Although the drawing doesn't appear to show much damage at Samuel's home in Wallingford, Conn., the title of the 1878 book that the illustration came from -- "History of the Wallingford Disaster" by John B. Kendrick -- sounds ominous. (Since then I've found a transcription of a story on the disaster on the Web.)

The twister struck on Aug. 9, 1878, churning through the north side of town, killing 34 and injuring 70.

A few months ago I came across several poor-quality stereo-photographs of the Wallingford storm. One of them, below, appears to show the same house at High and Main Streets with much more damage.

Another cousin's home didn't fare as well in the 1913 Omaha tornado.