Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 August 1916 — Recalls Heavy Freeze of August 28, 1802. [ARTICLE]

Recalls Heavy Freeze of August 28, 1802.

Uncle James T. Randle came in .Monday morning to renew his suoscription and said that 5 4 years ago, on August 2S, 1862, this section of the country was visited by the heaviest freeze ever known here so early in the season. All the corn, grass and other vegetation was killed completely. Mr. Randle, John Makeever and Addison Parkinson had 300 head of rattle in pasture out at Daniel Lamson’s, on the prairie, in Jordan tp. The prairie grass was killed by the freeze and they did not know what to do with these cattle. But next day each mounted horses and scoured the country to see if they could find some place ( where the freeze had not been so severe. Mr. Makeever went north, Mr. Parkinson north and east and Mr. Randle east and south, over in the Monon vicinity. The two latter found everything killed in the territory they traversed, but Mr. Makeever found quite a large tract on his route, lying in between sand hills, that had been burned over earlier in the season and was covered with nice tender grass nearly knee high. They drove their cattle to this place and kept them there until away along In November. The animals got nice and fat and they were sold about January 1, 1863, for some 2 % cents per pound to a Chicago firm and they were shipped South. A year or two later the price of cattle reached 6 cents a pound, which was a tremendous big price for that time. Mr. Randle, who will soon be 85 years of age, Is the only one of the trio left, but an occasional remaining old resident, will recall this August freeze.