John Pet GASTON

Born November 16, 1902, Franklin, Izard County, Arkansas.
Died May 14, 1933, Franklin, Izard County, Arkansas.
Son of Walter Augusta Gaston & Rosetta Weathers Gaston.
Woodmen of The World.

Melbourne Times, Melbourne, Arkansas, May 18, 1933:

Tornado Sweeps Through Franklin

T. W. Simpson and Pet Gaston Killed 7 Others Injured.

Business Section Wrecked; Dwellings Demolished; Property Damage $30,000

Two were killed and 7 injured three seriously and property damaged about $30,000 as a result of the tornado which struck Franklin, Saturday night. The wind came from the southwest and took a strip of about a quarter mile through the town.

T. W. Simpson aged 64 cashier of the Bank of Franklin was killed instantly when his home was blown to pieces and Pet Gaston aged 30 was killed in the Franklin Café, about thirty yards from the Simpson place, when it was also wiped out, Gaston lived about four hours but never regained consciousness.

H. B. Balch of Mt. Pleasant, who is District Manager of the Modern Woodmen of America was lodging at the Simpson Hotel and was seriously injured having two 8 penny nails driven into his intestines and stomach. S. B. Bunn of Violet Hill, who was also lodging there was badly bruised and several bones broken and is not expected to live. He is 68 years old. Mrs. T. W. Simpson's left leg was broken at the hip and knee and she received several other minor injuries; Clarence Gaston, operator of the café was badly bruised about the face and almost lost his eye sight; Tommie Simpson, son of T. W. Simpson was badly bruised; Bill Wilson and Doyle Redman who were also in the café were bruised and cut about the face and limbs, but not seriously.

The windows and doors of the front and rear of the Bank of Franklin, a native stone building were torn out and a part of the roof was taken off and the fixtures badly damaged. The business houses of S. F. Billingsley, Weaver Campbell, John Hanley, and business house belonging to Reed-Harlin Grocery Co., of Hardy were torn to pieces and also the post office building an a store belonging to T. G. Sangster, both stone, were badly damaged.

Besides the Simpson home which was also used as a hotel, the dwellings of W. J. Billingsley, S. F. Billingsley, Claude Gaston, John Hanley and Winnie Billingsley were torn to pieces and all other dwellings and buildings in town were damaged to some extent except that of D. Redman. The engine house of the gin and flour mill was blown away.

T. W. Simpson was one of the organizers of the Bank of Franklin in 1904 and has had some official connection with the institution ever since, being cashier at the time of his death. He was also for several years county examiner for the schools of Izard County and spent about 20 years of his early life teaching in the rural schools of this county. He is survived by his wife, one son, Tommie and a daughter, Ruth who was attending the University at Fayetteville.

Pet Gaston was a farmer, born and reared near Franklin and is survived by his father Walter Gaston, five brothers, Ralph, Von, Harry, Raburn and Roy, and one sister, Mrs. Lloyd Batterton.

Mrs. Simpson, Clarence Gaston and S. B. Bunn were taken Sunday morning to Batesville hospital for treatment.

Cars swarmed in from every section of the country all day Sunday while hundreds of visitors viewed the ruins of the town which has some 200 population.

Gaston was buried at Violet Hill Sunday afternoon and Simpson was buried at the Roberts Cemetery near Franklin Monday morning.

(Photo courtesy of Vera Reeves)

Contributed on 4/30/11 by maxparnell
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Record #: 517555

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