Smithland Weather Victims Sing To Lift Spirits

After a couple of years with mild winters, those of us living in the middle part of our country had almost forgotten what a real winter was like. Mother Nature hastened to remind us the middle of this month when she sent us bone-chilling temperatures and several inches of snow.

Another brutal winter was in 1950, which cut a swath of destruction across the country– from  tornadoes in the south, a paralyzing blanket of slush in the midwest and  snow and ice dumped on the northeast.  The tornadoes killed 48 people and injured hundreds.

When two large rain-swollen rivers meet and merge, a flood is sure to happen. The result in 1950 was an inundated Smithland, Kentucky business district with part of the residential area being covered by water, too. Parts of Smithland were flooded from early January through February. [1]

The residents of Smithland knew how to deal with disaster when their options were few.

“From the Pacific Northwest to New England, the northern half of the nation was barraged by almost every weapon in winter’s book – snow, rain, freezing drizzle, high winds and sub-zero temperatures.

“Flood refugees at tiny Smithland, Ky., held a community sing to bolster their spirits. More than 200 people sang “It Ain’t Gonna Rain No More” and “River Stay way From My Door” as the Cumberland and Ohio Rivers, which join near the town, climbed steadily higher …

“The Red Cross served coffee, donuts and punch, and county clerk Gabe McCandless reported, “Yes, sir, everybody was kinda cheered up and felt much better when the thing was over.”[2]

 Maybe we could learn something from Smithland residents of 1950.

 

---

[1] “Where Cumberland Meets Ohio,” Evansville Press, Evansville, Indiana, Thurs., 16 Feb 1950, page 1, photograph.

[2] “Tornado – Battered Southern Sections Get Flood Misery; All Northern Half of U.S. Feels Winter,” Clinton Daily News, Clinton, Oklahoma, Tues., 24 Feb 1950, p. 1, Newspapers.com accessed 18 Feb 2021.

Published 25 Feb 2021, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http:wkygenealogy.blogstop.com/

Union Lodge, Uniontown, Kentucky 1867

 Any record that places a particular person in a particular place at a particular time is a good record. Union Lodge, No. 219 was held at Uniontown, Union County, Kentucky on the First and Third Fridays in each month. The following information comes from Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky, published by Frankfort Commonwealth, printers, Frankfort, Ky. 1867, accessed on Google Books 5 January 2018.

OFFICERS

J.G. Griffin, Master

T.C. Blackwell, Senior Warden

Geo. W. Phipps, Junior Warden

G.W. Orme, Treasurer

Cyrus Jones, Secretary

J.W. Berry, Senior Deacon

J.W. Johnson, Junior Deacon

                                         J.W. Stafford, Steward and Tyler                                          

    PAST MASTERS- J.W. Berry, G.W. Orme, J.G. Griffin

   MASTER MASONS- Green G. Boyle, David R. Bridges, Jas. E. Brown, John Cartmell, Saml. A. Davis, Abner Davis, Alonzo Hatfield, William J. Harris, J.W. Head, C.H. Higginson, L.C. James, D.A. McKellar, Jas. R. Phipps, Hiram G. Phipps, John T. Slack, T.J. Sweets, Henry Soechtig, U.H. Threlkeld, A.H. Willett, Philip Snow.

   FELLOW CRAFTS- Alex D. Cooper, R.E. McClanahan, E.D. Yeager, E.J. Porter.

   ENTERED APPRENTICES- Thomas G. Phipps, B.F. Poole, John F. Rebum.

   EXPELLED- Andrew McIntyre, July 19, 1867.

 Published 18 Feb 2021, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog,  http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Sam Abell - Victim of Tornado 1935

Sam Abell

1882

1935

Late afternoon on Monday, the  25^th 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. 7^th , 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/

In the News - Crittenden County, Kentucky 1915

 One of the best ways to know the area in which your ancestor lived is to read the local newspaper. The following news items appeared in the Crittenden Record-Press on Thursday, 17 June 1915, page 6.  The Record-Press was published in Marion, Crittenden County, Thursday of every week  and contained news of almost everything going on locally, but also of the surrounding area.

 Born to Mrs. Nathan T. Ward, of Chapel Hill, Monday, June 14, 1915, a fine son, 8 lbs. in weight who was named Rupert Asher, mother and babe are doing well. Mrs. Ward was a granddaughter of Squire T.C. Campbell, now dec’d, who was one of the county’s best men in his day.

 Mr. and Mrs. W.V. Haynes and son, Cecil Vance, have returned from Evansville where they had gone to consult a specialist as to Master Cecil Vance’s health. They brought a trained nurse home with them and we are glad to report the young gentleman is improving.

 Born, Monday June 7^th, at Morley, Mo., to Mr. and Mrs. R.H. Terry, twin daughters, one ten pounds, one eight pounds in weight. Mother and babies are doing well. Mrs. Terry was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Davis and formerly lived here.

 For Rent: - A cottage of 4 rooms opposite the Marion Graded and High School building -  J.W. Blue.

 Roy Belt of St. Louis, Mo. is the guest of his mother, Mrs. J.W. Belt, near the city limits.

 A dainty lunch of sandwiches and ice tea awaits you at Mrs. McAdams’ tea room.

 Mrs. Thomas Wilborn and children are visiting her parents at Peachers Mills, Montgomery County, Tennessee.

 H.C. Gilliland, Anguilla, Miss. is the guest of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. D.E. Gilliland and of his sister, Maude, wife of Creed A. Taylor.

 Thos. Wilborn has a position which is paying him well at Selden, Kansas.

 Mrs. N.M. Clark and daughter, Mrs. John Brantley and the Wheeler children have returned from Oklahoma and will reside at the old homestead on Depot street

Published 4 Feb 2021, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog,  http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/