house and out-buildings were entirely blown away and the members of the family more or less severely injured. Mrs. Bigelow had a wrist broken and was otherwise injured, and an infant which she had in her arms was found unharmed. Mr. Bigelow had a cyclone insurance to the amount of $400, and this is supposed to be the only insurance on any of the property destroyed.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Ed. Kreumpie was the next in the path of the tornado, and this was blown entirely away, both Mr. Kreumpie and his wife sustaining severe body bruises and other injuries. The Klaus school house not far distant was demolished and a barn on Fred Klaus' farm was unroofed and smaller out-buildings were badly damaged.
Opposite the Klaus farm is the Bush property, tenanted by William McKinney. At this point the wind got in some of its worst work, the family losing practically everything except the clothing on their backs and a couple of farm horses. The farm buildings were totally wrecked, eighty hogs killed and out of a flock of one hundred chickens, but four remain. Both Mr. McKinney and his wife had taken refuge in the cellar, and Mrs. McKinney received several severe cuts about the head from falling rock and timber.
The finest structure wrecked was occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Emanuel Ridenour and known as the Cole property, The house was a fine two story building, and was lifted from the foundation, the timber of which it was constructed being scattered for a half mile in every direction. The household had taken refuge in the cellar when the storm burst upon them, and Mr. Ridenour was caught by the wind and carried bodily from the cellar to an orchard between 200 and 300 feet distant. His sister, Emily Ridenour, and his wife, were partially buried by portions of the foundation. Upon the arrival of assistance they were extricated, when it was discovered that their condition was serious. Nothing remained on the place but a small portion of the stable, and nearly all the live stock was killed, with the exception of the horses.
In the roadway near the Ridenour farm a party of three men composed of Jerome Jacobs, George Lang and Chris. Mierson were driving home to Colesburg from Elkport. They had reached the Ridenour farm when the storm made itself apparent. All three alighted from the wagon, Mr. Mierson retaining his hold on the reins. What transpired after that moment will never be known. Mr. Mierson, the only survivor of the party, says that his next recollection is that he found himself in a field and in the intense darkness could not find a trace of his companions or the team. He concluded to start for town and while on the way was met by a relief party of several men. He accompanied them back to the field and with the aid of lanterns the bodies of Jacobs and Lang were found more than 200 feet from the road. Every bone in their bodies was broken and scarcely a vestige of clothing remained. The wagon was completely demolished and the horses were suffering so intensely that one of them was killed to relieve it from further misery.
A large brick residence belonging to P. D. Peck lay in the course of the storm and was unroofed, the gable end on the north torn out to the first floor and the east side of the building removed entire. The windmill and out- buildings did not escape the fury of the storm and were likewise ruined, as was also a fine orchard. No one was hurt here.
The last place visited by the storm and one from which the most serious consequences have resulted is that of Walter Sheppard. The house was torn to pieces and fragments of household goods and lumber scattered in every direction. Chas. Sheppard, the twelve-year-old son of Mr. Sheppard, was killed outright, and his father was so terribly bruised and injured that he died yesterday afternoon at about four o'clock. Mrs. Sheppard had several ribs broken and her condition is such that it is thought she cannot possibly survive. Two younger children are also in a precarious condition and the recovery of one is regarded as extremely improbable. Beyond the home of Walter Sheppard no trace of the storm has yet been reported and this is believed to be the extent of the damage, in this locality at least.

Transcriber’s Note: Find a Grave shows the name is spelled Shepard. Charles was born Nov. 30, 1886 and died May 16, 1899. Walter was born March 8, 1860 and died May 17, 1899. They are buried in Oak Hill Cemetery. It also shows another son Harley Shepard died May 20, 1899 and he was born June 19, 1895. It shows Mrs. Shepard survived.


 

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