The Tornadoes of 1916 & 1917

On the evening of March 29, 1916, between 8:30 and 9:00 p.m., a destructive tornado tore a path of death and destruction through the heart of Murray County killing nine people, eight people from one family.

The Sunshine community between Sulphur and Davis was the scene of the holocaust. Traveling nearly due north, the tornado sat down on the north side of the Arbuckle Mountains and tore a path a quarter-mile wide and ten miles long. This would probably make it an F-4 tornado by today's standards.

As the tornado approached the Sunshine community, Alex Edgmon's son Pete, brought his young family to his father's house for safety. At the last moment before the tornado struck, Alex made a run for the barn to put the livestock inside for protection. As he was rounding up the terrified critters, the tornado suddenly struck causing the barn to collapse on top of Alex. This probably saved his life protecting him from the swirling debris. He suffered only minor injuries.

The tornado then struck the house killing all inside. These were Alex's wife, mother-in-law, three sons, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren.

It was reported that the destruction was total and the family members were so horribly mutilated that they were nearly unrecognizable.

L. O. Franklin who lived near Chigley suffered a broken arm and leg and died the next day. He was buried the following Monday at Wynnewood. Mrs. Franklin was injured loosing an eye but survived her ordeal.

A rural mail carrier whose route went through the affected area reported the following destruction: J. R. Etherton's house was blown 30 feet from it's foundation but the family was in the cellar and escaped injury, the R. H. Huddleston house was destroyed along with the home of J. H. Waller; C. C. Huddleston lost his house and barn, being totally destroyed; brick chimneys at Fairview school were blown off as well as 17 poles in the Pioneer Telephone line between Sulphur and Davis.

The home of J. H. Pope was destroyed along with the barn. Pete Edgmon's home was picked up and turned around on its foundation.

E. E. McDonald's house was damaged and one horse killed; R. H. Earl's home and barn were demolished and one horse and four hogs killed. W. I. Hamilton had his house wrecked and he was blown a hundred yards into a field but he suffered only minor scratches.

A wood shingle was blown through a tree with both ends of it visible on each side of the tree.

The home of Rev. H. D. Lowe was completely destroyed yet the smokehouse situated only twenty feet away was untouched. Rev. Lowe was the only person in the affected area to have insurance and estimated his loss well in excess of the $600 policy he carried.

The homes of W. A. King, R. B. Stafford, Ed Grider, M. W. Johnson, L. O. Franklin and a Mrs. Charles were either partially or totally destroyed.

Rocky Point School was moved about 30 yards from it's foundation and the floor was torn away.

The home of Jack Pennery was blown away but his family of eight, huddled together in the home was not seriously injured. Sam Crawford's house was blown from its foundation, as were many others. Details of destruction in the Iona community were not available.

The funeral for the Edgmon family was arranged by Hutchins Brothers Funeral Home in Davis. A mass grave was dug and the eight members of the Edgmon family were laid side-by-side in the large grave.

The family plot has a large concrete border and a single monument with the names of the family members who perished in the tragedy. The name of Alex Edgmon, who died in 1944, is etched beneath the rest of his family. In the center of the stone is engraved the image of a swirling tornado.

The graves and stone can still be seen in the center of the "old" section of Green Hill Cemetery, which are situated on top of the hill surrounded by the beautiful old oak trees.

The names and ages of those in the Edgmon family who perished in this tragedy are: Mrs. Alex Edgmon; age 58; Mrs. Hannah Thomas; age 89, Alonzo Edgmon; age 18, Sam Edgmon; age 14, Pete Edgmon; age 27, Mrs. Pete Edgmon; age 24, Urey Edgmon; age 6, Cecil Edgmon, age 2.

This is not the only mass tragedy caused by a tornado in Murray County. The following year of 1917 was no better for destructive weather. On June 1, 1917, a tornado struck the Drake/Nebo community killing five members of the Alex Williams family in which Alex, 48, and his wife Josephine, 47, and children Emma, 17, Rebecca 14, and Robert 13 were killed. The impressive Williams's monument and grave can be seen at the Drake/Nebo cemetery.

Contributed by Dennis Muncrief - August, 2003.