Easter 1868 fell, as it does today, on April 12 and remains notable in part because it was the first Easter for which we have surviving, although very brief, newspaper reports. The early bound files of Lucas County's first newspaper, The Patriot, burned long ago; the files of The Democrat, founded in 1867, survived. The Democrat was published on Saturdays, so accounts of Easter Sunday 1868 and the days that followed appear in the edition of April 18.
Down in Russell, just a year old at the time, Episcopalians under the leadership of the Rev. Isaac P. Labagh had planned a county-wide Easter Sunday celebration to mark completion of that city's first church building --- St. Mark's. A special train was scheduled to leave Chariton early Sunday, then return later in the day, to accommodate those who wished to participate. Round-trip, 50 cents.
And then on Saturday night, April 11, the weather turned --- as it often does in Iowa --- and everyone's Easter plans were upset. Here's The Democrat report:
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The Storm --- If there are any of our local readers who are not aware that the past week has been exceedingly stormy, it must be that they are themselves direct descendants of old "Boreas" himself, for such another period does not come under the recollection of the oldest inhabitants.
It may at former times have blown harder and snowed as much, but we doubt whether it has been possible to get up such a general mix of wind, rain, hail, snow, sleet, mud, &tc., within the past twenty years. The storm has raged since Saturday night regardless of the discomfort and fear of timid individuals, and there is no fixed time when it shall stop.
Chimneys, loose boards and many other necessary conveniences have been thrown around in a most careless manner, and in some cases even larger consequences have been the results. Every little brook and gutter seemed to fill its banks, and even then have failed to afford sufficient outlet for the superfluous water.
These facts are stated for the benefit of our far off readers, merely to give them some idea of weather in Iowa, and if they imagine that they should not like it or that it does not afford variety enough, we recommend St. Thomas Island to their consideration.
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Down southwest of Chariton in Warren Township, a 22-year-old school teacher and recently ordained preacher (perhaps Presbyterian; he was a graduate of Oberlin College) named Charles O. Hanson who was teaching and boarding in the neighborhood arose at dawn, packed his Bible, saddled his horse and headed for an Easter Sunday preaching assignment in northwest Lucas County's Otter Creek Townshp. He didn't make it, as The Democrat reported:
Drowned --- We regret to learn that a young man named Chas. O. Hanson, and who was well-known in this vicinity as a school teacher, was drowned in a slough on the other side of Whitebreast, while on his way to fill an appointment to preach at a school house in Otter Creek township on Sunday last. He attempted to ride through the slough, which it appears was deeper than he supposed it was, and by some means he was thrown from his horse. He was seen to fall from the horse by some persons at a house nearby and they hastened to his rescue, but they were too late. They recovered his body in a few minutes after he fell into the water, and it is said he gasped once after he was brought out, but as those present were probably not acquainted with the proper restorative means, they could not revive him. Mr. Hanson was a very worthy and intelligent young man and many will be deeply pained at this announcement of his untimely death.
The Rev. Mr. Hanson's friends claimed his body (he apparently had no family in Lucas County) and buried it in Waynick Cemetery, where his battered although partially restored tombstone still stands.
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Although the Easter celebration in Russell was held, it does not seem to have been largely attended. "On account of the severe storm that raged all day Sunday, there were but few that went to Russell to attend the Easter Sunday services in the Episcopal Church," The Democrat reported.
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The storm also disrupted rail transportation, such as it was, across southern Iowa. The first passenger trains on the Burlington & Missouri River route (later C.B.&Q.) had reached Chariton during early July, 1867, and tracks were completed to Osceola during January of 1868. Passengers bound for Creston and beyond boarded stage coaches there.
The big Easter storm took out part of the approach to the B.&M.R.'s White Breast Creek bridge just east of what now is Lucas, as The Democrat reported as follows:
"The Railroad Bridge --- One of the railroad bridges between this city and Osceola was so washed by the freshet that it fell down and the trains are unable to proceed farther west. Passengers and the mail are carried by teams. Everything will have been repaired in a few days and railroad communication restored.
P.S. --- We learn that it was not a bridge, but a portion of the embankment on the other side of Whitebreast bridge that was carried away. A gap of about 70 feet was cut out by the water, but it has already been repaired by putting in a bridge and trains are now running through to Osceola."
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One hundred and fifty Easter Sundays have passed since the big storm of 1868, but Iowa's April weather remains unpredictable. And on this Easter Sunday, we face challenges our ancestors could not have envisioned as other circumstances keep us at home.
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