My gr-grandparents lived near Burr Oak, Iowa for some time and then moved to Lake County. South Dakota in 1884. 1888 - January 12: MEMOIRS of Elsie Johanna Smith (daughter) as written 1954 Came the worst blizzard ever to visit So. Dak. It lasted 24 hrs. and hundreds lost their lives. Father was at the barn when it struck. but he put the snow shovel up beside his face and made it to the house. Next morning we were entirely drifted in so father stood on mother's shoulders and pushed himself thru the stove pipe hole on top of the house. He was small, so was mother. It took him until night to shovel a door way to our door. There were 26 steps up to the top. That night we heard a squeaking on our roof. Father went out and there was a family in a cutter and team on top of our house. They were lost. It was 30 below zero. Father let them in as they were nearly frozen. It was Dave Molumby a neighbor who lived a few miles east of us.