1836 Sudden Change

1836 was the winter of the "Sudden Change" weather phenomenon.  The following was taken from the 1879 History of Tazewell County.

The most extraordinary atmospheric phenomenon occurring within the knowledge of the oldest settler took place in January, 1836 (almost all accounts have the "sudden change" occurring December 20, 1836, ed).  The intensest suffering was caused to man and beast by this sudden change, quite a snow had fallen the day previous to the change, and upon that day a slow, drizzling rain fell, making of the snow a " slush." The storm came from the northwest, and the clouds, upon its approach, assumed a threatening and extraordinary aspect, those higher being dark, and those lower of a white frosty appearance.  As fast as the storm advanced it instantaneously changed the temperate atmosphere to that of frigid coldness. Incidents are related in connection with this sudden change which are indeed marvelous.

William Hodgson, who had just moved upon the farm he now occupies, section 32, Groveland township, says he went into the timber for a load of wood just before the change. While he was loading his wagon the storm came upon him, and so sudden and terrible that he could scarcely manage his team. Before he could get to his house, which was only forty rods distant, the slush had frozen hard.

The next day the surface of the country was one vast sea of ice. Two miles south of Hodgson's farm a drove of hogs out from protection froze to death. Cattle that were in the fields were held fast by the slush freezing about their feet, and it became necessary to cut away the ice to liberate them. J. Roberts, of Morton township, speaks of this change in the following language: "In the winter of 1836, when there was some four inches of snow upon the ground, a warm rain fell which transformed the snow into slush. I was some thirty rods from my house when it began to freeze. I immediately started for it, and before I reached there it was frozen sufficiently hard to bear me up."

This Tazewell County history is seen repeated in various forms in other county histories throughout Illinois, with amazing yet tragic stories of locals being caught unprepared for the sudden cold.

Besides "Sudden Change," the day also became known as "Cold Tuesday" or "Butler's Snap," the latter referring to a man named Butler and his daughter who perished in the cold while out tending to their livestock in Lacon, Illinois.

Other anecdotes found relating to the sudden change, first reported in the 1911 History of Logan County by Judge Stringer:

John Buckles, Mt. Pulaski:

On the morning of the sudden change, it was warm, the atmosphere was saturated with moisture and on the ground was a light layer of snow. About noon, rain began to fall for a time, when without a moment's warning, an icy wave swept down from the north, freezing everything as it went. Under foot, was a slush of snow and water, but in less time than it takes to write it, the polar blast converted it into solid ice. Carter T. Scroggin, who was on his road from a neighboring mill, in an old durbin, was struck by the frigid wind. The top of his durbin was removed and his horse faced in the opposite direction. Realizing the peril of his situation and knowing that if he did not find shelter immediately death would claim him, he drove rapidly in search of some friendly cabin, which he found in time to save his life. Those who had the misfortune to be overtaken by this icy terror and were unable to find shelter, quickly succumbed and much stock was numbered among the frozen victims.

Christopher Ewing, Lawndale IL

In December of 1836, our pioneers experienced another severe change in the atmosphere and lost heavily of their stock and poultry, and in some cases their own lives. The snow had been falling for a day or two, when a drizzling rain set in, which continued until about two o'clock, in the afternoon, melting the snow and converting it into a thin, mushy ice. Suddenly, there came a mighty, rushing wind from the northwest, which roared at a distance, like a hurricane, and froze everything in its course. The water on the ponds was frozen in waves and all who were out, suffered more or less, as in an hour, the mercury changed from forty degrees above to thirty degrees below. This severe weather continued three days and resulted in much sickness throughout the country.

In most histories detailing the events of 1836, descriptions of a 40-degree drop in temperature in just a few minutes are common.  However, meteorologists today say the 1836 sudden change was probably more compatible with one that occurred January 26-27, 2014.  In 2014, it was a balmy (for January) 41 degrees around 7pm on the 26th, and by 2:00 am, it had dropped to almost zero.  You probably do not remember the 2014 sudden change, thanks to weather forecasting, electricity, heating systems, automobiles, and other modern conveniences, unlike our 1836 ancestors' experience.