Winnebago Historical Society

06/07/2026

CYCLONE KILLS JACOB WARD -ELLINGTON TOWNSHIP
This coming Thursday marks the 145th year of a devastating June 11th cyclone that totally destroyed property and lives southeast of Forest City.
One of the first pioneers to settle in the township was Jacob Ward who started his farm in 1855 the same year as Clark starting Forest City. He was known to most settlers in Ellington as a statesman and a "Go To Guy" who was honest, loveable and hardworking.
The day of June 11, 1881 was ending as the family were eating supper that evening when they heard the comings of a severe thunderstorm. Little did Ward know that a cyclone was on the ground northeast of where Miller is now heading his direction. Wanting to protect his wooden windmill, he left the supper table and family to head out to lock the windmill head down so the vanes would not be destroyed. On his way back a cyclone 10 rods wide (160ft) was leveling everything including his farmstead and tossed Ward 140 feet into the grove killing Ward with a broken neck and crushed chest.
Many names were in this 1884 history book of destruction including C.A. Clarks residence tossing his daughter into the field, Francis and Rich Colburns farms, Lewis Thompson farm, Nels Oleson farm, as well as the two story Ellington country school by the Winnebago River and the bridge next to it.
O. K. Pike was returning from Forest City with his team of horses pulling a brand new lumber wagon with his buggy behind it. The storm blew him into a slough and he remembered one horse being lifted over the other one. He survived but both of his wagons were not to be found.
It continued onto the Gillette, Howland, Whiteis, Carlson, and Bolinger farms. The path of destruction and death ran from now Miller to east of todays Pilot K**b.
Jacob Ward is buried in the north end of Ellington Cemetery with his two wives. It is written that Wards funeral saw over 110 horse and carriages lines up on the dirt path to the cemetery in honor of a man who was a friend and leader of the developing Ellington township in its early days!
One hundred forty-five years this Thursday.
PS. Tornadoes were called Cyclones in early settlers days and the name changed over the years.
Riley Lewis -Winnebago Historical Society Research
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06/07/2026

Tombstone - Oakland
Do the math .... Think of what this family experience in 17 years...
Six kids - 5 boys -one girl...........
Sad -Very Sad!!

06/07/2026

06/07/2026

EVER NOTICE??
Almost every street in Forest City has a north/south or east/west projectory except one? And that one lines up with the 1896 Winnebago County Courthouse?? Was once called Mill Street for the water powered grinding mill next to the river but changed to Secor Avenue. The prominent Secor family owned most of the property east of the avenue to the flood plains of the Winnebago River. Check it out!!

06/07/2026

WOW -TIME DOES FLY SO GRAB A MEMORY FROM OUR 170 YEARS OF FOREST CITY!!!!

06/05/2026

SEASON OPENINGS THIS WEEKEND!
MANSION MUSEUM -SUNDAY 1-4 PM
TUESDAY 1-4 PM
HERITAGE PARK -SATURDAY 1-4 PM SOUTH 69 Forest City
Its changed -we mean its really changed. The Mansion Museum will certainly impress you with the new collections and presentation of our 1900 Banker Charlie Thompson's Home in Forest Ctiy north of the Post Office! Also Friday Heritage Park will show you a preview of the many projects on going for the summer months!
Both 1-4 this weekend -stop in and say Hi!! We would love to show you your history!!!!

06/05/2026

Horsepower, chrome, outstanding music, food, and entertainment will be off the charts this year as again, we welcome the very popular "No Coast Truck Show" Labor Day weekend to Heritage Park. But wait... there's much more to this that's coming so just mark the calender and stay tuned.
SOMETHIN TO SEE!!!!

🎯🎯MARK YOUR CALENDARS🎯🎯No Coast Large Cars Truck Show is happening this Labor Day weekend at Heritage Park of North Iowa in Forest City, Iowa! SEPTEMBER 5TH & 6TH! Check out details at www.nocoastlargecarstruckshow.com

06/05/2026

FROM THE OLDIES FILES
Jim Oulman with his computer has the ability to "clean up" pictures and sent this to me. It's a celebration as the Welcome and the "Father of Country" banners span the street. Looking north there is no Charlie Thompsons Bank shown (1896) but there is a large steeple where todays Chinese restaurant is located which is the Methodist Church. That puts this somewhere in the late 1880's to early 1890's vintage. Thank you Jim!!!

05/31/2026

NOT A TYPICAL SUNDAY EVENING -Riley Lewis
It was suppose to be a typical Sunday evening two weeks ago this day at the Delawyer Family south of Joice, when they were engaged head on with a tornado and destructive high winds on a 10 mile plus path across Winnebago and Worth Counties.
The couple were just taking cover on the way to their basement when everything came a part injuring and hospitalizing Mrs. Delawyer. Because of the use of cel phones, within minutes rescue workers and neighbors joined efforts in total darkness to save their friends and neighbors.
According to a veteran house mover, many two story rural homes of that age will weigh in the 60-75 ton area and this structure was moved 15 feet off its foundation.
The drone pictured taken by a friend of the family shows a footprint of fury as it spun its path destroying structures, dirt and trees or whatever was in its way.
We thank the Delawyer Family in sharing this picture and are thankful for their safety and for the circle of friends and relatives who are stepping up to help carry the load. Helping friends and neighbors is what rural Iowa does best in these situations!
It's also a great example when the "take cover warnings" are issued by officials, its time to do exactly that!!
If you know the Delawyers, please feel free to comment and support them!