Whirlwind on the Prairie: Part 4
Uncovering the stories behind one of the earliest recorded tornadoes in Chicago area history
Click here for Part 3 of Whirlwind on the Prairie, where we learn the backgrounds of people affected by the tornado.
A Hot and Humid Day
Weather observations taken on May 22, 1855, at 7:00am from Smithsonian Institution volunteer observers. Figure 3 Lincoln et al. 2022.
Shortly after 4:30am on May 22, 1855, the sun rises upon a cloudless northeast Illinois - the beginning of a hot, humid day. After some morning chores, volunteer observers for the Smithsonian Institution's meteorological observation program take note of temperature, dewpoint, winds, and cloud cover. Across almost the entire state of Illinois, morning temperatures started in the mid-70s or warmer, with dewpoints well into the 60s. Winds were out of the south or southwest.
The temperature climbed throughout the morning. In Northfield Township 18 miles northwest of Chicago, Allen W. Phillips took note of the heat around 10:00am and consulted his thermometer - it had already reached a balmy 85F. Just to the southeast at The Grove Nursery, Dr. John Kennicott also took note of the climbing temperature and wrote down observations from his thermometer multiple times throughout the day. By 11:30am, the temperature had climbed to 90F.
To the north of Chicago in Milwaukee, winds were from the east off a still-cool Lake Michigan. Temperatures only climbed into the 60s by midday, while observers just a few miles inland to the west were in the 80s. Such an abrupt temperature change is evidence of a possible lake breeze, a common occurrence in spring and early summer along Lake Michigan. Lake breezes can sometimes be the focusing mechanism for thunderstorms.
Near the time of peak afternoon temperatures, weather observers across the area again took note of the weather conditions. Light southwest winds had continued to bring in warm and humid air to northern Illinois, with temperatures well into the 90s from the Mississippi River eastward to near Lake Michigan. Dubuque recorded its warmest May temperature on record, 99F, which was not exceeded until the dust bowl era nearly 70 years later. Multiple newspapers in the region, despite not having dedicated weather sections at the time, wrote articles specifically mentioning the notable heat. Back in Northfield Township, Allen Phillips and John Kennicott again noted their respective temperatures - now climbing to near 90 degrees.
Weather observations taken on May 22, 1855, at 2:00pm from Smithsonian Institution volunteer observers. Figure 3 Lincoln et al. 2022.
Just to the southwest, in Maine Township, William Thacker was planting potatoes at the Rand farm northwest of the Des Plaines River depot along the Illinois & Wisconsin Railroad. As the temperatures climbed to almost unbearable levels with little-to-no wind, he considered ending the day early and saving the remaining rows for cooler weather. With only a few rows remaining, he decided to push on and complete the work.
South of the railroad depot, Hubert Page and Ransom Lee Wheeler were hard at work on their second residence despite the oppressive atmosphere. Nearby, the remainder of the family was indoors, tending to young children and completing other domestic chores. Harriet Gillett, sister of Hubert, was visiting the family from New York while her husband remained at home.
Closer to the lake in Chicago, John Wentworth joined many of his fellow city residents in opening windows to capture the intermittent light breeze, hoping that an afternoon lake breeze might soon bring some relief.
Shortly after 3:00pm, a wind shift to the east moving inland from Lake Michigan triggered the rapid growth of towering cumulous clouds in the hot and humid airmass. The towering cloud continued to grow until evolving into a storm.
The Whirlwind Forms
Dr. John Kennicott watched to the northeast of his nursey around 3:00pm as the growing cloud rapidly darkened, turning into a general wall of darkness moving southward. As it approached, an ominous roar increased steadily in intensity until a fall of rain and intermittent hail sent his farmhands scattering for cover. A few of the hail stones were measured at nearly 3 inches in diameter. While dark to the north and in the midst of rainfall, the view to the southwest and south was clear and bright. Other than the line of trees following the Des Plaines River, Kennicott had a clear view of the distant prairie. He watched to the west as a gyrating, contorted cloud of dust rose from the ground up into the storm, appearing almost as a dust devil sometimes seen on a hot, dry day. The whirwind moved slowly south.
Just to the north, Allen Phillips looked to the west as a thick mass of dust rose into the growing storm. The dust rapidly whirled around, forming an inverted cone, and moved southeast toward the Illinois and Wisconsin Railroad. Shortly afterward, he noted an abrupt shift in the winds to the northeast, followed by a cool breeze.
The likely tornado track and observation locations of Allen. W. Phillips, Dr. John A. Kennicott, and William Thacker.
Occupied with rushing to complete the last few rows of potatoes, William Thacker paid little attention to the growing storm to the north. A deep and ominous roar, like that of a loaded freight train on a bridge, grabbed his attention. Looking to the northwest, Thacker observed a black, dense cloud moving toward him, following the nearby Illinois-Wisconsin railroad tracks. He climbed a nearby pile of lumber to get a better view. Over the next several minutes, he watched as the whirling cloud widened, dissipated, reformed, and dissipated multiple times as its slow movement brought it ever closer. The tornado's movements were erratic and unsteady, moving forward, then stopping, then moving again. Not understanding the danger it posed, Thacker slowly walked northwest along the tracks, closer to the whirlwind, until distracted by large rain drops and hail stones. He ran for cover under a pile of lumber staged along the rail line, watching as large hail stones pummeled his horse corralled nearby.
Meanwhile, in Chicago, Illinois & Wisconsin Railroad passengers waited in the heat at the Wells Street Station for the 3:30 departure of the outbound train headed for Carey Station.
Wells Street Station in the late 1850s or early 1860s. From Stennett (1910). In 2023, the location of Merchandise Mart.
Twists and Turns
Upon emerging from cover, William Thacker looked for signs of the tornado that was previously approaching. During the few minutes of falling hail, the tornado had changed course toward the south away from the Illinois & Wisconsin Railroad tracks. Thacker began to follow, walking about a half mile to the south of the Rand farm and his house. The slow-moving tornado at first was heading almost directly for the Williams house, but turned back to the east before it was reached. Thacker watched as what appeared to be a large hay stack was lofted into the air and pulled to pieces.
Just to the south, Hubert Page and Ransom Lee Wheeler continued their work on their property's second home. Unaware of or unconcerned with the impending storm, they thought little of seeking shelter or alerting the other 11 family members inside. The bright afternoon sun continued to shine to the south as skies darkened to the north. Rain began to fall. Then hail. The whirlwind's erratic course took it from nearing the nearby Williams home, then to the east on a path that would just miss the Page/Wheeler residence, but then after just passing the house it doubled-back upon it's previous track, striking the home.
As the whirlwind neared, Hubert and Ransom started for the house, but realizing that they wouldn't make it, they dropped to the ground, with Ransom grabbing on to a nearby boulder. The tornado first hit a stable, causing enough noise as to rouse the attention of those in the house. Samantha Page opened the door, saw the whirlwind, then quickly closed the door. Some family members had just began to run from the house as it shifted off the granite boulder foundation, then lifted into the air and disintegrated. The occupants of the home were thrown in different directions, with each being injured to varying degrees. Three year old Lillian Livonia Wheeler, three month old Eveline Louise Wheeler, and their grandmother, Samantha Page, were each killed almost instantly.
The likely tornado track and the likely observation location of William Thacker as it hit the Page/Wheeler residence. The tornado was observed changing speed and direction multiple times, per numerous sources.
In Chicago, John Wentworth sat by his open window as the sound of rain began shortly after 4:00pm. The rainfall intensified. Soon, the sound of falling hail echoed through the streets of Chicago. Not immediately clear to those in the city - this same storm had just produced a killer tornado 16 miles to the northwest.
Traveling northwest toward Carey Station, the outbound Illinois & Wisconsin Railroad train passed right through the rain and hail. Passengers soon noticed remnants of the earlier storm - large hail stones covering the ground for several miles. Upon stopping at the Des Plaines River depot at about 4:30pm, the conductor picked up one of these stones and kept it with him in the car. An hour and a half later, at Carey Station, the hail stone was still larger than an hen egg (~2 inches in diameter).
The Injured and the Dead
Of the 11 occupants of the home, only 10 year old Charles Page escaped with no notable injuries (1). Seeing his home in ruins and many family members injured, Charles ran to the Williams residence about a quarter mile northwest. Soon after, word of the tornado's damage quickly spread throughout Maine Township. Multiple neighbors rushed to help the family, moving the injured to the partially-constructed, second residence. The injuries included broken bones, scrapes and cuts, and head trauma. Ransom sustained cuts to his head and lost one of his eyes. Several of the children had broken bones. Harriet sustained significant head trauma and was separated from the rest of the family.
Shortly after the storm, news reached the village near the Des Plaines River depot, and William Thacker learned that what appeared to be a hay stack actually was the barn and residence of the Page/Wheeler family. Due to the significance of the injuries, it was determined that care of a doctor was needed. Dr. Joseph Freer, who had previously practiced medicine with Dr. Kennicott in rural Maine Township, was held in high regard by the community for surgical skills but had since moved to Chicago. A few hours after dark, Thacker and neighbor Elbridge Walton set out for Chicago, a 4 hour journey by horseback.
Retrieving a Doctor
Navigating muddy, dirt roads in the dark of night, William Thacker and Elbridge Walton headed for Chicago to retrieve a doctor for the seriously injured at the Page/Wheeler farm. Just before midnight, they reached the Northwest Plank Road near the village of Jefferson, a somewhat improved, tolled road to Chicago. Toll-keepers collected a 14 cent toll for the remaining 8-mile journey to the city (approximately $5 in 2023).
Location of the Dr. Joseph Freer and Dr. Daniel Brainard residences as indicated by the 1855 Chicago directory. Dr. Freer's residence at 89 Ontario Street (today's 350 W Ontario Street) was on the edge of the city in 1855. Dr. Brainard's residence was in the business district at 53 Clark Street (today's 169 North Clark), across the street from the Sherman House Hotel.
Knowing that any doctor would not start out for the scene of the tornado until daybreak, they first checked in at the Sherman House Hotel and dropped off their horse. They asked for directions to Dr. Freer's home from policemen on the street, and only found his home after knocking on a few incorrect doors. Dr. Freer was at first hesitant to head so far into the country, but finally promised to head to Maine Township after Thacker and Walton held their ground. With the first hint of dawn's light now appearing to the east, Thacker and Walton were able to rest but a short time before making the return journey out of the city.
The following morning, Dr. Joseph Freer had convinced another well-respected Chicago doctor, Dr. Daniel Brainard, to join him. Dr. Freer, Dr. Brainard, Thacker, and Walton began the several hour trip back to the Page/Wheeler Farm.
The Page/Wheeler family was hesitant to bury the dead grandmother and children at first because one family member (2) was away from the farm at the time of the storm. The second night after the tornado, Willliam Thacker and neighbor Joseph Poyer sat up with the bodies of the dead. Occasionally through the night, they would apply preservative to the skin with cloths (3).
Three days after the storm, visiting family member Harriet Gillett succumbed to her severe injuries.
There are no records of any of the tornado's victims being buried in any nearby cemeteries - all of which were officially established after the tornado. Based upon burial practices of the time, it is possible that family members were buried on the farm.
At the Smithsonian
News of a tornado in Cook County, Illinois, on May 22, 1855, gained the attention of Smithsonian Secretary Henry. He wrote a letter to the Chicago Democrat newspaper a few days later requesting information from anyone who observed the tornado or had otherwise collected meteorological data from the surrounding area. John Wentworth, editor of the paper, published Henry's request. At about the same time, a letter to the editor was received from Allen Phillips in which he attempted to address "incorrect accounts" of the tornado published in Chicago newspapers.
Click here for Part 5 of Whirlwind on the Prairie, the final chapter, which discusses what happened those impacted after the tornado.
Footnotes
Although no name is specifically mentioned, William Thacker's account of the tornado and aftermath mentions a "little boy" who escaped with almost no injuries and went to the Williams residence for help. The second-youngest Page child was 15 year old James, suggesting that Charles was the individual being referred to.
The family member not at the Page/Wheeler during the farm may have been Joseph Hubert Page, age 23, Devillo Page, age 22, or Levi Page, age 18, the oldest of the Page children. None of these children were listed in the Page/Wheeler household at the time of the 1860 Census, and were apparently not listed on the Census at any location.
Embalming was not a common practice in 1855. It was a common practice at the time for family and friends to sit with the dead right up to the point of burial and not leave them alone.
References
Hall, E.H., 1855: The Chicago City Directory and Business Advertiser, Fourth Annual Edition. Robert Fergus Printing.
Kennicott, John. Letter to Smithsonian Institution regarding tornado of May 22, 1855. Smithsonian Institution Archives. Accession 11-032: Joseph Henry Papers project, X336.
Lincoln, W.S., R. Ogorek, B. Borchardt, and S. Heraty, 2022: Determining the Location of the 22 May 1855 Chicago Area Tornado. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 104, E31–E50.
Phillips, Allen. Letter to Smithsonian Institution regarding tornado of May 22, 1855. Smithsonian Institution Archives. Accession 11-032: Joseph Henry Papers project, X336.
Stennett, William H., 1910: Yesterday and Today, A History of the Chicago and North Western Railway System, Chicago and North Western Railway Company.
Thacker, William. Letter to Arlington Wash about tornado of May 22, 1855. Des Plaines History Center archives.
Wentworth, John. Letter to Smithsonian Institution regarding tornado of May 22, 1855. Smithsonian Institution Archives. Accession 11-032: Joseph Henry Papers project, X336.
More on this topic
For a more technical look at how the location of this tornado was determined, see Determining the Location of the 22 May 1855 Chicago Area Tornado (2022) in Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society.
For more maps and background information, see Des Plaines Tornado of May 22, 1855, an ArcGIS Online Storymap.