Two cyclones crossed Dent County Wednesday afternoon, May 30, 1917, in which four lives are reported lost and many others injured, some serious. Many homes blown away and heavy loss to other property and crops. What was expected to be a holiday yesterday in Salem and vicinity for the purpose of observing Decoration Exercises was ended in sorrow and distress. At two o’clock out of the southwest came the most disastrous storm which has ever in recollection visited this community.
The larger and more destructive one entered the county near the divide between Dry Fork (Creek) and Pigeon (Creek) and crossed the county in a northeasterly course devastating everything in its wake touching south part of Salem. Property loss is estimated at $75,000.
The other struck Lenox (Community) and followed a course northeasterly passing through Hobson (Community) and Bangert (Community), which damage is estimated at $50,000 and several persons injured.
Through the southern part of the city and to the northeast it swept leaving death and destruction in its wake. It seems almost incredible that such property damage could have occurred without a greater toll of life. This was largely due to the fact that many, whose homes were demolished, were in Salem attending the memorial exercises. But many returned to find all they had swept away and only a few broken timbers scattered to show what had once been dwellings and barns.
A shattered and blighted tree here and there stands to mark where orchards were and for miles along the path trees, fences, telephone poles, wires and debris of all kinds are strewn as matches by a giant hand. Many horses, cattle and other livestock were killed. The damage at this time can be only partly estimated owing to the fact that telephone lines are all down in the stricken district and the roads are blocked with trees and wires and outside communication is impossible in many places.
It was shortly after one o’clock and the streets of Salem were crowded when the strange aspect of the clouds to the west and southwest were observed by many. There appeared to be a rush of air currents bearing the clouds from the west and south to a central point in the southwest. This aerial disturbance increased and became a circle of white scudding clouds outlined plainly against an ominous black background. Then in the far distance to the southwest was heard the faint roaring of the storm. While people were scurrying to cellars and any place that seemed to offer shelter the roar of the storm increased and the funnel shaped cloud seemed to be bearing to the heart of the city. Its course appears, however, to have deflected slightly at Simmons Hill and affected seriously only the extreme southern part of the city.
The first authentic report we have of the cyclone after entering the county was when it struck the residence of Elba Triplett (the old Triplett place on Dry Fork) tearing the house and barn to pieces, slightly injuring Mr. and Mrs. Triplett (Robert Elby and Ada (Wiggins) Triplett) and baby (Edna Osborn Triplett or Irene Conn Triplett) and leaving them under a part of the floor; tearing down Victor Triplett’s barn; W.H. McCleary’s barn; Elisha Shults’ barn (Elisha Marion Shults); John Casey’s buildings of all kinds and injuring Mr. Casey and seven members of his family, Mr. Casey being the worst hurt; then destroying all the buildings at T. B. Frank’s (Thomas Barton Frank) , none of this family at home.
The first house near town in its track was the residence of Bone Summers (Bonaparte Summers), this with all out buildings were completely demolished. Mr. Summers was the only one at home, his family was in town. He ran from the house and was saved by catching hold of a small tree in the yard. The tree was whipped into splinters but enough was left for Mr. Summers to retain hold of it. He escaped with only a few minor injuries and the loss of everything he owned. At N.D. Hobson’s Mrs. Hobson (Nathaniel David “Nate” and Gertrude L. (Callahan) Hobson) was the only one at home and she, hearing the approaching storm, ran to a neighbor’s house. The house she left was picked up from its foundation and carried about fifty feet and set down right side up but very badly damaged as well as the barn. James Halbert’s barn was completely demolished but his residence only slightly injured. Wm. Seay’s house was completely wiped away and a large quantity of lumber which was piled nearby carried away. The house was vacant.
The barn of Everett Hawkins was totally demolished and his house badly wrecked. Mr. Hawkins was quite seriously injured, suffering from scalp wounds and injuries to back and hips. He was probably saved from being killed by catching hold of a pump rod which protruded from a well after the pump had been blown away and retaining his hold on it. Ray Wofford’s new automobile was standing on the street at this point, he and family having left it to take shelter. The machine was picked up, entirely wrecked and deposited in the middle of the park several hundred feet away.
The barn of Mrs. McRobert’s (Aida (Bennett) McRoberts Huff) was next razed to the ground. From this point to Cedar Grove Cemetery fences and trees were all torn up. Just before reaching the cemetery the cyclone overtook T. T. Mendenhall who was driving his team. It took the man, wagon and team and practically rolled them up in a ball and whipped up the earth with them. Miraculously, neither man nor horses were killed.
It looked as if the whole force of it was going to plow its way through the business section of Salem where a very large crowd was assembled for memorial exercises, but as it struck the southwest side of the city a strong wind from the north seemed to swing it to the south swerving its course across Cedar Grove Cemetery. The cemetery is a wreck, fences down, trees blown away, tombstones upset, the new iron gate and pillars demolished and the flowers placed on the graves by loving hands only a few hours before scattered to the winds. The cemetery presents a scene of perfect ruin completely demolishing tombstones and monuments except a few in the extreme south part. Two hours before the cemetery was crowded with people decorating the graves and had the storm occurred that much sooner the loss of life would have been appalling.
Crossing Oak Avenue here the storm entered the Organ property (John Elbert and Martha L. (Burkitt) Organ) and (the) Hayes Addition. Everything was leveled to the ground. The Organ residence and other buildings were directly in the path and utterly demolished. Mrs. Organ and Miss Minnie (Minnie Katherine Organ) were at home and it seems as if only a miracle saved their lives. They took refuge in the cellar and occupied the only few feet which were not filled with debris and broken timbers. It seems incredible that they escaped without painful injuries. Mrs. J. E. Organ was slightly injuring about the head and Miss Minnie Organ cut and bruised considerably about the face, head and arms.
The large barn and silos of Craig Orchard were blown down; barn and outbuildings of Dr. Geo. Slawson; S. A. Philips’ barn (Silas Arthur Philips); and a barn belonging to Louis Dent and G. D. Addison (George Dulaney Addison) were blown down, as were all fences and trees in (the) Hayes Addition. Will Dent’s house occupied by Silas Fowler was completely destroyed but the family escaped by running into a dugout in the yard. Many other smaller barns and out buildings in South Salem were blown down. Here the storm left the city and went northeast spreading destruction. The herd of fine cattle belonging to Judge John Carty was nearly all killed.
The next residences were those of Jim Whiteaker and Otto Leonard, which were completely destroyed and six injured, two probably seriously. Otto Leonard’s place completely destroyed, wife seriously hurt, daughter cut and bruised; Mrs. Newt Leonard’s residence (Jasper Newton and Margaret F. (Gibbs) Leonard) wrecked and she has a dislocated shoulder, legs bruised and possibly broken; Mrs. Jim Whiteaker and baby badly bruised, one boy badly cut on head and internal injuries, two of the other children slightly injured.
Mrs. Lou Murray’s barn was destroyed; next the barn, silo and outbuildings of S.J. Bunker (Sylvanus Justin and Elizabeth (Lavell) Bunker) were leveled. From here the damage was to stock and timber until reaching the Meramec Valley. From the hills above this valley the cyclone descended and swept everything before it. The residence, barn and mill of Marcus Butts were wiped out. He and his family were in Salem. Had they been home nothing could have saved them. Mrs. Jim Butts, mother of Marcus, who lived near, was visiting at Peter Guthberts. Her house was blown away, but she being away was uninjured.
The residence of Sam Goade was next and now it takes a second look to know that the house and barn stood here, everything completely destroyed. Mrs. Goade (Sarah Jane (Simmons) Goade) and two daughters, Miss Mica “Mickie” and Bertie, Mrs. Roy Martin, were there. Mica had been ill for two months. Mrs. Goade and daughter Miss Mickie were so seriously hurt that the latter died at 7 o’clock and the former at 10 o’clock. Bertie was severely, though not fatally injured. Lee Goade’s buildings were totally destroyed, the family being saved by going to the cellar, some injured. From here in a direct line the dwellings of Art Nash, Bert Baker, Ed Wallace and Mrs. Baker were all destroyed. In one of these houses a man whose name we could not learn was reported buried beneath broken timbers in the cellar and seriously hurt. Earnest Walker, everything blown away, some of his family hurt; Jim Gibbs barn gone; Bert Beasley, everything destroyed.
Southwest of town the house of John Casey was demolished and eight of the ten family members were injured, none fatally. Mr. McCleary’s property was badly damaged and all of the buildings of Tom Frank were blown away. Only meagre reports are available from that section roads being blocked and telephone communications cut off. Unconfirmed reports (suggest) that much damage was done to the southwest of John Casey’s and on over the Texas County line. This section is thickly settled and we look for additional loss of life from that section. Much stock which was in the field was killed, and in several instances, horses and cows were seen dead with timbers driven completely through them.
Fairview (Community) school and church houses were in the road (after) the storm and both completely destroyed. Lucky it was that school was not in session.
Late incomplete reports indicate that much damage was done to the northeast and in the Dillard (Community) section across the Crawford County line. It is impossible to learn of damage to life and property beyond this point which reached about seven miles east of Salem. The width of the storm was from a quarter to a half mile (1/4 to 1/2 mile) over the territory from which we have gotten any definite information.
It is understood that much damage was wrought by this cyclone in Texas County. An unofficial report says that Berryman Shelton’s place on Pigeon (Creek) was destroyed and his wife fatally injured.
The other cyclone which at first was thought to have caused minor damages, which entered the county west of Lenox (Community), has done great damage also. The first serious damages in its wake was at John Flett’s northwest of Lenox (Community) which destroyed everything and killing Mrs. Flett (Arena (Barnes) Flett); Dan Kahlor’s house and barn destroyed, but family escaped with minor injuries by taking refuge in the basement. Others damaged were George Kitchen, Ol Matlock, and Earl Jackson where Earl Jackson’s baby was also killed. Next it hit Jim Lay’s residence and barn, destroying everything except (the) kitchen; then Wm. Holman’s big barn; and A. J. Frank’s big barn.
It then went northeast parallel with the one which went through Salem, striking Tom Hayes’ place destroying everything. At Levi Inman’s house was probably totally destroyed and Mrs. Inman (Sarah Jane (Herod) Inman) had her arm broken and was severely injured; her little grandson was more severely injured and is not expected to live. At Earnest Bonebrake’s it blew the house away but left the porch with the family sitting on it, his wife hurt. At James Edgar’s everything was destroyed, leaving the family with nothing but the clothing they had on. At Edmonson’s all buildings were totally destroyed, with a like result at David Bingham’s. M.C. Talbot’s barn was destroyed and a two gallon can of oil was emptied into his cistern. At George Watkins’ the barn and silo were badly damaged. Frank Finley’s barn was destroyed. At Wiley Blackwell’s the house and barn destroyed and one boy badly hurt.
From Blackwell’s it passed through Hawkins Bank (Community), but we have not been able to learn the extent of the damage done. From Hawkins Bank (Community) it went east to Avery (Train) Station, where-considerable damage was done. We understand that several places about Hobson (Community) have been blown away, but are unable to learn anything about the destruction of this one farther east.
Another cyclone of less severity seemed to form near Gladden (Community) tearing down Eugene Steers’ corn crib, and the silo of Ike Dalrymple, then headed off on Black River where we have no report.
Much livestock, poultry, crops, fruit and timber has been destroyed.
The cyclone which passed thru Salem was not accompanied by any rain except a light-sprinkle in advance and about the same after it had passed. Immediately after it had passed, everybody that could went to the rescue of the injured along its course and did everything that could be done to relieve the suffering. Every doctor and many others were busy administering to the sufferers.
On account of the destruction of telephone and telegraph lines, it is impossible to determine the extent of the storms. Relief committees have been organized and sent to various parts of the county to ascertain the extent of suffering and will report at a meeting to be held at the court house tonight. Every one throughout the country and city are urged to assist in any manner they can to relieve the suffering.
The cyclone which passed north of Salem through Hobson (Community) and Bangert (Community) was accompanied by a heavy hailstorm. Section men who ran north to get out of the way of it at Bangert (Train Station) said that an hour after the storm, hailstones the size of hen’s eggs were lying thick upon the ground.
A report from Wesco (Train Station) by trainmen states that a cyclone had struck that place at 4:00 o’clock Wednesday afternoon which demolished four buildings right there in sight of the track. It is not known how extensive this one was.
A report today says that Dillard (Community) suffered heavy loss by the cyclone. We understand that Jake Fiebelman’s new residence was destroyed at that place. Nothing authentic can be learned from there; however, that place is in line of the storm which passed here.
The total loss of life so far as known is 4 with 43 injured but these figures will be increased as further news come from outlying sections. Relief parties are out in all directions and a relief fund started for “the benefit of the sufferers”, a great number of whom are without shelter or food and saved only the clothing they wore. Many appear so thoroughly stricken as to not realize their losses, having had all their earthly possessions swept away.
We will appreciate very much to have reports sent in from all parts of the county stating the extent of damage and number injured in your locality. Please do this.
Mayor Dye Appoints Relief Committee
At a meeting held upon the street Wednesday evening at 7:00 o’clock Mayor Dye (Alexander Elmont “Mont” Dye) appointed the following relief committee: T.P. Dent (Thomas Preston Dent), Chairman; W. W. Young (William Walter Young), W.C. Askin (William C. Askin), L.N. Coffman, J.H. Butler (James Henry Butler), G.W. Wise. This committee will have charge of the relief work necessary to be done for those who have lost their homes, and render assistance to the injured. Everybody who was fortunate in not being injured, nor losing a member of their family, or property, should contribute liberally to this much needed cause. Don’t wait for a member of this committee to ask you to contribute, but go to one of them and offer what you can. You cannot tell how soon your loved ones may be injured or your property destroyed by a tornado.
May 24, 1917 Cyclone Visits County (6 days earlier)
Quite a cyclone passed across a section of the county South East of Doss (Community) Monday evening. Several buildings were blown down or moved on foundation, trees uprooted and fences blown down. It is reported that the new residence of James Russell was moved on foundation. So far, we have learned of no one being injured which seems almost miraculous.
June 7, 1917 Local News (8 days later)
A receipt issued by Bank of Salem to Miss Minnie Organ was carried away in the cyclone last week and fell in a yard in O’Fallon, Illinois, a considerable distance east of St. Louis, the evening of the storm. The receipt was mailed back to Miss Organ.
A study of the map shows that the cyclone passing thru Salem took the least destructive course possible. A half mile to the south it would have cleaned out Licking and passed all the way thru Texas and Dent counties in a fine farming section. A half mile to the north would have wrecked Salem and many fine farming communities. A good part of the course lay in timber regions and cross-wise to thickly populated Valleys. It is remarkable that no more lives were lost and serious injuries sustained than have been reported. Most likely Mrs. Goade and (daughter) Mickie would have escaped to some safe place had Mickie been able to travel.
June 7, 1917 The Post - Cyclone Notes.
As the days pass on people are getting back to their daily avocations and the cyclone would be but a horrible memory did not so many reminders of the terrible damage done to the lives and property of those who were in its path meet us daily.
The funerals are over and those left here can hardly realize yet the awful stroke which came out of the sky to leave death and devastation, but all who suffered are bravely facing the inevitable and trying to get together whatever was left and start all over again. In this they are being assisted by willing hands and generous contributions of money clothing and food by those who were more fortunate.
A relief fund was started Wednesday and in a short time over $1,500 in cash was raised. Much clothing bedding and other necessaries were given to help those temporarily who had their property destroyed.
There have been gatherings in several districts for the purpose of rebuilding fences, straightening out wreckage and rendering whatever assistance possible. Of course this can only relieve the suffering to a very limited extent, but many willing hands are doing all possible.
Along two parallel paths through the county from Southwest to the Northeast corner is a scene of wreckage. Everywhere there are barns, dwellings, and household goods scattered broadcast, orchards uprooted and fences down and in places where the land had been recently plowed the very earth itself swept away down to the hard-pan. It is estimated by conservative parties that the loss in this county will exceed $200,000.
The scenes of desolation are beyond description. It is difficult to believe that such destruction could have been done with so far only four deaths. Although a great many were injured the above was the number of fatalities here.
The cyclone which passed through Salem came, so far as has been traced, from the vicinity of Success (Community) on Piney River in Texas County and went in a straight line through Salem and Mineral Point. A person who will take a map of Missouri and lay a ruler through (the towns of) Licking, Salem and Mineral Point will cover the route traversed and by making a line through these points nearly an exact line can be traced through intermediate points. All along the long line people are homeless and destitute except for what local aid can be rendered.
Farmers having had their stock and machinery swept away will have great difficulty in making a crop, but with the usual grit of our people are doing their best to get started with what little is left of them.
If such a thing could be possible our neighbor county of Texas suffered even worse than Dent. While the property damage does not, from reports, seem to be any worse than ours the loss of life was greater. At the place of Marion Jackson on Piney river four were killed out right. The house was picked up and carried away into the river-bottom and torn to pieces. All four of the family were dead when found and all terribly mangled. One child was found in the river fastened to a tree by one foot. Licking narrowly escaped as the storm passed along the edge of the town and the residents thought it would undoubtedly go through the business section. We are unable to learn the exact number of deaths in Texas County but they will, according to the best information we can get, reach ten, with many injured.
Eastward in Crawford County the loss was great, with many dead and injured.
Very few of the damaged were protected by insurance and in most cases the loss is total. It will take years to overcome the effects of this awful storm and it will be remembered by all as the most disastrous occurrence in the history of this community.
The ones who suffered most should apply to the relief committee who will do all possible to help them as far as means at hand will go.
The cyclone which passed through Salem on Decoration Day killed six people and seriously injured a number of others in Texas County. It is supposed to have started near Success west of Piney river and traveled in a northeasterly direction almost to the Mississippi river as it can be traced beyond Bonne Terre (,MO). This cyclone missed Licking about 3/4 of a mile and the older residents were badly scared, remembering the cyclone which practically swept Licking and Marshfield away 37 years ago (1880).
Report also says that another cyclone (on May 30, 1917) came out of Wright County striking Texas County near Turley, where 2 people were killed and a number injured.
Miss Minnie Organ suffered three broken ribs in the cyclone which demolished the Organ home last week.
Silas Fowler is said to have drawn a sum of money with the intention of buying a cow that evening, but when his home was destroyed the money was blown away.
It is reported that the house of Grant Jackson, several miles southwest of Salem, was completely destroyed leaving only the porch on which the family were sitting.
May 31, 1917 St. Louis, MO newspapers reported:
About the tornado: as also striking Mineral Point, Washington County, MO, and Jedberg, MO, a small town between St. Louis and Jefferson City. (Nothing was reported about Dent County.)
May 31, 1917 Mason City Globe-Gazette, Iowa newspaper reported:
On the tornado and listed the dead of Mineral Point, MO and Palmer, MO. (Nothing was reported about Dent County.)
June 1, 1917 The Lead Belt News, Flat River, St. Francois Co., MO reported:
On the tornado that went through Flat River at about 5 o'clock. (Nothing was reported about Dent County.)
June 6, 1917 The Washington Citizen newspaper, Washington, Franklin Co., MO reported:
About hunger and disease facing a big district and about Mineral Point as have suffered most in loss of lives and damages. (Nothing was reported about Dent County.)
May 2014 internet articles reporting on the weather event:
May–June 1917 tornado outbreak sequence
The 1917 May 25 — June 1 tornado outbreak sequence was an eight-day tornado event, now known as a “tornado outbreak sequence”. One of the deadliest tornado outbreak sequences in US history. An F5 killed 23 people in Kansas. There was a long-track tornado that killed 67 people, mostly in Kentucky. The deadliest tornado of the entire sequence produced a 155-mile track across Illinois, killing 101 people and devastating the towns of Charleston and Mattoon along with several small farming communities. Once believed to have traveled 290-miles cross Illinois and into Indiana, it is now assessed to have been a tornado family of four to eight separate tornadoes. The tornado outbreak sequence killed at least 383 people, mostly in the Midwestern and parts of the Southeastern United States. It was the most intense and the longest continuous tornado outbreak sequence on record, with at least 73 tornadoes including 15 that were analyzed to have been violent (F4–F5) based upon the reported damage (63 significant, 15 violent, 35 killer tornados). The tornadoes caused damages greater than $6.88 million (1917 USD); greater than $127 million (2014 USD) in today’s money. The tornadoes affected the states of: Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas.
A tornado is a violently rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or, in rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud. At the time of the 1917 tornado outbreak, the three Salem, Missouri newspapers reported the events as a cyclone. A cyclone is any area of closed low pressure, circular fluid motion rotating in the same direction as the Earth and not necessarily touching the ground.
Today, for rating tornado intensity, the Fujita scale (F-Scale) or Fujita–Pearson scale is used, based primarily on the damage tornadoes inflict on human-built structures and vegetation. A F4 has an estimated wind speed of 207- 260 mph, average damage path approx. 1/4-1/2 mile, potential damage: devastating damage, well-constructed houses leveled; structures with weak foundations blown away some distance; cars thrown and large missiles generated.
May 30 1917 events as related to Dent County, were mentioned by the United States Weather Bureau in a 2013 report as 2 events:
F4, location: West of Manes (Community) to near Anutt (Community), in the counties of Wright, Texas, Phelps, Dent; Time of occurrence (UTC): 1830 hours (2:30 p.m. local time); Path length: 55 miles; Damage: 10 deaths — Leveled farms and small homes near the Big Piney River, south of Hazleton (Community), and northwest of Lenox (Community). This long-track tornado passed only 5 miles north of the next tornado path, listed below.
F4, location: West of Success (Community) to near Melzo (Community), in the counties of Texas, Dent, Crawford, Washington, St. Francois, Jefferson; Time of occurrence (UTC): 1900 hours (3:00 p.m. local time); Path length: 108 miles; Damage: 10 deaths — Major tornado or tornado family damaged or destroyed homes in Licking, Ranger (Community), Salem, Eye (Community), and Mineral Point. Most of Mineral Point was damaged with homes leveled in the north of town.
Historical Major Tornadoes of Dent County
Apr 18, 1880 (F2) 2 injured, no deaths.
May 30, 1917 (F4) 10 injured, 3 dead.
May 30, 1917 (F4) 30 injured, no deaths.
Jan 18, 1933 (F2) none injured, no deaths.
Apr 29, 1947 (F3) 1 injured, no deaths.
Apr 3, 1958 (F2) none injured, no deaths.
According to the National Weather Service Dent County has experienced two F4 tornadoes (207 - 260 mph, well-constructed walls leveled), but no F5 tornadoes (261 - 318 mph, homes lifted off foundation and carried considerable distances, autos thrown as far as 100 meters) and from 1880 thru 2007 they record 3 deaths and 47 injuries.
Note: It was reported in the Salem newspapers that; “N. D. Hobson’s home was picked up from its foundation and carried 50 feet away” and “Ray Wofford’s automobile was picked up and deposited several hundred feet away”. Which prompts the question, was the 1917 tornado/ cyclone through Salem a F4 or perhaps a F5?
This historical account should prompt us to ask how well prepared are we today if a F4/F5 were to strike again? Where are the disaster shelters located and are there proper signs for citizens to know their locations? Have maps showing emergency routs to shelters been provided to Dent county and Salem residents? Where does a county resident go for shelter, where they go for help? Which water wells have generators to pump drinking water? Which gas stations have generators to pump fuel? Which banks can operate without electricity to provide funding? Which food suppliers have generators? Just how well prepared are we for a major tornado or earthquake today?
All research material and the newspaper microfilm is or will be available in the Salem Library. Newspaper clippings transcribed and merged for this article by Donna Lynn Hayman Lanigan. Article researched by Dennis Glenn Hayman.
Cyclones of May 30, 1917
Known Dead
*Arena (Barnes) Flett
*Earl Jackson’s child
*Mrs. Sam Goade
*Mica Goade
Known Injured
*T. T. Mendenhall
*Mrs. Berryman Shelton
*Evert Hawkins
*Mrs. J.E. Organ
*Miss Minnie Organ
*John Casey
*Seven members of Casey family
*Mrs. Newt Leonard
*Mrs. Otto Leonard
*Anna Leonard
*Mrs. Jim Whiteaker
*Three of Jim Whiteaker’s children
*Mrs. Roy Martin
*Two of Lee Goade’s children
*Bert Walker
The following story appeared in the June 24 edition:
Historical Major Tornadoes of Dent County
Apr 18, 1880 (F2) 2 injured, no deaths.
May 30, 1917 (F4) 10 injured, 3 dead.
May 30, 1917 (F4) 30 injured, no deaths.
Jan 18, 1933 (F2) none injured, no deaths.
Apr 29, 1947 (F3) 1 injured, no deaths.
Apr 3, 1958 (F2) none injured, no deaths.
Newspaper clippings transcribed and merged for this article by Donna Lynn Hayman Lanigan. Article researched by Dennis Glenn Hayman. All research material and the newspaper microfilm is or will be available in the Salem Library.
