George Washington Paxson ^{1 2 3}

   FamilySearch ID: K8QF-R55.

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Residence: A tornado destroyed the farm of Frank Paxson (estimated loss $2000) and the new home of George W. Paxson (estimated loss $1200) on 1 Jul 1876 in Parkesburg, Chester, PA. ⁴ Excerpts from the 1877 book, "A Full Description of the Great Tornado in Chester County, Pa.". See source citation for full text. -----

The unprecedented destruction of property by the tornado which passed through the western part of our county on the first of July last, created in the minds of many a desire to have a full account of the movement, conduct, and origin of the storm cloud, together with such scientific explanation as would throw some light upon this remarkable phenomenon. After some weeks had elapsed, I gave the subject considerable attention, and have prepared this pamphlet, which I trust will meet some of the wants of intelligent inquirers upon this subject, and will also be the means of enabling the people to have a better knowledge of the loss sustained by those living along the route of the storm. This account has been prepared at the suggestion of a number who are interested in the subject.

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The first point of interest in connection with the tornado was about one mile south-east of the Gap station, on the Penn'a Rail Road, and about two miles west of the boundary line between Chester and Lancaster counties. From this point the storm-cloud proceeded for about two miles in a direction south 70 degrees east, or about 20 degrees south of a line running due east. About three-fourths of a mile east of Sadsbury Meeting House a slight change of direction occurred in the movement of the cloud, and it took a direction a little to the north, running south 75 degrees east. It proceeded, with slight local variations, for about eight miles in a direct line, and cutting a track about 200 yards wide, until it reached the property of William Hamill, in East Fallowfield township, near Newlin's Mill, and here it widened to about 300 yards, destroying the fences, crops, etc., on his property.

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About a mile distant from Mr. Bonsall's buildings was a barn, said to be owned by a Building Association of West Chester. The roof of this building was carried off, and about $200 damage was sustained. The storm-cloud had now acquired rapid motion and passed with great violence over the property of Frank Paxson, who lives almost directly east from the other properties mentioned. Mr. Paxson is quite an old man, and told his story with considerable frankness. He was lying down on that Sabbath afternoon and had his attention suddenly called to a great roaring sound without. He had scarcely time to go to his front door and examine the situation, when his large stone structure encountered a tremendous blast of wind, and all was over in a moment. He then looked out upon the scene: his barn was entirely demolished, and also all his out-buildings. The trap door of his house was carried off, and all his carriages and farming utensils were gone. The trees near his dwelling, strange to say, were saved, while his orchard was uprooted from one end to the other. I observed one of his large apple trees, not only blown over, but carried about fifty feet from its proper place. Mr. Paxson evidently felt his loss deeply, but was cheerful. We asked him if he had received assistance from any source? He replied--"not any." He was slowly beginning the work of "reconstruction," but his place looked desolate indeed. His grain was stacked, and bore evidence of having been severely handled by the storm. His loss was estimated at about two thousand dollars. The next property in the track of the storm was that of Madison Irvin. Part of the roof of his barn was gone, and his wagon shed was overthrown; a few fences and trees also were swept away. One hundred dollars would probably cover his loss.

We were now beginning to advance up the North Valley Hill, and were about three miles from Parkesburg.

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A remarkable incident occurred on the Strasburg road, near Mr. Young's buildings. A German by the name of Jacob Eisinberger, was leisurely walking along the road; he was almost unconscious of the approach of the storm; on looking around he saw the fence blow away, and immediately found himself in the whirl. He was carried along for about two hundred yards in an unconscious state, and was then left in an adjoining field, his jaw being broken, his shoulder blade fractured, and various minor injuries were experienced. He was taken to the hospital at Lancaster, and remained there for a time under treatment. This was probably the only instance in which the tornado carried a human being along with it. In all other instances personal safety was sought within dwellings, and in most cases with good success.

The track of the storm now extended through the southern part of the borough of Parkesburg; only the extreme south-western portion of the village, however, was destroyed. First came the new residence of Mr. Geo. Paxson, Superintendent of the Penn'a and Delaware R. R. This was a building of rather modest pretensions, long and narrow, and constructed of frame. It had been finished, and his family were preparing to move in on the following day. The dwelling was said to have been erected by contract, the cost to be about fifteen hundred dollars. The cloud on encountering the building, entirely demolished it; a pump stood on the north or kitchen end, solitary and alone, and it was evident that the structure had been near the centre of the storm track. Several dwellings were now encountered towards the east in the following order: First, was Mrs. Fulton's; her house was so badly injured that it will probably have to be built again from the foundation. The loss, which it is said falls partly upon the Parkesburg Building Association, cannot fall much below eight hundred dollars. Next was Charles Hennings's residence; the east end of it was destroyed, with the loss of between one and two hundred dollars. Vincent Rice, who came next in order, and had a house in course of erection, sustained a loss of probably two hundred dollars. This includes, I believe, most, if not all the destruction within the immediate limits of Parkesburg.

We now saw ahead of us, and a little to the south of the main road, the residence of Samuel Jackson. His barn was gone, his house unroofed and otherwise injured; his orchard was overthrown, and all his out-buildings, some of which contained a large amount of grain, were entirely missing; his fences were nowhere to be seen, and there was the usual story of the destruction of farming implements, carriages, etc. The injury done to Mr. Jackson's property was very great indeed. He informed us that he was standing next to the door in one of the front rooms, and the great blast of wind blew the door off its hinges, striking him a blow which fractured several of his ribs, and left him entirely senseless. For several hours he remained in that condition, finding himself, eventually, in one of the neighbor's houses, and under medical treatment. Mr. Jackson's buildings were again in course of erection, though he stated that he hesitated considerably when he came to consider the question, whether or not he should re-erect them. He seemed very much surprised that _he_ should have received such an unfortunate overthrow, while his neighbors, of some of whom he spoke very highly, were passed by entirely. His loss will amount in the aggregate, to about two thousand dollars, which will fall upon himself, as no assistance, up to the time of his repairing, had been rendered him.

The track of the storm-cloud now extended along the southern side of Buck Run Valley, mounting the hill as it approached Stottsville...

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2. He has conflicting death information of The West Chester Death Register recorded "Paxon, George, white, male, 71, married, USA, railroader, 1894/12/21, Parkesburg, la grippe, 2 months (vol 1 page 201), 21 Dec 1894 and Parkesburg, Chester, PA. ⁵

3. Newspaper: The Times: Deaths: George W. Paxson, 23 Dec 1894, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA. ^{1 3} PAXSON. -- Suddenly, on December 20th, 1894, GEORGE W. PAXSON, Sr., of Parkesburg, Pa., aged 82 years. Funeral on Monday, December 24th, at 11 o'clock, from his late residence, Parkesburg, Chester county, Pa.

George married Elizabeth G. Carnahan. (Elizabeth G. Carnahan was born in Oct 1820 in , , PA,⁶ died in 1904 in Parkesburg, Chester, PA ⁶ and was buried in Parkesburg: Upper Octorara Church Cemetery, Chester, PA ⁶.)