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]  

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[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/

Tombstone Tuesday - J.O. and Louise Rutter

Louise Abell

Wife of 

J.O. Rutter

Jan. 27, 1886

Mar. 16, 1913

J.O. Rutter

Feb. 28, 1876

Jan. 11, 1949

Buried Smithland Cemetery, Livingston County, Kentucky. Tombstones photographed 2012.

J.O. Rutter and Miss Louise E. Abell married in Smithland 18 October 1906. He was age 30, a banker. He lived in Marshall County, Kentucky, but was born in Livingston County. His parents were J.H. Rutter and Belle Olive. The bride was age 20, born and lived Livingston County. Her parents were J.L. Abell and E. Laura Fort. Her father gave consent for the license to be issued. (Livingston County Marriage Book 1903-1907, pages 406-407)

The obituary of James Hodge Rutter, father of J.O. Rutter, in the 10 July 1913 issue of the Crittenden Record-Press states that he was born in Livingston County 10 March 1852 and married Miss Belle Olive. For 20 years he was engaged in the tobacco and mercantile business. Burial was in Oak Grove Cemetery.

Published 16 September 2014, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog,  http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Tombstone Tuesday - Martha Throop Abell

Abell - Throop

Our

Darling

Martha Throop

Wife of

J. Fort Abell

Apr. 17, 1883

Sept. 11, 1912

 

Buried Oak Hill Cemetery, Evansville, Indiana. Tombstone photographed 22 October 2013.

 

According to the wedding announcement in the Evansville Courier, Martha Throop, daughter of Captain and Mrs. John H. Throop, married J. Fort Abell at the Throop home in Evansville on 16 January 1909. After their return from a trip to California, they resided in Smithland, Kentucky, home of the bridegroom and former home of the Throop family.

 

Martha Throop Abell died at the home of her mother. Among survivors were her brothers, John Throop of Jackson, Mississippi, and George Throop of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Martha Throop was the daughter of John H. and Mary Throop and the granddaughter of Joshua V. Throop

 

Published 12 November 2013, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog,  http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

 



Tombstone Tuesday - F.M. and Matilda Culver

F.M. Culver

Sept. 13, 1837

Dec. 5, 1888

Matilda His Wife

Dec. 7, 1841

June 23, 1912

 

Buried Birdsville Cemetery, Livingston County, Kentucky. Tombstone photographed 8 June 2012.

 

Francis M. Culver married Matilda Abell 8 December 1859 Livingston County. The marriage record shows he was born in Union County, Kentucky and she was born in Meade County, Kentucky. Matilda's death certificate (#15513) lists her name as Martha and her birth place as Union County.

Published 16 April 2013, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog,  http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/


Tombstone Tuesday - Throop and Scyster

John H. Throop
1850 - 1911



Mary S. Throop
1856 - 1927

Both are buried at Oak Hill Cemetery, Evansville, Indiana. Tombstones photographed 31 July 2010.

John Hamilton Throop, well known on the Ohio River, was the son of Joshua V. Throop , prominent steamboat captain from Smithland, Livingston County, Kentucky.

J.H. Throop's obituary appeared in the Crittenden Record Press 7 September 1911. It states: "Capt. J.H. Throop, aged 63 years, one of the best known steamboat men along the lower Ohio river, died here [Evansville] yesterday. For many years he was United States inspector of steamboat hulls here. He was a native of Smithland, Ky. The deceased had spent practically all his life on the Ohio River."

Mary Scyster Throop was daughter of Capt. Jacob V. Scyster, also a steamboat captain. Mary Troop's obituary appeared in the Evansville Courier Monday, 21 February 1927: "Funeral services for Mrs. Mary S. Throop, 76, who died Saturday afternoon at the residence, 1052 South First street, will be held at the home this afternoon. Conducting the service will be Dr. A.E. Craig, pastor Trinity M.E. church, and the Rev. T.A. Wigginton, pastor Washington Avenue Presbyterian church. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery. Death was due to pneumonia. Surviving are two sons, J. Vail Throop of Kansas City, Mo., and John Throop of Water Valley, Miss; and a daughter, Mrs. J. Fort Abell, Paducah, Ky."

Published 2 October 2012,  Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/