History of Dane County, Wisconsin, Part 97

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899; Western Historical Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Company
Number of Pages: 1304


USA > Wisconsin > Dane County > History of Dane County, Wisconsin > Part 97


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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Seventeenth Infantry-Company unknown- - Ras- mussen.


Twenty-third Infantry-Co. A-Augustus Wells, Alsx- ander Atkinson, Enoch Atkinson, William Atkinson, Charles S. Carr, Evan Larson Bore, O. G. Knapp, Peter C. Jacobson, Carl Jacobson, Bendix Nelson. Co. D- Henry Thompson, William McConnell, Edward Hubbard, Torgus Johnson, William Lemanson, Ole J. Moen, Ole O. Bakke, William Sanderson, N: A. Harland, A. G. Broum, Jacob Olson, Amm Knudson Juve, Jared M. Ful- ler, William Crooks. Guppy Guards-J. Anderson.


Twenty-seventh Infantry-Co. H-Christian Lemonson, Henry Goodwong, Andrew Olson.


Infantry unknown-Company unknown-John Alakson, Peter Hillstad, John Amdall, Wood Culmer, Peter Millsr, John Thompson.


TOWN OF PRIMROSE.


Secand Infantry-Co. H-Henry A. Smith, James Smith, William E. Moon. Company unknown-Law- rence Post, Charles Crown.


Fifth Infantry-Co. I-George W. Chandler, George Thomas, Andrew P. Baerstead.


Eighth Infantry-Co. E-Henry Ash, John Bell. Co. H-Nels Olson.


Fifteenth Infantry- Co. B-Knud Johnson, Peter Peter- son. Co. E-Gunder Jacobson, Engebert Johanneson, Peter W. Chintland, Farbaren Erickson, John M. John- son (1st Asst. Surg., killed Sept. 20, 1863), Christian Erickson, John Peter. Co. G-Ole Colby, Elias Chris- topherson, Henry Hendrickson, Ole O. Nelson. Co. H- Gunner Severson. Co. 1-Knud K. Landra, Ingebert Olson Thomas Toleson.


Twenty-seventh Infantry-Company unknown-E. S. Holland, John Nelson, Knut Aslackson, T. O. Gordon, Sun- der Stevenson, Nils O. Sperson, Sam Oleson, T. C. Chand- ler, Narry N. Berge, John Williamson, Ole Nelson, Knud Oscarson, Talef Olson, Erick Colby.


Thirty-third Infantry-Company unknown-Edwin S. Ketchum, Columbus Hatch, Peter Bell, Lewis Jain.


TOWN OF ROXBURY.


Secand Infantry-Co. K-George Tinker, Joseph Gark- ham, Carl Loeger, Ernst Schuchert, John Schweppe, Bernhard Gmeinder, John Tmbern. Company unknown -Abe Seymour, Richard Smith, Ernest Schudy.


Ninth Infantry-Co. D-John Neordous Friechten,


Eleventh Infantry-Co. A-John Berg, Johan Krauten- berger. Company unknown-Medankithan Buggs, John Twitchet, Alfred Kemmel, J. W. Kemmel.


Fourteenth Infantry-Co. K-Heman Tifner.


645


HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY. .


Twenty-third Infantry-Co. E-George Flanders, Will- iam Wheeler. Co. K-Richard Smith, Martin Delami, William Squarea, Edmund Huddart, Willis Foester, James M. Dekoven, Pzeliz Byone, John Nichole, William H. Little, John Loder.


Twenty-ninth Infantry-Co. G-Virgil Steerm, Hubert Schachts.


First Cavalry-Co. F -- Hubert Frechten, Henry Greiber. Sixth Battery-Allen Sanderson, Holland C. Dunning.


TOWN OF RUTLAND.


Second Infantry-Co. D-George Seymour, John Bell, Alvin Eager, Winchel Beebee.


Third Infantry-Company unknown-Lewis Shason.


Fourth Infantry-Company unknown- - - Yaden. Fifth Infantry-Company unknown-George Dutton.


Seventh Infantry-Co. D-George Shampor (1st Lieut. July 1, 1865), Januat Best, Oscar Tipple, Henry Marsh, Elijah Marsh, Daniel Sherman, William Sherman, Henry Amea, Rolin Thompson, Frank Nohles, Andrew Bean, Marvin Haines, David Marble, John Hunt, Lewis Isham, Frederick laham, Henry Emery, America Johnson, Hiram Done, Richard Crain. Company unknown-Abner Gun- salos, E. W. Jones, E. F. Morgan, Gerome Gordon, Bur- nace Richardson.


Eighth Infantry-Company unknown-Alfred Sarl, Alonzo Morley, Muro Johnson.


Eleventh Infantry-Company I-Charles Linsley, Will- iam Lockwood, James Brown, Nelson Done.


Sixteenth Infantry-Company unknown-Eavace Pal- mer.


Seventeenth Infantry-Co. D-Daniel Scanlin.


Twentieth Infantry-Company unknown -Levi Doty.


Twenty-third Infantry-Co. E-James E. Thompson, Silas Thompson, E. W. Patterson, Nathaniel Laurence, Joshua Hill, Harrison Thompson, George Seymour, John O. Harup. Company unknown-John Wells.


Infantry unknown-Company unknown-William Rut- land (regular army), Alfred E. Isham, Benjamin B. Crary, Frank Parker, Albert Jones, Harrison Dyean, Edward Barnard, Watson Barber, Andrew Wheeler, James Cumminga.


Third Cavalry-Lysanus Rose.


Sharpshooters-Alexander Merick.


TOWN OF SPRINDALE.


Second Infantry-Co. H-Henry Smith, William W. Miner.


Third Infantry-Co. K-Henry Bolon Pa. Hegg, John Christopherson, John T. Glensdale, O. C. E. D. Kehl. Fifth Infantry-Co. A-Abraham Riley.


Eighth Infantry-Co. E-Charles Hebbe, John G. Hebbs, Samuel Mills. Company unknown-Edward Spaers.


Eleventh Infantry-Co. E-John Ohle.


Fifteenth Infantry-Co. B-Solfest Goodrich. Co. D- Frederick Hamon, Halvor Lee, Ole Lee, Halver Johnson, Hans Kamber, Frederick Kamher, Ame Ameson, Ole Olesoo, Andrew Amonson. Company unknown-John S. Skjalda, Erick Erickson Hongsme.


Seventeenth Infantry-Co. F-Tom Christerforson.


Nineteenth Infantry-Company unknown -- Wm. Murphy.


Twenty-third Infantry-Co. E-David Jones, Alonzo Fog, Roland B. Alman, J. Monroe Bolch, Septimus Ire- land.


Infantry unknown-Company unknown-Wm. Gordon.


TOWN OF SPRINGFIELD.


Twenty-third Infantry-Co. I -- Edwin A. Brush, Anthony Quest, James Henderson, St. Clair Jones, Robert Bon- ner, David Young, Harry Mears, Robert H. Ford, Rob- ert E. Ford, James E. Cameron, William Johnson.


Twenty-ninth Infantry-Co. G-Thomas Wooldridge, John Warringer, Andrew Fomberg, John Sebrack, Pat- rick O'Brien, Victor Zimmerman, Peter Shoefhonser, John Wattie, Christian Meaden.


TOWN OF SUN PRAIRIE.


Second Infantry-Co. H-R. K. Beecham, Elbridge Packard, Charles Wheelan, H. C. Austin. Company un- known- --- Conner.


Third Infantry-Company unknown-James Sheldon. Seventh Infantry-Co. B-Henry Beecham, Julius Lewis.


Tenth Infantry-Company unknown-James Buel, John Cory (2d Lieut. Jan. 25, 1862).


Eleventh Infantry-Co. B-Henry Allen. Co. F-John Moss. Co. G-John Peaslee, John Moon, William Hay- den, Edward Gillson, Edward Spracher, Isaac Moon, Eleazer Moore, Capt. Wilbur F. Pelton. Company un- known-Louis Thompson.


Twelfth Infantry-Co. F-Elijah A. Wood ward, Surg. Sixteenth Infantry-Company unknown-Michael Ken- nedy.


Twentieth Infantry-Co. B-John B. Bennett, Frederick A. Bird (2d Lieut. Aug. 11, 1862), Emery F. Stone (Ist Lieut. Aug. 11, 1862), C. B. Fowler, Edwin Hayden, J. B. Bennett, Henry Pine, Benjamin Ayres, Horace Warner, Edwin Angell.


Twenty-third Infantry-Co. A-James Swanton, Jerold Phaer, August Hurley, Charles E. Spraker, Jacob Miller, Prescott B. Burnell, John W. Finch. Company unknown -John Coughlin, Richard Brocht.


Twenty-fourth Infantry-Company unknown-E. C. Arnold.


Twenty-ninth Infantry-Co. G-John E. Skinner, Hugh Berkley, William E. Morehouse, Martin Perrington.


Infantry unknown-Company unknown-John Bradley, Lewis Woolson, Walter Dean. Regular army-Charles Banks, Isaac Huyck.


First Cavalry-E. M. Haskell.


Second Cavalry-Patrick De Lantry.


TOWN OF VERMONT.


Third Infantry-Company unknown-Andrew Torg- minton.


Eleventh Infantry-Co. A-Henry Blake. Co. B- Patrick Thompson. Company unknown-John W. Smith, Andrew Everson, Thomas Everson.


Twelfth Infantry-Co. C-Thomas Wilson, Cyrus Or- cutt, William Harmony, Noah Harmony, Joseph Conrad Rosbach, Con Hart.


Thirteenth Infantry-Co. G-Flanlgminson Migri.


Fourteenth Infantry - Company unknown- Thomas Farmer.


Fifteenth Infantry-Co. B-Erland Olson Bragen, Knud Olson Bragen, Torgen Nickelson, Ole Nickelson, Ole Ol- son Moen, Tideman Olson, John Shakson, Anders John- stin Ulnes, Og Johnston.


Seventeenth Infantry-Co. B-Frederick Dagenhart. Third Cavalry-J. H. Scott.


Regiment unknown-John Latimore, Ole Olson, Ole Edinson, Ame Harroldson, Ole Peterson, Andrew Gil-


646


HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.


bertson, Michael Ironton, Louis Mickkleson, Ole Oleson, Gilbert Gilbertson, Hans Hanson, Syver Frickson, John Hermanson, Gilbert Albertson, James Coulland.


TOWN OF VERONA.


First Infantry-Company unknown-Edward Hawse.


Eighth Infantry-Co. E-Jacob Lefler (2d Lieut. Aug. 4, 1862), Leonard Flick. Company unknown-Seth Hastings, James D. Hastings, Edward Cassody, Monroe Silver.


Ninth Infantry-Company unknown-John Miller.


Eleventh Infantry-Co. B -- William Carleton (2d Lieut., promoted to Ist Lieut.), Daniel Cook Henry Smith, Rob- ert Henry (2d Lieut. July 29, 1864). Co. F-Roswell M. Clark. Suman Hawse, Calvin B. Flick, Antimous A. Rowley, Henry Donkle, Jacob Lipps, William Drusbach, Charles Thomas. Company unknown-Ambrose J. Close.


Sixteenth Infantry-Co. D-James Cook, Alvan Cook, Frederick Casebeer, Hugh Loomeson.


Twenty-third Infantry-Co. A-William Carey, Dewin- ter Moore, Philo D. Ferris, David Vroman, George Pierce, Edward Snyder, James Trotter. Co. E-Sylvester Wheel- er. Co. I-William G. L. Matts, Jesse Myers, Philip W. Wolf, William J. Keller, Josiah Nye, Reuben Nye, Jacob Schroeder, Elias S. Shuman, Joseph T. Shuman, Simeon Hughart, William Thomas. Company unknown -Roderick Park.


Infantry unknown-Company unknown-William Turk, Charles Turk.


Third Battery-John Moore, John Pledger.


Second Cavalry-John Casebeer.


G. U. S. Sharpshooters-Charles D. Moore.


TOWN OF VIENNA.


Second Infantry-Co. A-John Blundele, Lemuel Alen, Joseph Plackett. Company unknown-Joseph Sharp.


Eleventh Infantry-Co. B-Henry Plackett, William Rice. Company unknown-Clayton R. Gardner, Rich- ard Munsson, M. V. Moon, James Clark, Henry Blake, Sylvester Eastman.


Twelfth Infantry-Company unknown- - Gilleshy, Hosea Rood.


Sixteenth Infantry-Co. D-Orvid W. Turner. Co. K -John M. Turner.


Seventeenth Infantry -- Company unknown - William Blundle, Jacob Becker.


Twenty-third Infantry-Co. I-William Crow, Charles Johnson, Richard Alkins, Henry Hess.


Infantry unknown-Company unknown-Edward Plack- ett, William Plackett, John Long, Erwin Ross, Daniel C. Stanley (2d Lient.), Daniel Titus.


First Cavalry-Co. G-Ole Johnson.


TOWN OF WESTPORT.


Second Infantry-Co. H-H. M. Everett Albert Weth- erby.


Third Infantry-Co. K-Frank Johnson, Isaac John- son.


Eleventh Infantry-Co. A-Milo Cody. Co. E-Patrick Ruddy. Co. F-Pierce Butler, John Butler, Patrick Dolan, Robert Malone, Henry Armstrong. Co. G- Charles Jacobs, James Malory, Charles Well's.


Seventeenth Infantry-Company unknown-Jas. Flinn. Twenty-third Infantry-Capt. Joseph E. Green. Co. D-William Bird, William Jones.


Twenty-ninth Infantry-Co. G-Thomas L. Topliss, Alba M. Kent (2d Lieut. Sept. 3, 1862), James J. Donavan, Frank H. Everett, Jacob Ritterbuch, John Adax, Charles G. Fisk, Ham Mortenson, George S. Marks, Alfred A. Mathews, William L. Bailey, M. P. Wheeler, A. D. Wood- man, William Bacon, Robert Rowley, Geral Phair, Z. R. Broucleton, Thomas Clarkson.


First Cavalry-Co. G-Brasier R. Ellis, Aaron Miller, Patrick Moran.


Second Cavalry-Co. F-John Murphy. Company un- known-Thomas O'Brien.


Third Cavalry-Co. L-Patrick Kelly, William Jones, Thomas Butler (2d Lieut. April 18, 1865), U. B. Mer- win, George Merwin, John Ganan, John Delana.


Third Battery-Alfred L. Brink, William Plackett, Sylvester Palmer, Daniel Bacon, Solomon Bacon, Nathan Best.


Twelfth Battery-Stephen G. Lampman, Andrew Stam- brook, Uriah Wilson, W. H. Hamilton, Alva P. Hamilton, Stephen H. Hamilton, Philander Cody (2d Lieut. Nov. 5, 1864), Sylvester Barto, John F. George.


Sixteenth Regulars-William Fireman.


TOWN OF WINDSOR.


Second Infantry-Co. B-Charles Washburn, George Washburn, John Van Cott, Cyrus Van Cott. Co. D- David Palmer, William Bartholomew. Co. H-Whitfield Stone, Samuel Everett Wilson, Charles Palmer, John Van Hosen, H. Chilcote, Timothy Stancliff.


Third Infantry-Co. K-Andrew Towlle, Gabriel Kahs, Knudt Monson.


Eighth Infantry-Co. H-William Craven.


Tenth Infantry-Co. H-R. H. Spencer.


Eleventh Infantry-Co. B-Benjamin Niles. Co. H- Samuel Alma.


Fifteenth Infantry-Co. B-Angel Johuson, John Starksen, Jens Oleson Moe, Amphin Shuresen Asprin, Andrew Oleson Asprin. Co. F-Knudt Iverson. Co. H-Sam Samson. Co. I-Nels Starksen.


Seventeenth Infantry-Co. - Alfred Goorich.


Eighteenth. Infantry -Company unknown - Moulton De Forest (1st Lieut. Aug. 27, 1863).


Nineteenth Infantry-Co. D-John Halloran, Orlando Gilson.


Twentieth Infantry-Co. B-Charles Fowler, Nathaniel Standish, Alfred Chilcote.


Thirty-third Infantry -Company unknown - Abram Bartholomew, Charles Morse, John Fitz-Gibbons, Chester C. Porter, William H. Goodrich, Adam Smith, Elisha Sutton, W. H. H. Van Wil, Anson D. Goodrich (1st Lieut. Feb. 11, 1865), John C. Emery.


First Cavalry-Co. G-George Cole, Elisha Lake, Mel- vin R. Combs, James Estler, Virgil Henwood, James Haddock, William Lawrence, Clinton Reynolds, Thomas Kelley, William Sandon, Frederick A. Sawyer, Andrew Adams, Darius Reynolds, Robert Damp.


Second Cavalry-Co. F-Newton De Forest.


Berdan's Sharpshooters-John T. Vincent.


TOWN OF YORK.


Seventh Infantry-Co. B-Edmund M. Weeks, William R. Ingalls, Charles E. Weeks, Theron Helm, Oscar Hul- bert., Joseph Thomas.


Eleventh Infantry-Co. C-George W. Bashford, Joseph Winslow, John Rawson, Ira A. Wood, George Wilcox,


647


HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.


Edmund Wilcox, Francis Lexman, Warren Ranney, An- drew Trapp, Melgar Roth, Philander Wilbur, Ephraim Fuller, Frederic Hackbert, John Ellbright, T. A. Sher- man, Hugh Kelly, Friend Coleman, Martin Thompson, John Grover.


Sixteenth Infantry-Co. B -- Charles M. Fedderly, Daniel B. Nelson. Co D-Chester Haskins.


Eighteenth Infantry-Company unknown-Charles Mc- Lavy.


Twentieth Infantry-Company unknown-M. Simpkins.


Twenty-ninth Infantry-Co. A-John Bridges, W. L. Dutton, J. Fridal, E. O. Robbins. L. E. Robbins, M. S. Smith, Albert N. Thompson, C. A. Thayer, L. W. Ben- nett, Philetus Johnson, C. B. Andrews, N. H. Carter, George Weeks (Capt. June 27, 1864), Mortica S. Smith, Henry Alvord, Noah C. Wiseman, M. V. B. Wiseman, William Lowe, Elan Cripps, James O. Higgins, William H. Higgins.


THE TORNADO OF MAY 23, 1878 .*


The storm which swept over Central Iowa, Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin, during the afternoon of May 23, 1878, was accompanied, in Wisconsin, by a tornado, which for extent and violence, surpassed any storm before recorded in the history of the State. The tornado struck the ground for the first time on the farm of Jefferson Rewey, near the south line of the southwest quarter of the northwest quarter of Section 8, in the town of Mifflin, Iowa Co., Wis., carrying destruction and death in its track. Its course was northeasterly, sweeping along the north side of Mineral Point, the county seat of Iowa County ; thence in the same general direction, until it entered Dane County, with its southern border on the quarter-line between the north and south halves of Section 18, Town of Perry (Township 5 north, Range 6 east). On the southwest quarter of this section, L. Olson's barn was destroyed, and his house slightly moved on the foundation. One mile farther east, the log house of H. Hoibg was totally swept away. Mr. Hoibg, his wife and a large family of children were in the house at the time, and none of. them were hurt. A short distance northeast of Hoibg's, Mrs. M. Daly and her daughter lived in a small log house. When the storm struck the house, Mrs. Daly told her daughter to hold the door closed. She endeavored to do so, and immediately she found herself lying upon the ground about twenty feet east of the house, the door with its casings attached lying upon her. Of what occurred between the time of her taking hold of the door, and that of finding herself in the position above described, she has no definite knowledge. When the storm had passed, she was standing outside of the east wall of the house, which was then but two logs high, but could not tell how she got there. She was uninjured, although the logs had fallen all about her.


The parsonage of the Norwegian Lutheran Church of Perry, in the southeast corner of the northwest quarter of Section 18, was occupied by Mr. Jacobson. When the storm struck the house, Mr. and Mrs. Jacobson, and Charles Anderson were in a wood-house attached to the north side of the main building. This wood-house was torn to pieces, and the debris, with the three persons in it, carried south of west about ten rods. Anderson was killed, Mr. Jacobson severely, and Mrs. Jacobson slightly, injured. About one-third of the east side of the roof of the house was carried away. The barn, a few rods to the northeast, was torn to pieces, the fragments being carried southwest.


A few rods west of the center of the northwest quarter of Section 17, stands a large stone church. The roof of this building slopes north and south. The windows upon the sides were broken inward. The ceiling, which was of wood, was lifted several feet toward the roof, and the west end of the north side of the roof was raised off the walls. The walls of the building were also injured to some extent. This church and the parsonage were near the north border of the storm.


About thirty rods east of south from the church, the stone house of G. Jenswald was un- roofed and partially torn down. The debris was carried to the northeast, and the walls of the north end were injured much more than the south. A girl, twelve years old, was buried in the falling stones nearly to her shoulders, yet was scarcely hurt. One-fourth of a mile east of the church, a house, occupied by Dr. McFarland, was destroyed. The house seems to have been moved bodily to the southwest about fifty feet and then torn to pieces. A portion of the frag-


*Arranged from an excellent report by Prof. W. W. Danielle, of the University of Wisconsin, on " The Wisconsin Tornadoes of May 23, 1878.“


648


HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.


ments were carried thirty-five rods farther southwest. Dr. McFarland, Andrew Olson and two other men were in the house at the time. Olson was killed ; his body was thrown about twenty rods nearly west of where the house stood. Dr. McFarland was slightly injured. B. Chris- tianson was carried several rods southwest, but not seriously injured. The fourth man was unhurt. Three-fourths of a mile farther east the north limit of the storm crossed the point where Sections 8, 9, 16 and 17 join, and from this point its course was due east for three and one-half miles.


The house and outbuildings of T. Bower, forty rods south of the northwest corner of Section 16, were next destroyed. These buildings were near the center of the storm's track, and were situated upon the east side and about twenty feet above a north-and-south valley, and at the mouth of a more shallow valley entering from the east. As the wind struck the house, it took it bodily from the foundation and immediately tore it to fragments, which were mostly carried up the valley directly east. Mrs. Bower and daughter were in the house at the time. Mrs. Bower was carried about 100 feet and thrown upon a large pile of stove wood, while the daughter was carried but a few feet, thrown upon the ground, where a portion of one side of the house, clap- boards, studding and plastering, all intact, fell upon her. With the exception of a few bruises, neither was hurt. Great damage was done to standing timber, across Section 16, the larger and more valuable trees being nearly all broken off, torn up by the roots, or so badly twisted as to kill them.


Sixty rods south of the northwest corner of Section 15, the barn of A. Gobel was blown over to the northeast. This barn was a large, new and very strong one. The ruins looked as if the building had been destroyed by an irresistible crushing force moving from the south west downward, and were but partially carried from the foundation. The tops of several haystacks, partially protected by standing timber, were here blown off to the north. Mr. Gobel's house, ten rods farther south, was untouched, it being without the limits of the storm. For a mile and a fourth east, the storm passed over timber again, coming out upon high rolling prairie upon Section 14. Sixty rods south of the center of the north line of this section, a small house, occu- pied by L. H. Lewis, was blown away. Mrs. Lewis was seriously injured. Near the northeast corner of the same section, an unoccupied house was destroyed. One-half mile farther east, the storm bent very slightly to the north, its course from this point being north 85° east.


In the northeast corner of Section 13, the barn and house of L. Bowar were unroofed, several rafters and flying boards from the barn passing through the walls of the house, which was southeast of the barn, the direction in which the debris was mostly thrown.


West of the barn is a valley running north and south, about fifty feet deep and one hundred yards wide. Near the west side of this valley, quite close to the bank, was a blacksmith-shop. . The side of the valley west of the shop is covered with a thick growth of timber about forty feet in height, extending westward from the shop about twelve rods, entirely up on to the high land. The roof of this blacksmith-shop was lifted bodily, carried westward over these trees and dropped upon the high prairie twenty rods westward from its starting-point. It could have been carried to this point only by being raised nearly perpendicularly to the height of about one hun- dred feet before being carried westward, or by being carried north and upward more gradually, then westward when above the trees, and back to the southward again, thus describing in its course the arc of a circle. The shop stood about six rods south of the north limit of the torna- do's path, which here was sixty-five rods wide.


The storm passed into the town of Primrose (Township 5 north, Range 7 east), on both sides of the line separating Sections 7 and 18. In the southwest corner of Section 18, the house and outbuildings of M. Obermbt were swept away. The house was torn to pieces and scattered to the south and southeast. Mr. Obermbt and seven children were in the house at the time, and were thrown into the yard with the flying fragments of the house. One boy, fifteen years of age, was carried about fifteen rods nearly south into a ravine. Although the ground was so thickly strewn with the ruins as to be literally covered for one hundred yards to the south and southeast, no one of these eight persons was seriously injured. The farm wagon before the storm stood six rods east of the house. After the storm it was in ruins twelve rods west of the


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( DECEASED ) STOUGHTON.


651


HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.


house. Fifty rods south of Obermbt's, where a granary was being built, a wagon loaded with lumber was broken to pieces. One wheel was carried one-fourth of a mile directly east, and another one and one-fourth miles in the same direction.


Nearly half a mile east of Obermbt's the house and outbuildings of J. Osmonson were destroyed. Mr. Osmonson, seeing that a severe storm was approaching, left the field where he was at work, that he might not get wet. Becoming somewhat alarmed at the roaring, the con- tinuous lightning and thunder, and the very threatening aspect of the sky, he waited at the stable only long enough to unharness one horse, hurried into the house and told his wife they must hasten to the cellar. A boy of fourteen years and a girl of eight got into the cellar, and Mrs. Osmonson, with an infant three months old, was partly down when the house was taken bodily. At this time, Mr. Osmonson, with a child in each hand, aged respectively four and six, stood at the cellar door waiting for the mother and her babe to get fully down. Besides these, there was in the house a girl twelve years old. This girl was found thirty yards distant north of east, senseless, nearly buried in mud, with two severe scalp wounds, and her right arm broken three times between the shoulder and elbow. About four rods north of the house was the border of a large field of second-growth oak and poplar timber, from twenty to forty feet in height. The house was carried over the timber, with Mr. Osmonson and the two children, whom he still held firmly in his grasp. While in the air over this timber the house "went to pieces," the larger portion of it falling sixteen rods directly north of its starting-point. One portion of the roof was twenty-five rods distant in a direction north thirty degrees west, and another portion sixty rods distant north twenty-five degrees east. The stove was mainly found seven rods directly north of the principal ruins of the house; some parts, however, were carried several rods farther in the same direction.


Mr. Osmonson and the two children fell about twenty feet north of the main ruins of the house. Mr. Osmonson had his face scratched and one rib broken in falling through the top of a tree. The children were entirely unhurt; the youngest one did not even cry. Large hail was falling at the time, and the children were laid under the ruins of the house while the father hastened to find the other members of the family. The children in the cellar were not hurt. Mrs. Osmonson was injured in the back, probably by something striking her as the house moved of. The stable in which the horses had been put was eight rods southwest of the house. One of the horses was blown into the cellar, and lay there upon his back when found, while the other was in the standing timber, twenty-two rods distant, north thirty-eight degrees east from the stable, with his hind feet resting upon the ground, while his fore feet were hanging upon a bent- over sapling. The position of the horse, and the thick growth of timber, rendered it impossible for him to get there only by being carried above the tops of the trees and dropped down. He was uninjured. An iron pump, with forty-six feet of zinc pipe, was taken from a well, and carried north fifteen degrees west, a distance of fifteen rods. A lumber wagon was broken entirely to pieces. One wheel and an axle were carried north sixty-five degrees east, seventy-five rods ; while the larger proportion of the remainder went northeast sixteen rods. One wheel was entirely broken to pieces, and the tire left hanging on a tree ten feet from the ground. This tire, one-half inch thick, one and a half inches wide, and very slightly worn, was broken twice in two, and bent in such a manner as to show that it had been acted upon by a force of great power.




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