Sam
Abell
1882
1935
Late afternoon on Monday, the 25th of March 1935, the sky over
southern Illinois and western Kentucky, turned black as a tornado, or a cyclone
as it was called if you lived in the area, hit Metropolis, Illinois. It struck with such
force that there was little time to escape its wrath., hitting the Chevrolet
Automobile garage and killing its owner, Sam Abell, a native of Smithland,
Livingston County, Kentucky. Abell was
killed when a huge steel beam fell on him as he tried to flee to safety.
Others were injured, but Abell was the only person who died during the storm. [1]
Sam Abell was the son of
Jesse Abell and Elizabeth Fort[2],
both of whom were Kentucky natives and were enumerated with their children on
the 1900 Livingston County census.[3]
He married Maud Meehan, who survived her husband by 28 years.[4]
Mr. Abell registered for the military draft on
12 September 1918. At that time he gave
his birth date as 10 December 1881 [sic]. He was married and his nearest relative was Maude
M. Abell. His physical description was as follows: medium height, stout, blue
eyes and dark hair. His occupation was listed as “news dealer” and he lived at
104 ½ So. 7th , Paducah, Kentucky. [5]
By 1930, Sam and Maud Abell were
living in Metropolis and living with them was Maud’s mother, Ida Meehan.[6]
Mr. Abell’s funeral was in his
home in Metropolis and burial was near some of his siblings in Smithland
Cemetery. Surviving him were his widow, Mrs. Maude Abell; two brothers, Gabe
and J. Fort Abell, of Louisville; two sisters, Miss Laura Abell and Mrs.
Wheeler Worten, both of Paducah.[7]
[1] “Sam
Abell, Former Paducahan, Is Killed When Automobile Agency Building Demolished;
Scores Treated for Injuries,” Paducah Sun-Democrat, Tuesday 26 March
1935, p. 1.
[2]
Illinois, Deaths & Stillbirths Index 1916-1947, Sam Abell born 10 December
1881 Kentucky and died 25 March 1935 Massac County, Illinois, Ancestry.com.
[3]
1900 Livingston County, Kentucky census, Smithland, p. 2, E.D. 0053, Jessy L.
Abell and Ellizbeth Abell, married 20 years were heads of the household,
Ancestry.com.
[4]
Kentucky Death Records, Certificate #63-7650. Maude Meehan Abell, died 21 March
1963, Ancestry.com
[5]
U.S. World War I Draft Registration Card 1917-1918, Sam Abell, age 36,
Ancestry.com.
[6]
1930 Massac County, Illinois census, Sam Abell, E. Fifth St., Metropolis,
occupation: proprietor auto garage, p. 16A, E.D. 0013, Ancestry.com.
[7] “Abell
Rites To Be Conducted on Wednesday,” Paducah Sun-Democrat, 26 March
1935, p. 1.
Published 11 Feb 2021, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/
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