Many Die in Blizzard ~ 1855

LONG, MEYERS, VAN AIKEN, ABBOTT, WICKS

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 11/18/2014 at 05:14:59

The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
Monday, June 01, 1953
Mason City Centennial Edition, Section 3

1855: MANY DIE IN THREE-DAY BLIZZARD

[Section 3, Page 2] The morning of Dec. 1, 1855, gave no indication that it was heralding a day of suffering, disaster and death to be remembered for years and decades afterwards. The sky was blue and cloudless.

By 10 the wind began to rise and by 11:30 the sky was overcast, while the wind increased. Snow started to fall and by 2 p.m. it was coming down fast. By 3 p.m. things were looking serious and an hour later the fury of a great blizzard, the dread of the early settlers, was upon the community.

Tunnels Through Snow

In many cases people had to tunnel through the snow to get from their homes, to reach their barns, pig pens and hen houses. In many instances livestock was found buried in the snow on the leeward side of straw stacks. Much of the livestock was frozen to death.

But the great loss was in human life. Two residents of Forest City, Alexander Long and his companion, Meyers, perished in that storm in this county. The two had started for Upper Grove, Hancock County, a distance of 27 miles. Searching parties found the overturned sled near Clear Lake. The bodies were found later. The horses were found weeks later many miles to the south, frozen to death.

Went on Foot

John Van Aiken, a farmer driving a team of horses with a sled perished in Grant Township. Others suffered a similar fate.

On Dec. 22, 1855, came another storm under similar circumstances. A. J. Abbott and Charles Wicks of Portland Township went with three yoke of oxen to what is now Geneseo Township to get some wood. While they were in the timber a violent storm came up. They headed for home.

The men finally abandoned their cattle and started out on foot, but both perished, Wicks becoming exhausted first after which Abbott plodded on alone, only to be overcome by the storm.

Despite storms and tragedies, 1855 had been an important year for Mason City and Cerro Gordo County. That year saw the first election held here.

Early in the spring of 1855 the territory now comprising Cerro Gordo County was attached to Floyd County as a Township for judicial purposes. A township election was held and in August steps were completed for organization of the county.