Towanda Community News - McLean County Illinois Genealogy & History

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Towanda Community News
McLean County, Illinois
(Surnames listed as applicable)

1858
St. Louis, May 15. -- A violent tornado occurred on Thursday, which was so severe as actually to blow a train of cars on the Chicago and Alton railroad off the track at Lexington, Illinois, by which several persons were severely injured. The towns in the vicinity suffered severely, and many houses were prostrated. Three person were killed at Tonawanda [sic = Towanda]. Yesterday, another storm occurred between Bloomington and Springfield, which did much damage to a number of houses at Elkhart and Williamsville. The latter was nearly demolished, and a family of five persons killed.
[20 May 1858 - National Era ]

1873
A passenger train on the Chicago and Alton railroad was thrown from the track by a broken rail on Monday morning near Towanda, Illinois. One brakeman jumped from the train, and was instantly killed. The engineer and fireman were badly bruised, but no passengers were injured at all.
[1873 Feb 26 - Philadelphia Inquirer, Pennsylvania]
Adair, Barbot, Barnett, Blackburn, Boggs, Hoards, Rogers, Stephenson, Sullivan
Mattie Stephenson gives her life to help others during the 1873 yellow fever epidemic . (please follow link for complete story)

1879
Brooks
A Large Camp Meeting. Special to the Sentinel: Towanda, Ill., Aug. 18. -- The State camp meeting, under the auspices of the Holiness denomination, commenced yesterday, at the camp ground, two miles north of Towanda, the number in attendance being estimated at 5,000; the number of tents spread being over 400. The meetings are conducted by Rev. James Brooks, of Bloomington, assisted by a number of divines from other portions of the State. The weather has been delightful and there is every indication that the meetings will be very largely attended during the remainder of the week.
[1879 Aug 19 - Indianapolis Sentinel, Indiana]

1908
Hadden
Forest and Stanley Hadden, of this county, have rented a large farm at Towanda, Illinois, and will go there next week to engage in farming.
[1908 Feb 8 - Lexington Herald, Kentucky]

1915
Garrett
Mr. and Mrs. George Garrett, of Towanda, Illinois are guests of relatives and friends in this county.
[1915 Sep 12 - Lexington Herald, Kentucky]

1958
Sutter
Dec. 23, 1958: Myron Sutter of Towanda has made a corn gleaner out of junk parts. With a bag slung over his back, he can pick up two to seven bushels of corn per acre that the pickers missed. The gadget helps because its user never has to stoop to pick up ears of corn.
[The Pantagraph - How Time Flies - By Jack Keefe]

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