Home > United States of America > Missouri > Nodaway County > Quitman > IOOF Cemetery > Ella Williamson Sportsman

Ella Williamson Sportsman

Birth	:	1860 Hamilton County, Ohio, USA
Death	:	14 Apr 1886 Nodaway County, Missouri, USA
Burial	:	IOOF Cemetery, Quitman, Nodaway County, USA
Coordinate	:	40.3842583, -95.0793686
Description	:	Holt County Sentinel, Oregon, Missouri, April 23, 1886, page 4 column 1. A TERRIFIC CYCLONE Hurls Its Fury Upon the Good People of Holt, Atchison and Nodaway Counties. In Its Path it Brings About Destruction to Life, Limb and Property The Wreck of the Storm as Seen by a Sentinel Reporter ______________________ Very few people, if any, were hardly expecting a storm of a cyclone nature this early in the season, Wednesday night of last week, and after it had all happened not many had any idea of its destruction until related to them by some one who had been caught in its track. The storm of... Read More	Holt County Sentinel, Oregon, Missouri, April 23, 1886, page 4 column 1. A TERRIFIC CYCLONE Hurls Its Fury Upon the Good People of Holt, Atchison and Nodaway Counties. In Its Path it Brings About Destruction to Life, Limb and Property The Wreck of the Storm as Seen by a Sentinel Reporter ______________________ Very few people, if any, were hardly expecting a storm of a cyclone nature this early in the season, Wednesday night of last week, and after it had all happened not many had any idea of its destruction until related to them by some one who had been caught in its track. The storm of Wednesday night of last week was the most destructive that has yet visited the county. Although no lives were lost in our own county - the same gale before leaving the county increases in strength that by the time it fairly crosses over the Line into Atchinson county, it wrought destruction to life as well as property. The storm began on the hill in Mr. Ross Bigg's pasture, five miles north of Mound City, and was seen sweeping down the hill in a northeasterly direction, where it struck the cattle sheds and corn cribs of W.H. Bissett, completely demolishing them and missing his house only a few yards. A remarkable incident is that Mr. Bissett is the same party who had his house torn to pieces in the cyclone last year, but he was fortunate this time to escape great loss. After leaving Mr. Bissett's it scooted on its northeast course, tearing up the ground, laying low the corn stalks in the fields, hurling straw stacks in every direction and tearing down fences. Mr. Wm Andes' sheds and wind mill farther on were totally wrecked. We understand his loss will amount to about $400. The width of the cyclone during all this time must have been a quarter of a mile, but as it passed on further to the northeast it became narrower. The next property it struck was Mr. Reuben Keller's tenant house which was occupied by Robert [Cottier] and Mr. Brasil and wife who were keeping house for him. They were eating supper at the time and had no knowledge of the coming fury until house and occupants were carried across the road. Mrs. Brasil's leg was broken and she has a serious scalp wound. The remainder escaped unhurt. In the meantime Mr. Keller and his family luckily took to their cave, and on coming out found their own dwelling destroyed as well as all the out-buildings. His loss will be very great. The storm from here passed through the Senator Beck's section, the west end of the track completely demolishing Mr. Charley Allen's house, scattering the same and contents for [--ly] a half-mile in its track. And what is remarkable in this case, himself, wife and family of seven small children from eleven years down to one were in the house and got the full benefit of the smash-up, yet not one got a scratch, except a slight wound on the cheek of the oldest boy. It passed within a few yards of the residence of Mr. B.F. Cox, no damage being done here except to sheds, outbuildings and fences. It now goes on and leaves our county just a half-mile west of where Holt, Atchison and Nodaway comes together it now comes in contact with several houses lying near each other. At the west end it completely destroyed Mr. Albert Haine's house and seriously injured both himself and wife. Mr. Haine's back was hacked up in a very bad manner as if nails had been shot into him. He was on crutches when we saw him. His wife is lying very low and may not recover. The center of the storm, a few rods further east, wrecks Mr. Bruce Walker's residence, barn, out-buildings and doing much damage to farm machinery, wagons, etc., twisting them into unrecognizable shapes. The family were all in the cave and escaped unhurt. Mr. Walker loses everything, his loss amounting to over $1,000. It now crosses over the road and bears away Mr. Moses Sloper's house. A person could hardly tell that a house had ever stood there. Everything gone out of sight. The family were all found a few rods from the house, unconscious. Willis, a fourteen-year old son was found dead and a babe nine months old not far from its mother dead. An eighteen-year old boy had his collar bone broken and other injuries received. On Sunday doubts were expressed as to his recovery. Mrs. Sloper was seriously injured. Mrs. Haines' whose injuries we have spoken of is also a daughter of Mrs. Sloper. It now crosses the road into Nodaway and tears up Mr. Dick Lewis' house and other buildings, family not home. A little to the north of this in Atchison county, Mr. Bud Walker's house was totally destroyed, and Mrs. Bennett, his mother-in-law, badly hurt. Northeast in Nodaway county it passes when Mr. Hugh Sportsman's house is caught up and hurled to pieces. Mrs. Sportsman was found dead in a field near by and Mr. Sportsman is so seriously crushed about the head that his life is despaired of. The storm passed on to the northeast selecting the house of Mr. James Miller as its next victim, which was torn to pieces and scattered over a space of several acres. The family were all in the cave and nobody was hurt. Then the house of Mr. George Yetter was struck and nothing was left but a small section of the stable, everything in the house being broken and scattered all around promiscuously. Mr. Yetter had a house standing on the same site blown to atoms about eleven years ago. The family was saved this time by going into the cave. The next place pounced on was the residence of George Ambrose, which was taken up and carried away and there has been only a small portion of it found. Himself and wife were in the house, but somehow or other, they could not tell how, they were thrown out, being badly shook up but not dangerously hurt. This is the extent of my personal observations, but I learned from reliable parties who witnessed the storm that it continued in a northeasterly course, destroying James Palmer's house, and seriously injured himself and wife. Then Pfeiffer's large two-story, and a very handsome house, was totally destroyed, killing two of his boys, and a third one is not expected to live. Mr. Otis Smith's house was destroyed, but no one was injured. Then came the residence of Mr. Albert Barber which was torn into kindling wood. It is estimated that $3,500 worth of stock was killed along the track of the cyclone. On every hand one could see debris, and pieces of kitchen utensils, broken furniture, chairs, bedsteads and such like. Many curious things happened. For instance at Mr. Walker's place, a new wagon had its hind wheels both broken of square from the axle and were carried a half-mile away and deposited in a field. At the place of Mr. Yetter a pile of twenty five bushels of potatoes were lying on the ground and four days after not one of them had even been seen or heard of, and many other things almost incredible.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Ella Williamson Sportsman's memorial?
Ella Williamson Sportsman's memorial is located at: IOOF Cemetery, Quitman, Nodaway County, USA.
When did Ella Williamson Sportsman death?
Ella Williamson Sportsman death on 14 Apr 1886 in Nodaway County, Missouri, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Ella Williamson Sportsman's memorial?
Latitude: 40.3842583
Longitude: -95.0793686

Family Members:

Parent

Spouse

Hugh Sportsman

(1851 - 1924)

Siblings

Edith A. Williamson Harbison

(1863 - 1923)

Children

Luellen Sportsman Hart

(1882 - 1949)

Ellen Sportsman

(1884 - 1884)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. IOOF Cemetery
Quitman, Nodaway County, USA
Coordinate: 40.3842583, -95.0793686

2. Quitman Cemetery
Quitman, Nodaway County, USA
Coordinate: 40.3824997, -95.0772018

3. Ohio Cemetery
Burlington Junction, Nodaway County, USA
Coordinate: 40.4407997, -95.0686035

4. Wilcox Cemetery
Wilcox, Nodaway County, USA
Coordinate: 40.4056015, -94.9813995

5. Cain Cemetery
Maryville, Nodaway County, USA
Coordinate: 40.3656006, -94.9777985

6. Cameron Cemetery
Maryville, Nodaway County, USA
Coordinate: 40.3223700, -95.0128700

7. Mount Hope Cemetery
Dawsonville, Nodaway County, USA
Coordinate: 40.4667015, -95.0888977

8. Smith Cemetery
Skidmore, Nodaway County, USA
Coordinate: 40.2971992, -95.0702972

9. Nodaway County Cemetery
Maryville, Nodaway County, USA
Coordinate: 40.3483391, -94.9687271

10. Masonic Cemetery
Skidmore, Nodaway County, USA
Coordinate: 40.2905998, -95.0875015

11. Burr Oak Church Cemetery
Skidmore, Nodaway County, USA
Coordinate: 40.2957300, -95.1600500

12. Lamar Cemetery
Elmo, Nodaway County, USA
Coordinate: 40.4983000, -95.0876390

13. Hillcrest Cemetery
Skidmore, Nodaway County, USA
Coordinate: 40.2689018, -95.0860977

14. Workman Chapel Cemetery
Burlington Junction, Nodaway County, USA
Coordinate: 40.4583397, -94.9507904

15. Oak Hill Cemetery
Clearmont, Nodaway County, USA
Coordinate: 40.5028992, -95.0223770

16. Squaw Creek Burial Site
Fairfax, Atchison County, USA
Coordinate: 40.2912800, -95.1932700

17. Elmo Cemetery
Elmo, Nodaway County, USA
Coordinate: 40.5130997, -95.1252975

18. Six Corners Cemetery
Elmo, Nodaway County, USA
Coordinate: 40.5097008, -95.1477966

19. Hazel Dell Cemetery
Clearmont, Nodaway County, USA
Coordinate: 40.5060997, -94.9730988

20. London Cemetery
Atchison County, USA
Coordinate: 40.4724998, -95.2343979

21. Groves Cemetery
Graham, Nodaway County, USA
Coordinate: 40.2369003, -95.0500031

22. Taylor Family Cemetery
Pickering, Nodaway County, USA
Coordinate: 40.4421400, -94.8983300

23. Walkup Grove Cemetery
Atchison County, USA
Coordinate: 40.3203011, -95.2566986

24. Morgan Cemetery
Maryville, Nodaway County, USA
Coordinate: 40.3003006, -94.9150009