1929 — April 5, tornadoes, IA (1), MN (4), multiple counties, WI (17) –19-22
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 2-11-2025 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
–22 Blanchard, from listing of fatalities from newspapers at the time, noted below.[1]
–21 AP. “Bride’s Death Is 21st in Tornado.” Janesville Daily Gazette, WI. 4-8-1929, p. 11.
–7 Barron County
–19 AP. “Nineteen Perish…Tornado…3 States.” Telegraph-Herald, Dubuque, IA. 4-7-1929, 1.
–15 Blanchard tally, 4 separate Grazulis entries, page 823 of Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991.
–1 Iowa, NW of Little Rock. 15:00 F2. Grazulis, p. 823.
–2 Minnesota, Forest Lake and Shafer. 17:30 F4. Grazulis, p. 823.
–7 Wisconsin, Barren County 17:45 F4. Grazulis, p. 823.
–5 Wisconsin, Sawyer County 19:00 F4. Grazulis, p. 823.
–2 Exeland (mother and son in house)
–2 Exeland? (another mother and son in house)
–1 Ojibwa (man killed in a barn)
Newspaper
April 6, AP/Stevens Point Daily Journal: “At Least Thirteen Killed and Many Injured, with Barron County Severely Afflicted.
“Minneapolis, April 6 – (AP) – A mounting casualty list which stood at 13 dead, three missing and more than 100 injured, besides property damage estimated at millions of dollars, bore testimony today to the fury of spring storms which swirled over Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa yesterday. With communication into some sections severed and a number of the injured in critical condition it was feared that the death list would increase as belated reports came from the affected areas.
“The death toll includes eight in northwestern Wisconsin, four in Minnesota and one in Iowa.
“A section of Minnesota extending approximately 60 miles north from the Twin cities and an area approximately 75 square miles in Wisconsin felt the full force of the storm before it exhausted its force. In Chisago county, Minnesota, alone, property damage was estimated at $500,000.
“Superior, Wis., April 6 – (AP) – Reports from storm-swept northwest Wisconsin and Minnesota today indicated that the death toll from last night’s tornado may reach or pass a score. According to advices received here over slender wire communications at least 18 are known to be dead in the two states, 14 of them in Wisconsin, with the possibility that deaths among the 200 or more injured may bring the final toll to more than twenty.
“Virtually all buildings on at least 500 farms have been destroyed in addition to much more property damage, particularly to wire communications. Among the injured, at least 25 were reported in a critical condition, including 16 in a hospital at Rice Lake and nine at Barron. Line crews setting out today to repair telephone wires reported that they could not even find the poles in some areas and estimated that several days will be required to place new equipment in condition.
The Reported Dead
“The list of dead as received here included the following: [We re-arrange alphabetically.]
- [or A. F.][2] Anderson, Glenwood City. [St. Croix County WI]
- F. Bryan, 62, Taylor Falls. [MN] [Chisago County WI]
Mrs. [Henry][3] Chase, Exeland, Wis. [Sawyer County WI]
Robert Chase, 17, son of Mrs. Henry Chase, near Exeland. [Sawyer County, WI]
[Victory Christensen, Minneapolis Hennepin County MN][4]
Erwin Erdman, 32, Dancy. [Marathon County WI]
Andrew Hanson [Handson?[5]], 42 [45?[6]], Minneapolis. [Hennepin County MN]
[Mrs. Henry A. Hanson, Barron County. Died from injuries at Riverside hospital Apr 8.][7]
Mr. Johnson, living northeast of Exeland. [Sawyer County WI]
George [or John[8]] Lundgren, [40[9]] Forest Lake. [Washington Co. MN]
[10-year-old son of Mrs. Ida Moyer, Barren Barron County WI][10]
[Frank Olson, 60, farmer, Lindstrom {Chisago County MN][11]
[Mrs. John Paulson, 82, near Barron {Barron Co.}. Separate listing same page.]
Richard Pittman, Creek [near Reeve[12]] [Barron County WI]
Douglas Pittman, son of Richard [Barron County WI]
Louis [or Lawrence][13] Pittman, son of Richard [Barron County WI]
[Dorothy Pitman,[14] daughter of Richard [Barron County WI]
Martha Raawe, 37 [or 26[15]], near Rice Lake. [Barron County WI]
Mrs. Louise [or Lewis[16]] Reed, 50, near Rice Lake. [Barron Co. WI]
John Salmon [or Soloman[17]], Clayton. [Polk County WI]
Mrs. Chris Steve, Weirgor [near Exeland], Wis. [Sawyer County WI]
George Tuin, 40, of Minneapolis [or Little Rock, IA [Lyon County IA]
Unidentified woman, near Rice Lake. [Barron County WI]
(AP. “Wind Slays in Northwest Wisconsin. Tornado Path From Superior to Twin Cities.” Stevens Point Daily Journal, WI. 4-6-1929, p. 1.
April 8, AP: “ Barron – (AP) – Mrs. Henry A. Hanson, bride of two weeks, died Monday at Riverside hospital here. Her death was the seventh death in Barron county and brings the northwest storm toll to 21.” (Associated Press. “Bride’s Death Is 21st in Tornado.” Janesville Daily Gazette, WI. 4-8-1929, p. 11.)
Sources
Associated Press. “9 Die In West In Tornadic Storms.” Richmond News Leader, VA. 4-6-1929, p. 1. Accessed 2-11-2025 at:
https://virginiachronicle.com/?a=d&d=RNL19290406.1.1&e=——-en-20–1–txt-txIN——–
Associated Press. “Bride’s Death Is 21st in Tornado.” Janesville Daily Gazette, WI. 4-8-1929, p. 11. Accessed 2-11-2025 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/janesville-daily-gazette-apr-08-1929-p-11/
Associated Press. “Nineteen Perish As Tornado Claws Through 3 States.” Telegraph-Herald, Dubuque, IA. 4-7-1929, p. 1. Accessed 2-11-2025 at:
https://newspaperarchive.com/dubuque-telegraph-herald-and-times-journal-apr-07-1929-p-1/
Associated Press. “Wind Slays in Northwest Wisconsin. Tornado Path From Superior to Twin Cities.” Stevens Point Daily Journal, WI. 4-6-1929, p. 1. Accessed 2-11-2025 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/stevens-point-daily-journal-apr-06-1929-p-1/
Grazulis, Thomas P. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events. St. Johnsbury, VE: Environmental Films, 1993, 1,326 pages.
United Press. “Cyclone Hits Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin.” Oelwein Daily Register, IA. 4-6-1929, p. 1. Accessed 2-11-2025 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/oelwein-daily-register-apr-06-1929-p-1/
[1] We do not include an unidentified woman listing in that her name possibly appears on list in later report.
[2] AP. “Nineteen Perish As Tornado Claws Through 3 States.” Telegraph-Herald, Dubuque, IA. 4-7-1929, p. 1.
[3] AP. “Nineteen Perish As Tornado Claws Through 3 States.” Telegraph-Herald, Dubuque, IA. 4-7-1929, p. 1.
[4] AP. “Nineteen Perish As Tornado Claws Through 3 States.” Telegraph-Herald, Dubuque, IA. 4-7-1929, p. 1.
[5] AP. “Nineteen Perish As Tornado Claws Through 3 States.” Telegraph-Herald, Dubuque, IA. 4-7-1929, p. 1.
[6] AP. “Nineteen Perish As Tornado Claws Through 3 States.” Telegraph-Herald, Dubuque, IA. 4-7-1929, p. 1.
[7] Associated Press. “Bride’s Death Is 21st in Tornado.” Janesville Daily Gazette, WI. 4-8-1929, p. 11.
[8] United Press. “Cyclone Hits Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin.” Oelwein Daily Register, IA. 4-6-1929, p. 1.
[9] AP. “Nineteen Perish As Tornado Claws Through 3 States.” Telegraph-Herald, Dubuque, IA. 4-7-1929, p. 1.
[10] AP. “Nineteen Perish As Tornado Claws Through 3 States.” Telegraph-Herald, Dubuque, IA. 4-7-1929, p. 1.
[11] AP. “Nineteen Perish As Tornado Claws Through 3 States.” Telegraph-Herald, Dubuque, IA. 4-7-1929, p. 1.
[12] Associated Press. “9 Die In West In Tornadic Storms.” Richmond News Leader, VA. 4-6-1929, p. 1.
[13] AP. “Nineteen Perish As Tornado Claws Through 3 States.” Telegraph-Herald, Dubuque, IA. 4-7-1929, p. 1.
[14] United Press. “Cyclone Hits Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin.” Oelwein Daily Register, IA. 4-6-1929, p. 1.
[15] United Press. “Cyclone Hits Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin.” Oelwein Daily Register, IA. 4-6-1929, p. 1.
[16] United Press. “Cyclone Hits Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin.” Oelwein Daily Register, IA. 4-6-1929, p. 1.
[17] Same paper and page, but separate article out of Superior, WI.