RAINS COUNTY, TX - 1894, 1907 TORNADO NEWSPAPER ARTICLES Submitted for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Elaine Bay (info. obtained from a reprinted article in 18 June 1987 Rains County LEADER) March 18, 1894 tornado A destructive cyclone passed through Rains County on Saturday afternoon about 7:20 p.m. Every business establishment in Emory suffered property damage, while the Baptist Church and the Masonic Hall were completely destroyed along with many homes. Judge Teague appointed a committee composed of J.A. Cox, W.S. Carter, C.P. Ballew, J.F. Hooks and W.D. Peoples to look after the interest of the storm suffered. Besides the local physicians there were Garner, Milner, Peake, Bridsong and Hawkins from Greenville; Patton, Jones and Hart from Mineola; Simms and Coppage from Lone Oak; Hennon and Duran from Point; Smith from Alba; Duffy, McCrum, Williams, Kimbrough, Gee and Swindell of Emory. M.A. Merkovits was on his way from supper to his place of business when he was struck on the head by a flying object; later he found himself in his store but didn't know how he got there. Mr. Charles Beckenbach, saddler, had to grab a tree while making a break for clear ground; he was found by his brother after the storm holding on for dear life. Emory's tonsorial artist made a break for open ground, leaving Mr. Hooks in the chair with his face covered with lather. He was next heard of in Lone Oak 10 miles away. Mr. Dement, one of society's young gentleman, made a break for the home of some of his lady friends when the cyclone was heard nearing town at 80 miles per hour; he landed in a storm house. Mr. Campbell and family were domiciled at the Hotel d'Emory. Mr. Tom Thornton gave $100 for the relief of the destitute. List of dead : Miss Ester Alexander, d/o I.C. Alexander W.B. Henry, who left a wife and 3 children G.T. Walker, who left a wife and 5 children small child of Will Murry List of injured : Judge Lamb's wife - broken leg and other injuries Ernest Lamb Henry Lamb Marshall Lamb Deputy Sheriff McCord Fred Cooke Mrs. Ed Norris Gennie Norris Mrs. Callie Gray Mrs. W. Campbell and 3 children the mother and wife of M.S. Pierson Mary Pierson Mrs. Mollie Johnson A.B. Selt Oscar Dick Jim Allen Bessie Rodes, d/o County Attorney - arm broken Lon Williams, badly bruised; & his wife, arm broken J. W. Quarles, wife and 3 children, badly bruised & cut T.U. Parsons Gilbert Harvey's child, arm broken B.F. Herrin, wife, son & daughter Property Damages : J.A. Quarles' residence & barn Mrs. Garey's house occupied by Ed Norris Mrs. Garey's residence A.M. Pay's residence tenement house of J.L. Cannon Sheriff Wm. Lamb's residence, barn & tenement house J.M. Clifton's residence and furniture Mrs. Montgomery's house occupied by Mrs. Mollie Johnson T.A. Williams' residence & furniture W.L. Green's residence & furniture & $300 cash County Judge W.H. Teague's residence Hon. W.R. Cochran's residence occupied by W.C. Campbell Dr. Geo. E. Kimbrough's residence & tenant house M.S. Pierson's residence J.C. Alexander's residence & barn Oscar Dick's residence H.C. Fout's residence, under construction Business Property : G.W. Northcut & Co. - dry goods & groceries Henry & Peoples - general merchandise Dr. George R. Kimbrough - drugs & groceries M.S. Pierson - general merchandise J.F. Hooks & Co. - drugs & groceries Mrs. Kimbrough - milliner Mr. S. Pierson's warehouse O. Dick - saloon H.T. Proctor & Co. - furniture B.J. Wade - restaurant Masonic hall, 2-story building Baptist Church Methodist Church Academy building, 2-story M.S. Pierson - gin and grist mill T.M. Cain - gin and mill Sydnor Bilk, colored, lost all he had Missouri, Kansas & Texas depot M.A Markrits's store front awning Mr. Gilmore's residence roof May 1907 Tornado This cyclone passed through Rains County during the later part of May, killing 6, injuring 50, and causing over $50,000 in property damage. The cyclone came in the southwestern portion of the county near the Dunbar community and passed out the northeastern portion, just east of the Freedom school house. The cyclone was preceded by about an hour's very heavy rain and hail. As the cyclone progressed through Rains County, it covered an area of about 150 yards wide, sweeping away everything in sight. List of dead : Walter Martin Mrs. Sallie Burkhalter Mr. Ivy 8 year old son of John Littlejohn Ann Martin List of injured : Miss Mollie Gary Mrs. J.H. Simmons Miss Flossie Simmons Miss Cora York Miss Della York Frank Cooke, wife and small child Mr. Buckner Fitzgerald Mrs. Walter Martin Aunt Lizzie White 8 year old son of Bill Thornton 8 year old daughter of Westley Woosley Cal Lee's wife and baby Aunt Emma Abernathy Joe Middleton and baby Damage : house of Rev. G.A. Williams, abt 2-1/2 miles from river Davis farm John Brown's farm Ben Northcutt's place John Northcutt's place J.W. Pittitte's place I.N. Hair's place A.P. Ward's place Lonnie Farr's place Whit Chapman's house occupied by Mr. Giles and family vacant house owned by Mrs. Duffey vacant house owned by the Geo. Green heirs vacant house owned by Mr. Humphries vacant house owned by J.M. Clifton vacant house owned by V.H. Montgomery tenement houses on Capt. Cain's farms occupied by J.A. Baker, J. Rodden & Edgar Rylant & wife A.M. Hays farm owned by Tackett & Allen, occupied by the Meyer brothers and their sister, Miss Ophelia Sam Rylant farm and home Lonnie Fitzgerald farm and home J.H. Gunter farm and home John Shook farm and home J.H. Simmons farm and home Buckner Fitzgerald house J.F. Hooks house occupied by Mr. Ruther and his mother Uncle Tom Weatherly's house occupied by West Woosley & Bill Thornton Wolf City, a Negro settlement, was completely blown away with 11 houses totally destroyed Ed Hebisen farm occupied by W.T. Plunk and family vacant house of Mr. Prescott's County Poor Farm occupied by Supt. Baker & family and Frank Cooke & family A.B. York's barn S.N. Tadlock's home Henry Chapel School was completely destroyed 2 houses on Emma Henry's farm 2 houses on W.D. Peeples farm 3 houses on Mrs. Hiram Cates farm ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ************************************************************************