Olmsted County, Minnesota Tornado Haverhill, Viola, Quincy

August 21, 1883

A most appalling calamity was the cyclone that struck the county, and especially the city of Rochester, Tuesday evening, August 21, 1883, just a month to a day after the one that so nearly destroyed Elgin.

The storm was first felt in Dodge county, southwest of Dodge Centre. The farm of Mayor Whitten, of Rochester, was destroyed. His loss was $5,000. Five persons were killed in that county.

It struck Olmsted county in Salem township. The houses of Cyrus Holt and Luther McCoy were badly wrecked and the barns destroyed. The buildings of J. B. Little, L. Donovan, T. McGovern, W. P. Brooks, Ole Johnson, Amil Johnson and Ole Christensen were swept away. The house, granary, stables and all outbuildings of John and Joe Kemfermann were blown out of sight. The house of James McGovern was destroyed. All buildings and machinery on Fred Little’s farm were destroyed. The house and outbuildings of Amun Anderson were destroyed. The house of Ole F. Engen was destroyed. Mrs. Stolson’s house was unroofed. Mrs. Knuessel’s house was unroofed and barn moved. The house of Tom Donovan was destroyed. All the buildings of Tom Connolly were blown away. A house of Nels Jacobson, occupied by Peter Matson, was destroyed. All the buildings of Chris Johnson Lillo were destroyed, and his father, living with him, was killed.

In Kalmar township two large barns belonging to John McGovern were demolished.
In Cascade township a barn of S. B. Hall was blown away. The house and furniture of Peter Welch were damaged. James Bucklen’s house was wrecked.

In Rochester township the house and sheds of John Bannon were blown away. The barn on George Stopple’s farm was unroofed and the chimneys blown down. Joe Stopple’s kitchen was unroofed and the barn blown down. Dr. Clifton’s barn was unroofed. The barn of Mr. Kennedy was destroyed. J. D. Ostrom’s barn and orchard were destroyed. The buildings on the John R. Cook farm were destroyed. The buildings on Mrs. Faitoute’s farm were destroyed. The house of Mr. Higby was destroyed. George Baihly’s barn was destroyed. The buildings on the farms of Moses Hurd and Mathew Clemens were badly damaged and Frank Clemens’ arm was broken. A large barn on H. T. Horton’s farm with 130 tons of hay was demolished, Edwin Coon’s leg was broken and four horses and four cows were killed. A. Engel’s new house and barn were blown down. Mr. Musson’s barn was overturned. The house on the Leland farm was destroyed.

At Rochester the day had been hot with a strong southeast wind, the air was smoky and oppressive, the heavens were overcast with clouds of a dull leaden line, and there were, apparently, three strata, all moving in different directions.....

Passing northeastward from Rochester the storm swept through Haverhill, Viola and Quincy townships.

In Haverhill the farms of S. Geisinger and C. C. Willson were devastated. The houses of Mr. Jenkins and Mrs. Welch were destroyed. All the buildings on John Canty’s farm were destroyed and Mr. Canty was killed. Buildings on the farm of P. J. Quintin were destroyed and his son, Charles, was seriously injured. The house and all outbuildings of Mrs. S. B. Martin were destroyed. A large barn and outbuildings of C. M. Smith were a total loss and the house badly damaged. The house on Captain Bedill’s farm was badly damaged and all other buildings destroyed. The Flyng school house was destroyed. All the buildings on the Lawler farm were swept away. All the buildings were destroyed and stock killed on the Lovejoy farm. All outbuildings were destroyed on A. Allen's farm. On H. K. Blethen’s farm all buildings but the residence were destroyed. The town hall was moved from its foundation. P. J. Lumland lost every building. Every grave stone in the cemetery was blown down. All the barns on F. Adler’s farm were destroyed. All buildings on L. L. Allen’s farm were destroyed. On Allan K. William’s farm all buildings were ruined.

In Viola P. F. Wells’ dwelling house was destroyed and Mr. and Mrs. Wells were injured; Mrs. Wells seriously. Henry Stanchfield’s buildings were destroyed and the loss was estimated at $7,000. A house on the H. H. Richardson farm was lifted from the foundation and carried several rods. M. L. Sawyer’s barn was blown down. The outbuildings of R. F. Johnson and J. R. Williams were destroyed. On Thomas Richardson’s farm the end and roof of the house and outbuildings were blown away, and Henry C. Richardson seriously hurt. Buildings of J. G. Buckley, A. Helms, G. Heimschrot, G. H. Mueller, Charles A. Callaghan and H. H. Vine were destroyed or damaged.

In Quincy Mrs. S. Evans lost a barn and machine shop and contents, her house was damaged, her son injured and hired man reported dead. John Wragant’s house was moved from the foundation, the wing torn off and the granary turned upside down. Samuel Tenney lost his house, barn and every building and five horses and a cow were killed in the barn. Alexander Farrier lost every building. J. Browne’s farm was destroyed.

The total number of deaths in the county was stated as thirty-one and the seriously wounded as fifty....

History of Olmsted County, Minnesota by Joseph A., Leonard; Chicago: Goodspeed Historical Association, 1910, pages 140-150 Search for your ancestors in this book Use this Free trial.

Search for more information on the Olmsted County tornado and other disasters in the  Historic Newspapers Collection.  The number of newspapers on line has recently doubled - search over 1000 different newspapers. Use this Free trial to search for your ancestors.

Search for ancestors in Olmsted County, MN among billions of names at ancestry.com. Use this Free trial to search for your ancestors.

Minnesota Census 1835-90  Use this Free trial to search for your ancestors.