Independence, Iowa Tornado
1873
THE TORNADO OF 1873
“Disasters come not singly,” is an adage too
frequently proven to allow of any argument, as
the inhabitants of Independence thought when
just two weeks after the big fire of 1873 a
terrible storm to the magnitude of a hurricane
visited the city and did much damage to
property.
The track of the storm extended but four or
five miles on either side of Independence—Jesup
and Winthrop being outside its destructive
force. Many residences and store buildings, some
of them just completed, and some in process of
erection, after the fire, were completely
destroyed; the Methodist Episcopal Church
suffered considerable damage and its spire was
totally wrecked. Window panes were shattered and
chimney tops blown off all over town. But out of
town the effects of the wind were more serious
and several people suffered injury. East of town
the Bethel Church was moved off its foundation
and numerous houses and fine large barns were
totally wrecked. Mr.
Boone was injured, but not seriously,
by his house being blown off its foundation. The
house of L. J. Whitney,
about five miles southwest of Independence, was
torn to pieces and the whole family of five were
carried several rods away and all were severely
though not fatally injured. In Cono Township the
new residence of Daniel
Matthais was completely demolished
and some of the family severely hurt. At
Quasqueton several houses and stores were
destroyed and at Rowley it was especially
severe—the Evans
House was blown down and
Mr. and Mrs. Evans
and a man stopping in the house were badly hurt.
The Methodist Episcopal Church was completely
destroyed and one of the elevators unroofed.
Miles of fences all over the county were torn to
pieces and the damage to property reached a high
figure.
History of
Buchanan County, Iowa, and its people, 1914,
pages 320-321
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