''Old
Probabilities.'' - In 1816 the pioneers gathered their wheat crop in
July, the weather being exceedingly cold.
1817. A frost visited Ohio on the 1st of June of
this year, completely destroying the fruit and killing the verdure of
the orchards and forest trees.
1825. May i8th the terriffic " Burlington storm " swept
over Delaware, Licking, Knox and Coshocton counties, the most violent
tornado that ever visited Ohio.
1833. November 13th of this year, we are told, "the stars fell."
It was a copious shower, and meteoric tramps tumbled through the heavens
and popped earthward in prodigal confusion.
1834. A frost occurred on the iith day of May, materially injuring
the wheat crop.
1835. Heavy rains fell during the summer, submerging the bottoms
and rendering tillage impracticable. Hay crop seriously damaged, and
cattle died from eating it. Comet this year.
1841. An unusually violent snow storm May 2.
1843. July 2ist, severe frost.
1845. Frosts appeared May 7th and 25th, destroying the wheat crop
of that year.
1854-55. The winters of these years will long be remembered.
Snow covered the ground thirteen weeks in succession. The month of
May, 1855, was remarkably dry, but from the loth to the 17th, the June
of this year will not be forgotten for its remarkable floods.
1855. On the 24th of December it began to snow, and from this date
until the last of the month of March, the sleighing remained excellent,
the snow covering the earth till about the 20th of April. Forest and
fruit trees were killed, and since the first settlement of the country
no winter presented so grim and wrinkled a front.
1859. What is known as the "June Frost" of this year was a sad
visitation upon Northern Ohio. June 5, 1859, on Sunday morning, the face
of the earth looked as though a sheet of living flame had smitten the
vegetation that covered its hills and valleys.
1873-74. The winter of these years is worthy of special mention.
On the 6th and 7th of January, 1874, occurred the great "Ice Storm,"
which must be distinguished for its destructive effects upon the forests
of the country.
1877. Up to Christmas of this year the season was most remarkable.
On the Friday previous to Christmas the thermometer marked 90° in the
sun; on the Satur- [Page 860]
day previous 80°, and on the Sunday before Christmas the mercury rose to
100° in the sun. The days were delightful and balmy, while the
nights were beautiful,
dewy and frostless.
''Old John Baker'' came to Wayne
county in 1815 from Somerset county, Pennsylvania, but was born in York
county, that State. He was a farmer, a resident of Wayne township,
and a member of the Methodist church. He died in 186-, aged
eighty-three years, leaving a family of nine children. His son
John now lives on the old homestead in Wayne township.
MORE TO COME...
-----------------------------------------------
< BACK TO TABLE OF CONTENTS
>
|