Tornado of 1925
(This Tornado Still Hold the Record)
By Freda Kelley Kyle
 

This all took place March 18, 1925. I was almost five years old. I remember very well, my mother and dad talking about the weather that day.
My dad said he was worried it would be a bad storm because it was too warm for March.

We lived in a mining town in a row of houses. My dad had a twin brother, Oscero, who lived about three houses down from us.
He had a wife and two daughters.

On this day I had chicken pox. My Dad put me in the bed and put pillows and whatever he could find to try to keep me protected. He told me to stay in the bed and not get out.
When the wind started blowing my Dad and Mother were walking the floor. Our house was set up on blocks. I could see out the window.
My Dad had built a car shed and he and my Uncle Oscero bought new cars with convertible tops, which they kept in the shed.
Our car rolled down in front of our house and the shed blew over the hill taking the top off the car.

The wind picked our house up moving things all around. It came back down on the blocks with the porch and steps on the side.
The front door was on the side without steps and my Dad could not get the door open. He used a tool of some kind to pry the door open.

Dad looked out the window and said "I think Oscero's house is gone". He got the door open and had to jump out because the steps were gone.
Someone was calling my Dad's name and shouting "Come here, I think Oscero is hurt bad.
" It was one of the Shumaker's, either Orville or his brother.
My Dad went with him and on the way he said to my Dad, "I think Oscero is dead". My Dad said no that can't be, but it was.
They found a door and something underneath. I can just see him now with just his feet sticking out. They brought him to our house.
Everything was so tore up and my Dad went to town to call for help. My mom and some man washed and tried to clean my Uncle.
His wife Nellie Kelley had two girls. Her mom and Dad came and took her to the hospital and the girls were not badly hurt.

Aunt Nellie was hurt badly. I think they went to stay with their Granddad and Grandmother.

NEWS EXCERPTS FROM VARIOUS NEWSPAPERS
The Tornado of March 18, 1925
Provided by Christine Walters

Newspapers from all across the United States carried this story for several days.
This Tornado to this day, still hold the record for the amount of damage, the extend of the damage and the number of deaths and injuries.
The devastation covered no less than 5 states with most damage concentrated in Illinois and Indiana with destruction of entire towns.
It began in the Southeast Missouri in the town of Annapolis and ended as it moved through Indiana.

The Chillicothe Constitution March 19, 1925
"The death dealing winds swung down on Annapolis MO, the first town in the path, shortly before 3 p.m. Wednesday.
Houses were leveled, trees uprooted and debris whirled through the air. Only three persons are known to have died, but many more were injured."
"Death toll mounting into the hundreds - reported this morning at 708 - property damage amounting to many millions and more than 1500 people injured, is the result of the roaring twister whick cut a swath three miles wide from Annapolis MO - across Illinois and into Indiana.

The Appleton Post Crescent - Appleton WI
"Another line apparently moved southeastward from Annapolis through Cape Girardeau central MO and struck isolated portions of northern Tennessee, Kentucky and southern Indiana." "With its various offshoots, the tornado traveled nearly 700 miles of territory only in the direct path from Annapolis MO to Princeton IN about 165 miles was the damage and loss of life heavy."

The Chronicle Telegram Elyria OH
"Yesterdays death-dealing tornado apparently gathered near Annapolis in Southeastern MO, swept across this section of the state completely demolishing the village of Annapolis but miraculously exacting a death toll of but three, 11 are reported dead at Biehle, 14 at Cape Girardeau and 2 at Altonburg, the only Missouri towns in the path of the storm that so far have managed to make known their plight."

The Helena Independent (Montana)
"The entire town of Annapolis about 1200 population, approximately 111 miles south of St. Louis on the Missouri Pacific Railroad, was devastated and several person killed according to reports. Scores were injured and the entire population were left homeless according to C.E. Pyrtle, a Kansas City traveling salesman who was an eye-witness to the disastor. He gave no names of those killed. He was seated in his automobile on Main street and escaped with minor injuries when the howling wind hurled down houses, business' and trees throwing the people into a panic."

Iowa City Press Citizen (Iowa City IA)
Missouri Dead identified so far : At Annapolis MO - G. Stewart, teamster, Orso Kelley 35, farmer and Merle Kelly 21. Killed at Cape Girardeau MO - Mrs.Mary Kempf.

SOME HISTORY & BACKGROUND
(Of the surviving Kelley Family)
provided by Christine Walters (Genealogy Trails)

The Kelley family had for many, many years, resided in Iron County MO. I believe Louis C. Kelley may be the head of the Kelley's in this county. He is first found on the 1860 census age 38 born in KY, married to Dorcas. All their children were born in MO - they were Cilas B., Josephine, William O and Lee B. I didn't find any of them in 1870 but I believe the census taker just missed them for some reason because in 1880 I find Lee Kelly age 25 working in the Saw Mill and married to Frances was was 21 at that time from Arkansas. They only had one child in 1880 - this was William Jasper who was 3.
 

The 1900 Census in Iron Co MO
Lee Kelley 46 born Sept. 1853
Fannie 41 born Sept 1858
Jasper 22 born July 1877
Bradfield 15 born Feb 1885
Cicero 10 born Aug 1889
Oscero 10 born Aug 1889
Lusien 06 born May 1894

By 1910 Lee Kelley has died and Frances is listed as a widow with her 3 youngest children still at home.. Cicero and Oscero are now 18 and Lucien is 15. Bradfield is out on his own with a wife Mary as is Jasper with his wife who is also named Mary.

In 1920 we find Frances has now moved in with her son Cicero Kelly who is 28 married to Jane and they have two childen, Opal age 6 and Carl who is just a month old. Lucian is married to Anna and they have three children - Virgil, Hattie and Osra. Bradfield has a wife named Laura on this census with 3 children - Ruby, Olive and Carl. Jasper is listed with is wife but still no children.

The 1930 census find Frances age 70, still a widow and living alone. Lucien and his wife have children, Virgil Lee, Hattie, Orso, James L., Alva, Norma and Gracie. Joseph Bradfield's family has also grown - Ruby, Olive (born 30 Jun 1916), Carl, Laura and George. Joseph Bradfield and Laura White (born 7 December 1887) were married 1 March 1914 so I'm assuming that his first wife Mary has died or they divorced. Cicero and Mattie Jane are the parents of Freda, the writer of the above story. They are listed with children, Opal 16, Carl 11, Freda V. 9, Jewel 2 and Herbert nearly age 1.

Minimum Cemetery

This cemetery is the burial location for most of this Kelley family. As many as I could find are listed below.
We don't know the exact relationship to all of those listed here but I've provided what I could find.

Lee Kelley 24 Sep 1853 - 19 Apr 1905 h/o Frances E.
Frances E. Kelley 19 Sep 1859 - 1 Feb 1947 w/o Lee
W. (William) Jasper Kelley 1877 - 1947 s/o Lee & Frances
Janie Kelley 22 Mar 1858 - 22 Nov 1932
Cicero Kelley 1 Oct 1891 - s/o Lee & Frances
Mattie Jane Kelley 14 Mar 1892 - 12 Dec 1954 w/o Cicero
Osero Kelley 1 Oct 1891 - 18 Mar 1925 (Killed in the Tornado) s/o Lee & Frances
J. Lemor Kelley 26 Jun 1894 - 8 Sep 1951 s/o Lee & Frances
Rosa M. Kelley 21 Nov 1892 - 29 Apr 1967
Bessie Kelley 1 Dec 1897 - 18 Jun 1898
Paul Kelley 28 Jul 1912 - 28 Jul 1912 s/o C. & J. Kelley
Gertie E, Kelley 30 Aug 1915 - 2 Nov 1919 d/o C & J. Kelley
Madge Rosetta Kelley 11 Jul 1917 - 19 Aug 1936
John L. Kelley 21 Apr 1881 - 15 Jul 1931
Amon S. Kelley 16 Feb 1905 - 12 Mar 1941 (s/o Henderson & Theresa)
Oness Kelley 7 Jun 1926 - 9 Dec 1944
Davilla C. Kelley 10 May 1854 - 21 AUg 1913 w/o John Marion Kelley mother of Julius & Henderson
Julius M. Kelley 28 Feb 1885 - 22 Jun 1968
s/o John Marion & Davilla (Rhodes) Kelley They married 23 Jan 1876
(John is s/o John & Louisa Jane (Winchell) Kelley)
June (Morris) Kelly 22 Jun 1896 - 4 Jun 1920 w/o Julius M. Kelley
Parents of OIen b 13 Apr 1913 & Orville b 1917 d Oakland CA m Jewel (Jane) Eudy b 1926
Loretta E. (Morris) Kelley 1893 - 1918