Alvord Family Histories
Ahrens,
Gustave – born March 3, 1865 in Germany, he came to America in 1883 and settled
at Plattsmouth, Nebr. He married
Mary Frenzel Feb. 1899. He retired in 1928 and died Dec. 2,
1946 . Mary was
born Sept. 28, 1874 and died Jan. 1, 1967. They had five children – Ernest
(Dunbar, Nebr. – retired),
Edwin (Alvord – retired), Albert (died Feb. 2,
1918 ), Robert
(Thorton, IA – Lutheran pastor), Hildegarde (Mrs. George Fridrichsen,
Alvord).
Albertus,
Balster Wm. – born in 1875. He married Emma Fiebelkorn, who was born in 1880.
They settled in Alvord where for many years he was Alvord’s realtor. They had 3
children – Earl, John, Helen (Mrs. CE Bild) and Ida (Mrs. Ole Loe). Mrs.
Albertus died in 1931 and Mr. Albertus died in 1934.
Albertus, Earl
John – born at Alvord on Sept. 29, 1904. He married Polly Knutson on June 26,
1930. Mr. Albertus operated the highway maintainer and farmed near Alvord until
he moved to Sioux
Falls . He returned
in 1946 and operated a hardware store until 1952 when he returned to
Sioux
Falls . He died on
Dec. 27,
1965 . They had 4
children: Harlene (Mrs. Eldon Schmahl of Aberdeen , So. Dak.),
Joan (Mrs. Al Daniels of Viborg ,
South
Dakota ), Shirley
(Mrs. Don Kuhle of Lincoln ,
Nebr. ), and Daniel
Earl of Sioux
Falls .
Allen James –
was born at Montreal ,
Canada
in August of
1861. He was married to Julia Barron in 1890. She was born at
Shannon ,
Illinois in 1859. They
farmed a mile South of Alvord in 1893. He was also a hardware merchant and
livestock buyer. He died on July 31,
1920 and Mrs. Allen
died on Oct. 29,
1932 . They had
four children – Edward (deceased), Mary (Mrs. Mike Doherty of Inwood), John
(Inwood) and Clement of Alvord.
Allen, Clement
– married Vera Lawler in Sioux Falls on Nov. 24, 1920. They farmed near Alvord
for a number of years and retired in Alvord. They have six children – Catherine
(Mrs. Ray Kippley of Worthington ,
Minn. ), Peggy (Mrs.
Lawrence Schreurs of Alvord), James ( Sioux
Falls ), Joseph
( Hannibal ,
Mo. ), Joan (Mrs.
Eugene Krier of San
Gabriel ,
Calif. ) and Julie
(Mrs. Allen Van Houten of Moville ,
Ia. ).
Allen, George
– (son of Patrick and Margaret Allen of Alton ,
Iowa ) married Anna
Elizabeth Frembgen of Alvord on February 10
1904 . Anna was the
daughter of Leo and Theresa Frembgen. George and Anna farmed three miles north
of Alvord from 1904 to 1912. They had five children. Daughters Coletta (born
March 8,
1906 ), Ethel (born
April 28,
1908 ) and Lois
(born January 25,
1910 ) were born
while the family lived north of Alvord. A daughter Rose (born
June 11,
1914 ) and a son
Donald (born December 26,
1923 ) were born
after the family moved from Alvord to Woonsocket ,
SD.
Anna passed away March 23, 1932 and George passed away January 28, 1935.
Daughter Lois passed away August 6,
1968 .
Currently, Donald lives in Pierre, SD; Rose lives in Marysville, Wa.;
Coleta lives in Lakeside, Ca; and Ethel lives in Florence, Or.
Andresen,
Albert – born in Davenport, Iowa, Feb. 6, 1873. He married Emma Oldenburg
Sept. 4,
1901 . She was born
in Davenport Oct. 2,
1881 . They farmed
in Scott county until 1907 when they moved to
Lyon County where they had
purchased a farm northwest of town. In 1929 they bought the farm adjoining
Alvord (now occupied by the Lawrence Schreurs)
where they lived until 1945 when they purchased a residence in town and retired.
They had two children: Wilbur – married Leona Meyer, they reside on the Pete
Meyer farm 4 miles west of Alvord; Ella – living in Alvord. Mrs. Andresen died
July 12,
1962 . Mr. Andresen
died April 5,
1965 .
Anderson’s –
Being natives of Iowa, but not of the town of Alvord, the legacy of the
Anderson family cannot
add much to the 100 year old history of Alvord.
William “Bill” Anderson, a widower, along with his seven children, moved
to Alvord in the winter of 1940; an eighth child, Joseph, had died earlier. Mrs.
Anderson, who was Frances Pendergast, died on 1934 in Larchwood,
Iowa . Bill
Anderson passed away in 1947. The oldest child, Raphael, passed away in 1982,
and the youngest child, Rita (Mrs. John Boer) passed away in 1991. The remaining
children are Ruth, (Mrs. Vernon “Bud” Kramer), and Esther (Mrs. Rollin Ogland)
both of whom live in Colorado Springs, Colorado; Mary (Mrs. Darrell Peterson)
who lives in Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Maurice “Mike” Anderson of Sheldon,
Iowa; and Josephine (Mrs. Rupert Swacina) of Alameda, California. Mike Anderson
is married to an Alvord native, Myra Thompson, whose father worked in a barber
shop in Alvord for several years. Rita’s husband, John Boer, is also an Alvord
native, and has been in the trucking and farming business for most of his
life.
Barron, C.H.
“Chris” – Mr. and Mrs. Barron came to Alvord from
Benton County in the early
1900s. They farmed for a number of years. Later on he acquired the rural mail
route out of Alvord in addition to his farming activities. One team of horses
was used for many years on the 42 mile trip. Mr. Barron only missed one day a
year because of bad roads and weather conditions. The Barron’s were the parents
of six children: Richard, who died in infancy; Evelyn (Mrs. Frank Scollan,
deceased); Walter (deceased); Gladys (Mrs. John Spain, Waterloo, Ia.); twins
Irene and Corrine (Madison, Wis.); Chris (Charlotte) Barron was a sister of Mrs.
Jim (Maria) Kelly.
Barron,
William – born in Stephenson County, Ill., March 3, 1860. He was raised on a
farm, educated in the area school, later attending St. Viateurs college,
Kankakee Ill. He came “west”
in 1886 staying for a time in Beresford ,
SD , then coming
to Alvord. This area appealed to him and before long he purchased a quarter
section farm in Cleveland township as he
always considered land a good investment. He never lived on his farm but it was
tenanted by the Bernard Doherty (Mary Barron) family for 45 years. He did grain
buying also carpenter work for a time. When the Great Northern railroad was
known as the Sioux City-Northern was built through the town in 1890 he joined a
construction company and assisted building elevators along the line. He then
became local buyer for the J.Q. Adams grain company and later was manager for
the Thorpe, and also the Cargill company. On August 16,
1892 he was united
in marriage to Thecla Catherine Krebs at Holy Name Catholic Church in Rock
Rapids, as Alvord was a mission of Rock Rapids at that time. She was born on a
farm near Alton , August 23,
1871 , had come to
Alvord with friends, the Joe Schnees, and was employed by them. To this union
six children were born: Mary (Mrs. Bernard Doherty) now at LeMars;; Joe, a
retired rural mail carrier, Monticello ,
Iowa , librarian in
Chicago , William E. –
Monticello ,
Iowa (deceased
March 1967). Loretta and Margaret of Alvord. Mr. Barron helped build the town;
having served on the council for a period of years, as a member of the school
board for 40 years and three terms as mayor. He passed away
November 21,
1942 . Mrs. Barron
was an active member of Sacred Heart Altar society and a charter member of the
Alvord Womans Club. She died November 30,
1966 .
Bauchspies,
Bernhard – born October 18, 1848, in Saxony,
Germany
. He was
married to Mary Jones on April 25, 1891. They settled three miles north of
Doon ,
Iowa , and lived
there for 19 years. They moved to Alvord in 1912. Bernhard was a cabinet maker
and carpenter, farmer and then retired. Bernhard made application for
citizenship in Davenport, Iowa, Scott County October 17, 1882 and received his
citizenship papers October 31, 1882. To this union seven children were born. A
son died in infancy. Six living daughters; Mrs. Minnie Dengler, Orange City;
Mrs. Alma Dewey Herber, Cherokee; Mrs. Clara Albert Borman, Rock Rapids; Mrs.
Ella Nordell, Rock Rapids; Mrs. Bertha Winrow, Rock Rapids; and Mrs. Lillie Lee
Strait, Rock Rapids. Bernhard died on November 25, 1930 and his wife Mary passed
away December 11, 1960.
Bauer, Mr. and
Mrs. Henry – born in Selent, Germany; Mr. Bauer September 12, 1852 and Mrs.
Bauer March 27, 1859. They were married in
Germany
in 1878. In
1883 they came to Iowa and farmed in
various localities until 1918; first at Galsbrook, then
Rock Valley and Inwood.
They then retired and moved to Alvord. Mr. Bauer died in 1937. Mrs. Bauer lived
in Alvord until 1950 when she moved to Dell Rapids, SD. Mrs. Bauer died in 1956.
Mr. and Mrs. Bauer had 11 children: Lizzie, Martha, Rudolph, Minnie, Henry,
Albert, Clara, Gust, Emil, John and Carl. John is the only one still living and
now resides in Sioux
Falls .
Beck, Grant –
Born in Union
Town ,
Pa. , 1863. He
married Mrs. Mary Weisensee in 1896. She was born in
Peoria ,
Ill in 1862. They
had three daughters: Lottie (Mrs. Colonel Kemp,
Sioux
Falls ), Ollie (Mrs.
Phineas McMahon, Sioux
Falls ), and
Margaret (deceased).
Berg, John –
Born in Kiel, Germany and came to the United States at the age of 7 with his
mother, three brothers and one sister. On March 7,
1900 he married
Clara Kruger, she was born in Holstein ,
Ia. , and shortly
after this marriage they moved to Alvord where they lived the rest of their
lives. They had two children: Albert of Atlanta ,
Ga. , and Otto of
Alvord. They had one grandchild, Burdette, of
Austin ,
Minn. John Berg
owned and operated a livery and dray line for a number of years and later went
into the mercantile business. He and Mrs. Berg with the help of their son Otto
operated Berg’s general store for many years. John Berg was mayor of Alvord and
was instrumental in securing the first electric lights in Alvord. He died in
1947 being active in the store until the time of his death. Mrs. Berg died in
1965.
Berg, Otto –
worked with his father in business until his father’s death. He now owns and
operated Berg’s Locker and Grocery Store. He married Viva Johnson in 1928 and
they had one son – Burdette of Austin, Minn.
Blair, Dr.
S.E. – was born March 28, 1867 on a farm near Piolette,
Pa. His early
education was received in Piolette and
Clarion County Normal
school where he
received his first teachers certificate. He then graduated from
Valparaiso ,
Indiana normal college
and accepted the position of superintendent at Jefferson township high
school in Shueyville ,
Iowa , where he
taught for two years. One of the members of his first graduating class was
Luetta Crowell who later became Mrs. Blair. The Medical profession appealed to
him so he entered the State University at
Iowa
City graduating in
1894. After serving an internship of three years under Dr. Riorden of
Melrose ,
Iowa , he came to
Alvord in April 1897. The first baby he delivered was Anna Mae Quinn. On October
28 of the same year he married Luetta Crowell of Sheuyville. She was born
February 1, 1872 at Western, Iowa, attended college at Toledo, Iowa, and
graduated from the Normal Institute for Johnson county, after which she taught
school for several years. Throughout the years Dr. and Mrs. Blair were respected
and beloved residents – friends of all. On Christmas 1899 the people presented
the doctor and the Catholic priests – Father Desmond with a card bearing the
names of all and a $20 gold piece in appreciation for the service during the
smallpox scourge which had struck Alvord earlier that year. They had buried the
first victim, Dolly Cleary. Due to quarantine no public services could be held.
In April 1940 the community honored Dr. Blair with a surprise birthday party for
the services he had so faithfully rendered over a period of 43 years. After a
program the Doctor was presented a loving cup, a lounging chair with footstool
and reading lamp. A large bouquet of red roses and a cake with 73 candles
decorated the table. Dr. Blair passed away October 1940. Mrs. Blair was one of
the most prominent women in Alvord. She was a charter member of the Federated
Womens Club and besides holding different offices in the local club had served
as county chairman. She was very active in the Congregational church and was
always one of the important figures in any successful enterprise. She passed
away July 25,
1948 . They were
parents of five children: James, deceased 1941; Paul,
Portland ,
Ore. ; Mary, Mrs.
Art Uhl – Rialto ,
Calif. ; Catherine,
Mrs. Ed Kroger – Puyallup ,
Wash. ; John, Rock
Rapids.
Bleedorn, F.
Gustave – born in Germany
in June 1864.
He married Emilie Ninnemann on Sept. 25,
1895 at
Mayer ,
Minn. , and their
first home was in Big Sandy ,
Mont. About 1900
they came to Alvord where he served as Great Northern Railway agent for ten
years and lived in the rooms above the depot. About 1910 they purchased the meat
market on main street and a home with a small acreage at the south end of main
street where they lived until the fall of 1919 when the family moved to a farm
near Mayer ,
Minn. , which is now
owned by Ray. There were seven children: Agnes, Dan, Ray, Hazel and John living
in or near Minneapolis ; Helen of
Sioux
Falls ,
SD ; and Herb who
lived in California until his
death January 20,
1967 . Mrs.
Bleedorn died in 1929, and Mr. Bleedorn in 1940.
Boer, Jake K.
– born March 28, 1901, in the Netherlands
and came to
the United
States at the age of
three years. He lived at Rock Valley a few years
and lived in the Alvord vicinity for 41 years. He was united in marriage to
Elsie Herman in 1926. Mrs. Boer was born January 6, 1906 at LeMars. They were
the parents of five children, John is married to the former Rita Anderson and
are the parents of seven children: Barbara (Mrs. Earl Meyer), John, Eloise,
Pamela, Paula, Kimberly and Lisa. They farm near Alvord. Coba (Mrs. Wayne
Schmahl), Cincinnati ,
Ohio . They have
four children. Evelyn (Mrs. Werner Berg) they are the parents of a son, and live
in Corpus
Christi ,
Texas . Clarence is
married to the former Karyn Weatherly and they are the parents of three
children: Sandi, Jason and Lance. Clarence has been with the local bank since
1963, is an insurance agent and farms. Elaine (Mrs. Don Kelderman), they are the
parents of three children. Mrs. And Mrs. Boer’s occupation was farming. Mr. Boer
passed away in 1967. A brother, Everet (Ed) was also born in the
Netherlands
and came to
the United
States in 1904 and
has since made his home in the Alvord area.
Bornholdt,
Chris – came to Lyon county in 1888
and lived on a farm three miles east of Alvord. He was united in marriage to
Fredricka Schlimme December 7,
1877 . Six children
were born to this union: Agnes, born December 1, 1880, Charlotte born September
7, 1882, Magdalena, July 6, 1885, Minnie, June 15, 1890, Henry born August 14,
1892, Clara born June 11, 1894.
Bosler,
Heinrich – born June 9, 1865 in the village of
Vitzdorf on the
Island of
Fehmann in the
Baltic
Sea . In 1883 he
came to Durant ,
Ia. , and to
Lyon county in
1888, the following year he bought 160 acres of prairie northwest of Alvord and
broke sod with a walking plow and three horses walking barefoot behind the plow.
After putting up some buildings he sent for his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Andreas
Bosler and his sister Elise (Mrs. Wm. Serck) in 1889. In 1900 his father passed
away, his mother Catharina in 1901. Mr. Bosler was united in marriage to
Dorothea Kroger in 1891 and to this union seven children were born: Matilda
(Mrs. J.A. Schemmel, deceased); Ella (Mrs. Louis Kock, deceased); Caroline
(deceased); William (deceased); Hertha (Mrs. Amerose Paffrath, deceased); Henry
J., Inwood; and Leonard, Alvord. Mr. Bosler was township assessor for many years
and helped to organize a stock company to build the opera house. Mrs. Bosler
passed away Dec. 25, 1914 and he passed away April 30, 1916. The farm home is
now owned by Henry J. Bosler and farmed by his son, Loren and family.
Bosler, Henry
J. – united in marriage to Elsie Koch in 1926 and six children were born to this
union: Henry Jr., Alvord; Irene (Mrs. Don Kock), Elkton, SD; Harold, Brandon,
SD; Loren, Alvord; Lorraine (Mrs. Cletus Gacke) Inwood; and Carol, Mrs. Delano
Hinsch, Rock Rapids. Henry Jr. was united in marriage to Mary Ann Dehn and are
the parents of three children: Mark, Lori and Jann, and is employed at the local
elevator. Loren was united in marriage to Anita Overman and they are the parents
of four children: Julie, Ronda, Lowell and Loren Eugene. William Bosler was
united in marriage to Edna Schlimme in 1926, one son Robert was born to this
union. Both Mr. and Mrs. Bosler are deceased. Robert is farming near Alvord.
Leonard Bosler was united in marriage to Luella Stoltenberg in 1934 and three
sons were born to this union: Kenneth, Spirit Lake; James, farming near Inwood;
and Wayne farming near
Alvord.
Boysen, Fred
N. – settled on a farm 2 ½ miles east of Alvord in 1885. Mr. and Mrs. Boysen
were the parents of five children: Ernest, Albert, Hugo, Frieda and Herbert.
Mrs. Boysen passed away in 1899. He was married to Marie Holmer in 1902 and she
passed away in 1956. Ernest and Albert are both deceased. Hugo lives in Murdo,
SD, Frieda, Mrs. Ira Gotfredson in California . Herbert was
born in 1898 on the farm east of Alvord and was married to Minnie Olson of
Truman, Minn.; and they were the parents of three children: Dr. James,
Sioux
City ; Helen
(deceased); and Bruce (deceased). Dr. Herbert Boysen is now living at Madelia,
Minn., where he is a physician and surgeon doing general practice.
Bradley, Dr.
A.M. – born August 12, 1893 at Lone Jack,
Mo. , and was
united in marriage to Elizabeth DeKing at Rock
Valley on November 8, 1918. They were the parents of three children: Constance
Gove, Wayzata, Minn.; Virginia Nelson, Alvord; and Dr. Alfred M. Bradley,
Alcester, SD. Dr. Bradley attended South Dakota State at Brookings. He was
discharged from the army in 1918 and in 1921 graduated from the
Indiana Veterinary College ,
Indianapolis ,
Ind. In the summer
of 1921 he established his Veterinary practice in Alvord and practiced here
until his death Jan. 1,
1951 at 57 years of
age. He served as a member of the town council and several terms as mayor, and
he was also president of the school board for a number of terms.
Bramstedt,
Henry D., Sr. – born Oct. 8, 1872 in Hannover Province,
Germany
. He came with
his parents to Ute, Ia. In 1884 and to
Lyon county in
1890. He was united in marriage to Adelia Schemmel January 15,
1902 who was born
in Davenport ,
Ia. ,
March 18,
1879 . They couple
farmed in the Alvord area until they retired and moved into Alvord in 1949. They
celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1952. They were the parents of
eight children: Louis was united in marriage to Maggie Kreber in 1927 and was a
foreman for the state highway commission at LeMars until he retired. He passed
away Nov. 23,
1966 . George, was
united in marriage to Wilma Moeller April 11, 1940. They make their home in
Alvord where George is a school bus driver for West
Lyon . Dora
Bramdstedt passed away in June 1938. Minnie was united in marriage to Leo
Dubbeldee Jan. 5, 1937 and they now live on a farm near Larchwood. Tillie was
united in marriage to Freddie Stettnichs, March 25, 1937. Mr. Stettnichs passed
away March 19, 1965. Mrs. Stettnichs makes her home in Alvord. Elsie was united
in marriage to Earl Stettnichs Jan. 23,
1947 and are
farming near Alvord. They are the parents of one daughter, Elnora. Mr.
Stettnichs died May 26,
1968 . Henry was
united in marriage to Ann Wheelhouse January 15, 1949 and are now farming near
Harrisburg , SD, and are
the parents of three sons. Edward was united in marriage to Lillian Watke
February 4, 1947, and are farming near Alvord, and is a school bus driver for
West
Lyon . They are the
parents of two children, Glennis and Barry. Mr. Bramdstedt passed away Jan. 16,
1956 and Mrs. Bramstedt Feb. 24, 1957.
Bruening, Fred
– born April 10, 1870 in Hanover,
Germany
to Peter and
Kathryn Bruening. In 1887 Fred and his brother, Will, immigrated to
America
. They stayed
with their sister’s family the George Finck’s and Fred worked for Peter Stein.
He was united in marriage to Caroline Gust November 24,
1893 and lived on
various farms around Alvord until moving to
South
Dakota in 1913. They
were the parents of ten children: Albert, Fred (deceased), Alvina, Emma, Arthur,
Ervin (deceased), Harold, Walter, Edith and Mildred. Mr. Bruening passed away
October 24, 1951 and Mrs. Bruening, September 26, 1955.
Albert Bruening was born September 15,
1894 four miles
east of Alvord. He later attended school in Alvord from 1907 until 1910. He
served his county in the first World War in
France
receiving his
discharge June 8,
1919 . He was
attached to the 88th Division of
Iowa . He was
united in marriage to Bertha Hartwig February 11,
1920 and were the
parents of two children, one child died in infancy. A son Leland lives near
Redfield, SD. Mrs. Bruening passed away January 5,
1930 . On
June 11,
1936 he was united
in marriage to Eleanor Bennett and they are the parents of four children. Mr.
Bruening was a farmer until his retirement.
Childress, J. Cletus – born in Coal City,
Indiana on January 6, 1906 to Mr. and Mrs. Sherman Childress. The family came to
Lyon County in 1919. He was married to Mildred Cohrt in 1929 and started
farming. To this union four children were born: George, Lois, Larry and Steve.
Retired to Rock Rapids in December 1963 where Cletus passed away on June 4,
1964. George married to Elaine Kroeger, they have five children, David, Randy,
Ricky, Nancy and Barbara. Lois married Ladean Klein, they have four children,
Linda, Laurel, Susan and Alan. Larry married Eleanor Roemen, they have five
children Pamela, Dale, Lynn, Patrick, Julie and Paul. Steven lives in
California.
Childress, William Sherman – born November
26, 1884 in Coal City ,
Ind. Effie Fiscus Childress also of
Coal City , Ind.
was born February 22, 1885. They were married March 29, 1905. Three
children were born to this union: Jasper Cletus (deceased), Alta Belle (Mrs.
Rudolph Hasche), Rock Rapids; and Chester Wallace, Alvord. They came to Lyon
County in 1919 and farmed at Steen, Minn., Lester, and Alvord. Mr. Childress
passed away in 1954 and Mrs. Childress makes her home at Valley Manor, Rock
Valley.
Classen, Hans – born at Frestadt,
Schleswig-Holstein ,
Germany and came to
America with his
parents at the age of nine, settling in
Davenport , Ia.
He was married to Annie Jensen March 21, 1885. Mrs. Claussen was
born at Davenport December 9, 1866. They came to northwest Iowa where they
farmed in Lyon and Sioux County before moving to Alvord in August 1921 where
they resided until their death. Mr. Classen passed away in June, 1923. Seven
children were born to this union: Lena passed away at the age of eight; Clara
(Mrs. Will Schroeder), Wadena, Minn. (deceased); Alfred, residing in Rock
Valley; Emma (Mrs. Herman Kock), Inwood; John and Dora, Alvord. Mrs. Claussen
was united in marriage to August Schemmel in 1930. He passed away in 1932 and
Mrs. Schemmel passed away May 21, 1943.
Cohrt, Frank E. – born May 7, 1888 at
Holstein, Iowa and was united in marriage to Pauline Alvina Schemmel on June 7,
1911. They were the parents of two daughters: Mildred (Mrs. J.C. Childress of
Rock Rapids) and Ethel (Mrs. Harry Moeller of Alvord). Mr. Cohrt passed away
March 15, 1958. Mrs. Cohrt passed away November 1968.
Dehn, Adolph – born in Scott County
September 23, 1863, Adelia Hamann Dehn was also born in Scott County November 1,
1867. They were united in marriage February 27, 1890 and came to
Lyon
County in 1893 by special train with
15 to 20 other families where their livestock, machinery and furniture were
unloaded at Lester. They farmed until 1927 when they retired. To this union four
children were born: Louis, Rock Rapids; Milla (Mrs. John Serck) Watertown, SD,
Herbert and Alma (Mrs. Herman Grams) Westbrook, Minn. Mr. Dehn was one of the
promoters to build the Opera House and was also one of the directors of the
Farmer’s Elevator Ass’n. Mr. Dehn passed away December 23, 1946 and Mrs. Dehn
September 9, 1956. Louis was united in marriage to Edna Miller and is now
retired after being in the bank here, county treasurer, and secretary-treasurer
of First Federal Savings and Loan in Rock Rapids. Herbert (deceased) was married
to Lillian Stoltenberg and they farmed until they retired to Alvord in 1957. One
daughter, Mary Ann was born to them.
Dell, Frank, Sr. – born in Clinton County,
Iowa in 1864 and was married to Freda Wilka of Clayton County, Iowa on Feb. 26,
1891. They farmed northwest of Alvord until 1922 when they retired in Alvord.
They had three children: Pearl (Mrs. Bart Lape) Beaver Creek, Minn.; Hazel (Mrs.
J.D. Chamberlain) Lester, and Frank, Jr. of Alvord.
Dell, Frank, Jr. – born August 2, 1897 and
was married to Vernie Schumann of Larchwood on November 23, 1921. They farmed
the home place until retirement in Alvord in 1957. They had four children:
Daryl, Palo Alto, Calif.; Milo Jean (deceased); Gaylen, Sioux Falls; and
Patricia (Mrs. Clyde Burke, Luverne, Minn.)
Dickman, Mr. and Mrs. Chris – emigrated
from Germany to America in 1881, and settled near Big Rock, Iowa. In 1893, they
moved to Lyon County. For a time, they lived on a farm two and one half miles
northeast of Alvord. In 1908, they retired from farming and took up residence in
Lester, Iowa, where they resided until the time of their death. George, the
eldest of seven children, was born May 22, 1879, and married Amelia Stettnichs
on February 26, 1908. In 1910, they moved to the farm two and a half miles west
of Alvord. George died June 29, 1954. Amelia died August 16, 1960. George and
Amelia were the parents of two children: Alvin was born on December 23, 1909,
and died September 28, 1945; Erma was born on November 3, 1914. She married Joe
Vint on November 30, 1946.
Dibbern Family – Max Dibbern and Lena
Schneede were married at Rock Rapids, Ia.
on Feb. 22, 1893. They resided on their farm located about a mile
and a half west of Alvord where Mr. Dibbern engaged in farming and the business
of buying and selling livestock; until the family moved to
Rock County , Minn.
in 1909.
Max Dibbern was born in Itzehoe,
Germany on March 15, 1864, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Dibbern. He came to
America when he
was seventeen years old and passed away at
Luverne , Minn.
on July 4, 1930.
Mrs. Dibbern was the youngest child of
Mr. and Mrs. H.J. Schneede who came to Alvord in 1888 from Davenport, Ia. where
Lena was born July 8, 1875.
To this union were born four children
namely William, John (deceased), Albert and Elsie Dibbern
Rapp.
Doherty, Bernard – born in Clinton County,
Iowa, May 8, 1890, and came with his family to a farm south of Alvord in
childhood. He was a member of the town band and also played violin with a group
for community dances. On February 9, 1916 he married Mary Barron. She was born
June 16, 1893 in Alvord. They lived on the Wm. Barron farm three and one-half
miles northeast of town. Mr. Doherty died June 21, 1947. They had three
children: Celeste of Cortland, N.Y., a music consultant for American Book Co.;
Philip, employed at Rock Island Arsenal, with his wife and four children live in
Bettendorf, Iowa; Richard (Dick), employed in the post office at Bloomington,
Calif.; with his wife and five children reside in Fontana; Mrs. Mary Doherty
resides in LeMars, Iowa.
Doherty, Patrick – born at
Boston , Mass.
on April 1, 1856. He married Mary Ann Ruddy in Clinton County, Iowa
on September 28, 1881. She was born at Boston in 1862. They came to a farm three
miles south of Alvord in 1901, north of town in 1907, and into Alvord in 1911.
They had eight children: John, Susan, Leo, Albert, Bernard, Vincent, Raymond,
Lester and Nellie. Susan (Josie) worked for Postmaster Frank Waumett in the
‘20’s. Nellie taught school in the ‘20’s, both in the country and in Alvord.
Since 1957, the Doherty family has had a reunion every three years at the Hein
Kosters (Irene Doherty) home in Rock Valley, average attendance about
106.
Donnelly Family – Henry Donnelly was born
September 15, 1838 in Eneskillen, Ireland. He came to the United States and
settled in Chicago, Ill. He was a Civil War veteran. He married Ellen Hagen at
Gross Point, Ill. December 4, 1859. They later moved to a farm west of Alvord
and then moved to a farm on the northeast edge of Alvord. Their children were:
Kathleen, born October 7, 1860; Frank, April 6, 1863; James H., June 10, 1866;
Mary, July 12, 1874; John Arch, March 28, 1876; Robert, September 15, 1880; and
Ellen, September 25, 1886. Mrs. Henry Donnelly died December 27, 1911, in
Alvord. Henry Donnelly died August 28, 1920, at Sioux
Falls , SD. Frank married Elvin Spethman November 10,
1891 and moved to one-half mile west and one mile north of Alvord. Their
children were Leo, deceased; Francis, deceased; Henry, at Brandon, SD; Louise,
deceased (Mrs. Earl Groth) Ogema, Minn.; George, Garretson, SD; Richard, Sioux
Falls, SD; Katherine (Mrs. V.B. Nesbee) Tucson, Ariz.
Duffy, Joseph - born in Clinton, Iowa, on
May 9, 1871. He married Mary McMullen in Rock Valley on January 7, 1891. She was
born in Clinton, Iowa, on February 22, 1871. They had nine children: Beatrice
(Mrs. Wm. Murphy, Woodburn, Ore); Cecelia (Mrs. Henry Friedrichsen, Los
Angeles); Mary (Mrs. Robert Sullivan of Alvord); Lillian (Mrs. John Weisensee of
Sioux Falls, SD, deceased); Joseph (Anchorage, Alaska); Edwin (El Monte, CA);
Victor (Woodburn, Ore.); Matthew (DeWitt, IA) and Virginia (deceased). The Duffy’s came to Alvord in 1891 where
they both taught school.
Eisentrager, George – Mr. and Mrs. George
Eisentrager and Arthur came to Alvord about 1900 where he purchased a harness
shop and owned this until the middle twenties. Ernest and Eva were born in
Alvord. Arthur passed away in 1913. Mr. Eisentrager passed away in 1913. Mr.
Eisentrager passed away in 1940 and Mrs. Eisentrager passed away in 1951. E.W.
Eisentrager resides in Alvord where he is employed by the Valley State Bank
since he began working there in 1919. Eva, Mrs. C.J. Fitzgerald resides in
George.
Children of E.W. Eisentragers are
Elaine, James and Doris. Elaine Eisentrager Schnepf was born in Alvord in 1927.
She married Kenneth Schnepf in 1950. Lived in Decatur, Ind., 1950-1963 and now
lives on a farm near Alvord. There are five children: Suzanne, 17; Scott, 16;
Kevin, 12; Timothy 11; and Chris, 10. She is presently teaching kindergarten in
the West Lyon Community School.
James A. Eisentrager was born in Alvord
in 1929. Presently is associate professor of art, University of Nebraska,
Lincoln. Exhibited paintings in Europe and throughout the
rest of the United States, 1961-1967. Married Dorene Gustafson of
Albert
City , 1957. They have four children:
Thor James, 10; Evan Thomas, 8; Sten Ernst, 6; and Gretchen Dorene, 3; In the
fall of 1968 he will be on a leave of absence in
England
.
Doris E. Eisentrager Herdliska was born
in Alvord in 1932, and is now teaching second grade in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Married Merle Herdliska August 18, 1962.
Erdman, John – born February 9, 1864 in
Germany. He came to the United States when he was 18 years old. He married Miss
Catherine Pick of New Vienna, Iowa in 1893. They had nine children who are as
follows: Margaret (Mrs. Henry Kroeger); Gertrude (Mrs. James Brown); Anthony;
Cecelia; Louis; Arthur; Agatha (Mrs. C.C. Weiland); Helen (Mrs. Wm. Schwaller);
Florence (Mrs. Albert Kroger). Mr. Erdman was the town blacksmith from the year
1926 until his death in 1939.
Fields, Jacob F. – born in Clinton County,
Iowa on May 13, 1858. He was united in marriage to Mary Elizabeth Penfold
December 30, 1880. Mrs. Fields was born in Illinois October 31, 1861. In 1886
they came to Logan township
northwest of Alvord where they farmed and spent the remainder of their lives in
retirement. They were the parents of six children: Ord (married Anna De Bates
and is now deceased); Mabel (married to Otto Baden, she is now deceased); Irl
(married to Constance Swenson, are now retired from farming and living in
Jasper, Minn.); Roy (married Myrtle Halstenson, retired in Rock Rapids after
farming and is working for the state); Grace (married to Arthur E. Anderson
farmed the Fields farm where they are now retired).
Fitzgerald C.F. – Mr. and Mrs. C.F.
Fitzgerald came to Alvord with their family about 1916 where he edited and
published the Alvord Register newspaper until the time of his death in August,
1931. Mrs. Fitzgerald passed away in August, 1958. To this union the following
children were born: Henrietta (Mrs. P.B. Liming); Alice (Mrs. E.W. Eisentrager);
the late C.J. Fitzgerald (editor of the Lyon County News at George until June,
1962); H.F. Fitzgerald (editor of the Alvord Register from 1931 to 1963); and
E.C. Fitzgerald mechanical superintendent of the Lyon County Reporter, Rock
Rapids.
Fitzgerald, Claude E. – was united in
marriage to Kate Kahl in Doon, November, 1906. They moved to Alvord where he
edited the Alvord Register some years and later was a rural mail carrier. Six
children were born to them in Alvord: Bernice (Mrs. Franklyn Huizenga)
Inglewood, Calif.; Blanche (Mrs. Samuel Davenport) Falls Church, Virginia; Hal
(Culver City, Calif.); Charles (Van Nuys, Calif.); Margaret (Mrs. Jerome Lange)
Eau Claire, Wisc.; and Joseph of Los Angeles. Mr. Fitzgerald preceded his wife
in death in California where they had resided for many years.
Flanery, Edward – born in Sandy Hook, Ky.
June 24, 1873 and died near Humboldt ,
SD , march 28, 1928, in a car-train crash. He
was a Deputy U.S. Marshall at that time. He was united in marriage to Katie M.
Wiesensee February 11, 1896. They lived three miles north of Alvord and also in
Alvord. He taught school and farmed. They moved to Sioux Falls in March, 1921.
Mrs. Flanery was born March 11, 1880 at Holstein, IA. She died in Sioux Falls
Feb. 11, 1956 on their wedding anniversary. She was a seamstress, making
draperies for stages in theatres and schools. They were the parents of ten
children, seven boys and three girls: William, Boulder, Colo.; George
(deceased); Edward, Sioux Falls; Minnie (Mrs. Francis Lass, deceased); Marcela
(Mrs. Perry Bowersox) Sioux Falls; John, Cincinnati, Ohio; Leon, Buena Park,
Calif.; Paul, Winterset, IA; and Mary Ann (deceased).
Frembgen, Leo – born in
Wisconsin May 4, 1850, he married
Teresa Brandt, who was born in 1862. The family consisted of seven girls and two
boys. They operated the hotel for several years prior to 1906 and again from
1908 to 1914; Mrs. Frembgen continuing the business with the aid of her family
after her husband’s death, August 12, 1908. Retiring from business Mrs. Frembgen
lived in Alvord until her death in 1943. Several remaining members of the family
now live in California.
Friedrichsen, George – born June 20, 1900
at Montrose, SD. He has been postmaster at Alvord since 1942. He married
Hidegarde Ahrens August 30, 1928. She was born September 25, 1903 at Alvord.
They are the parents of one child, Dona Mae. She married Rev. Durwood L.
Buchheim August 2, 1953 and they live in Waterloo, IA. They have four children:
Mark, Martin, James and Sara Ann.
Fridrichsen, Thomas – born April 5, 1887
at Rock Valley, Iowa. He was engaged in painting at Alvord, married Tena
Schemmel February 17, 1920, started farming in 1923, retired to Alvord in 1948,
passed away November 6, 1954. Tena passed away February 15,
1985.
Gilman, Emil – Pastor Emil Gilman came
from Wynatt, Mich., to Alvord, Iowa, in 1887. This was his first parish. He was
also assisting the Peace Lutheran congregation six miles south of Rock Valley at
this time. He was pastor in Alvord until 1903. During that time four children
were born to Pastor and Mrs. Gilman. The eldest being Emma, who now resides in
Akron , Iowa
. Agatha, who passed away in 1918; Louise, who is living in Charles
City, Iowa; and Emil who is now living in Los
Angeles , California . During this
time the parsonage was connected directly to the church, part of which is the
Christ Lutheran Church in Alvord today. Pastor Gilman retired in 1936 after
nearly 40 years of service.
Goldschmit, Jacob – born in Luxemburg
December 21, 1870, came to America at age 14 and to Alvord about 1891. He
married Susan Bechler in 1898. She was born in Luxemburg in 1874 and came to
America when she was three years of age. They were parents of nine children:
Theodore, Joseph, Edward, Matilda (McDonald), Mary (Doyle), Anne (Coulson),
Josephine (Greene) and Frances (Pinggaard) all of the Lake Prestin, Erwin,
Badger and DeSmet area in South Dakota. The other son William lives in Long
Beach, California. While in Alvord Mr. Goldschmit followed the carpenter trade
working with this brother Theodore building many of the homes and business
places. He played a clarinet, was a member of the first band, also played for
dances in the community. They moved from Alvord to a farm near Lake Preston, SD
in 1910. Mr. Goldschmit died in 1913 and Mrs. Goldschmit in
1960.
Goldschmit, Theodore – born November 2,
1863 in Luxembourg, settled in Toledo, Ohio, when he first came to the United
States, coming to Alvord in 1891. On January 17, 1893 he married Anna Schmit in
Remsen, Iowa. She was born February 14, 1873 in Luxembourg. Shortly after their
marriage Mr. Goldschmit brought his bride to Alvord and settled in the new home
he had just build in the west part of town. With his brother Jake he owned and
operated a millwork shop on Main Street
which they opened in 1891 and continued for a number of years.
During his years in Alvord Mr. Goldschmit constructed many of the homes and
business buildings as well as the school, churches and parsonages. He and Mrs.
Goldschmit were pioneer members of Sacred Heart parish. He served on the city
council for many years, resigning in 1946 when he moved to California. They had
nine children: Jake, John, Mary, Virginia, Clarence, Josephine, Lucille, Martin
and Loretta. Mr. Goldschmit died February 18, 1949; Mrs. Goldschmit November 7,
1958.
Groth, Carsten – born January 5, 1862 in
Heidi, Germany. He was united in marriage to Jennie Somme, June 10, 1891. Seven
children were born to this union. Their occupation was farming and settled one
and one-half miles west of Alvord. Mr. Groth passed away May 9, 1942. June 11,
1893 the first business meeting of the Lutheran church in Alvord was held. The
Constitution was adopted and signed by the charter members and Mr. Groth was one
of the members and he also served as a deacon.
Gust, Albert – born in
Freeport , Ill.
, April 25, 1875. He was united in marriage to Anna Schmidt of Hull,
February 24, 1897. Mrs. Gust was born in Germany. Two children were born to this
union: Ernest, born February 25, 1898, now lives in Loveland, Colo.; and a
daughter, Mrs. Albert Schaffer, born January 10, 1903, now lives at Elkton, SD.
They lived on various farms in the Alvord vicinity from 1899 to 1908, when they
moved to Bushnell, SD. Mr. Gust passed away June 13, 1936 and Mrs. Gust passed
away November 14, 1965.
Hamann, Herman L. – son of Mr. and Mrs.
John Hamann was born November 11, 1874 at Walcott, IA. He was united in marriage
to Sophie Kappelman February 23, 1900. Mrs. Hamann was born October 16, 1880. In
1908 they purchased a farm two miles north of Alvord and lived there until they
retired to Alvord in 1933. Three sons were born to this union: Gustav H. born
December 24, 1901 and passed away July 26, 1926; John F. was born January 29,
1904; and Louis H. born April 30, 1906. Mr. Hamann was a long time director of
the Farmer’s Elevator and also served as Secretary-Treasurer of Rural Telephone
lines 4 and 12. He passed away April 26, 1944. Mrs. Hamann continues to make her
home in Alvord.
John F. Hamann was united in marriage
to Caroline Watke August 17, 1932. They are the parents of two children: Eldon
of Larchwood; and Iva (Mrs. Merritt Peterson) of Minneapolis; and are farming
three miles north of Alvord.
Louie H. farms two miles north of
Alvord and on August 24, 1932 was united in marriage to Amanda Burmeister of
Luverne, Minn. They are the parents of three daughters; Martha (Mrs. Terry
Moser) of Lester; Velma (Mrs. Gary Rowles) of Mankato, Minn.; and Angela (Mrs.
Wm. Zimmerman) of Peoria, Ill. Mr. Hamann is a charter member of the Gun Club
and served as its first president.
Hamann, John J. – born at Holstein,
Germany, on March 1, 1851. At age 15 he crossed the ocean and located in Scott
County. He was united in marriage to Anna C. Shaffer on February 12, 1894. He
was employed as a laborer and later engaged in farming. He came to Lyon County
in 1890. They were the parents of five children: Herman L.; Henry C.; Gustav W.;
Alvina; and Celia. He was the director of the Fair Association of Sioux county
and vice president of the Farmers Elevator company of
Rock
Valley . He was also a trustee of the
Mutual Fire Association of Sioux and Lyon county. He
served as road superintendent. He was associated in religious matters with the
Lutheran church. He was a member of the Inwood Lodge IOOF and went through all
the chairs of Alvord, Iowa, which lodge he joined later. He retired from farming
and came to Alvord in 1914. He built a new home here. John was active in town
affairs and became mayor of Alvord. During this time he did much street
improvement with his old horse and slip scraper. Mrs. Hamann passed away March
14, 1928. Mr. Hamann March 2, 1929.
Hagedorn, August – born in Germany
December 6, 1863. Louise Berg Hagedorn was also born in Germany June 23, 1870.
Mr. Hagedorn came to America in 1883 and came to Lyon County in 1890. He was
united in marriage to Louise Berg February 26, 1896 and the couple farmed east
of Alvord until they moved to Alvord in 1929. Three children were born to this
union: Jack, Rock Rapids; Leona (Mrs. Alfred Ahders), Inwood; and Tena, Alvord.
Mr. Hagedorn passed away November 11, 1947 and Mrs. Hagedorn January 13,
1954.
Hansen, Julius – born in Rock County,
Minn. on December 23, 1884. He married Emma Johnson on March 16, 1901. She was
also born in Rock County on July 11, 1887. They lived on a farm four miles north
of Alvord until they retired in 1946. Mr. Hansen operated a threshing rig every
fall of his faming life. They were the parents of four children: Milton, Lester;
Marcella (Mrs. John Newborg) of Alvord; Melva Jean (Mrs. Otto Moser) deceased;
and Nadine (Mrs. Ceel Van den Bring) Alvord, who lives on the Hansen farm. Mr.
Hansen passed away May 19, 1968. His daughter, Mrs. Moser passed away June 1,
1968.
Hartung, Arthur Edward – born January 8,
1884, he married Sybilla Bohlig who was born in
Germany July 21,
1889. They came to Alvord from Nebraska
in 1932 and farmed three miles east of town until 1937 when they
retired and moved to Rock Rapids. There were four children: Charlotte and Arthur
Jr., deceased; Margaret (Mrs. Leo Witt) of Rock Rapids; and William of
Rochester, NY. Mrs. Hartung died in 1962; Mr. Hartung in
1965.
Hasselmann, Ernst Kai – born in
Germany in 1864.
After coming to America
he worked as a farm laborer and later bought a farm
northeast of Alvord. He was united in marriage to Laura Jansen who was born in
1866. Three children were born to this union: Emma (Mrs. J.C. Langfeldt)
Austin , Texas
; Paul, Rock Rapids; and Karl Friedrich,
Houston , Texas
. Mr. Hasselmann worked as a gardener in
Germany and was
known here for his beautiful flower gardens on the farm. Mr. Hasselmann passed
away in 1944 and Mrs. Hasselmann preceded him in death in 1932. Mr. and Mrs.
J.C. Langfeldt were the parents of four daughters. Mr. Langefeldt passed away in
1957. Paul was united in marriage to Bertha Arp and to this union three children
were born: Leona (Mrs. Ray Garrett); Leonard and Ruth (Mrs. Grant Moen). Mrs.
Hasselmann passed away in 1941. Later he married Lowene Rutherford and they are
the parents of two daughters: Janet and Laurine. Karl after he left Alvord
attended college where he received a degree in geology and has since been
credited with the first drill for oil in the Gulf of
Mexico and has since been in the petroleum field. He was united in
marriage to Marjorie Meyer, the couple have no children. They reside in
Houston , Texas
.
Healy, John – born in
County Cork ,
Ireland in 1841. He married
Barbara Kaufman. She was born at Sheboygan ,
Wisconsin in 1851. They came to Alvord in
1905. They had six children: Thomas, Peter, Nick, Mary, Emma and
Dan.
Heerde, Hans – born at
Sarzbuettle ,
Germany November 26, 1846k
Catherina Peters Heerde was born at Warfen ,
Germany , April 29, 1849.
They came to Davenport in
Scott
County and were united in marriage
April 11, 1872. Twelve children were born to this union with six surviving:
Margareth (Mrs. Fred Heyden) died in 1941; Kathy (Mrs. Henry Holtz) died in
1932; Julius died in 1965; Bertha (Mrs. Johannes Schemmel); Charlie died in
1968; and Ella (Mrs. Rudolph Bauer). Mr. and Mrs. Heerde came to the Heerde
family in the spring of 1900 and moved to Alvord in 1912 where they lived until
their deaths. Mr. Heerde passed away in 1922 and Mrs. Heerde farm and was united
in marriage to Helena Grassman November 8, 1911. Five children were born to
them: Willie, Milford ; Rosie (Mrs.
Henry Sonjus) Alvord; Julius, Milford
; Erma (Mrs. Louis Naatjes deceased); and Kenneth, Alvord. They
remained on the Heerde farm until they retired to Inwood in 1945. Rosie was
united in marriage to Henry Sonjus February 21, 1937. They moved into Alvord in
1956 where he does general building and farms the Heerde farm. David Naathes,
son of Mrs. Louis Naatjes (deceased) makes his home at present with the Sonius.
Kenneth was united in marriage to Jackie Schlumbohm January 15, 1958 and they
are the parents of three children, Jeff, Beth and Todd. Mr. Heerde is employed
at Peterson’s Lumber yard in Rock Rapids.
Hein, John – born January 10, 1869 in
Dixon County , Ill.
Here he spent his early boyhood and at the age of 14 he moved with
his parents to Ida Grove, IA. He was united in marriage to Alvena Mundt October
20, 1902, and moved to Alvord where he lived until he passed away March 31,
1938. They were they parents of three children: Henrietta, Nellie and Edwin.
Edwin was born October 22, 1905. He was united in marriage to Helen Thielvoldt
in 1936. One son, Lawrence, was born to the October 6, 1939.
Hesebeck, John – born in
Germany February
18, 1857 and in 1900 married Emma Dethlefs who was born December 31, 1871 in
Germany . Two
children were born to this union: a son, Arno; and a daughter, Lulu. Mr.
Hesebeck farmed in Lyon
County before his marriage and then
entered into partnership with Pete Stein in the John Deere Implement business in
Alvord until his death February 7, 1917. Arno , was born
January 25, 1902 and is living now in Rock Rapids. Lulu was born January 13,
1906, and was married to Lester Crouse, September 20, 1924 and are farming her
parents farm. Two children were born to this union: Phyllis (Mrs. Robert Rydell)
of Rock Rapids; and Eugene of Montgomery, Ill.
Heyden, F.G. – came to
Lyon
County from
Davenport in
Scott
County where he was born in 1869. He
was united in marriage to Margareth Heerde December 25, 1889 in
Scott
County . Mrs. Heyden was born March
27, 1868. Their occupation was farming. They were the parents of six children:
Lillie (Mrs. Robert Wilke, deceased); Ferd, Alvord; Freda (Mrs. John Mundt)
Kider, SD; Leonard (deceased); Charlie, Rock Rapids; and Stella (Mrs. Henry
Petersen) Lake Benton, Minn. The couple celebrated their
golden wedding anniversary in 1939. Mr. Heyden passed away in 1945 and Mrs.
Heyden preceded him in 1941.
Holthaus, Barney – born in
Festina , IA
in 1855. He married Elizabeth Frerich in 1885 at Festina. They had
five children: Joe (deceased); Frederika (known as Catherine, Mrs. Ed Hartigan)
Omaha , Nebr.
; Victoria (deceased); Alma (Mrs. Joe Gaynor)
Fort Dodge , IA; and Evalyn (Mrs.
Elmer F. Page) Gary, Indiana .
Alma and Evalyn were born in Alvord and Alma
taught school here in 1916 and 1917. He operated a lumber yard,
machine shop and elevator. Will and Joe Frerich were employed by Barney. They
moved to Ashton in 1896 and Barney died there in 1900.
Elizabeth died at
Gary , Indiana
in 1936.
Jacobsen, Christian H. – born August 6,
1850 at Riessebye, Schleswig-Holstein ,
Germany . He married
Dorothea Jessen September 23, 1873. She was born June 5, 1846 at Gumelz,
Ulsnisngeln, Schleswig-Holstein ,
Germany . They came to
America in 1883
and to Lyon
County in 1896 settling on their farm
four miles southwest of Alvord. This is the farm where Milo Hanzen now lives.
Their children were: Kathryn (Mrs. Chris Schmidt); Johannes; Mary; Dora (Mrs.
Herman Reimers); Peter, Nicklaus and Emma (Mrs. John Kappelmann). Mrs. Jacobsen
died March 25, 1916. There were two houses on their farm and in the fall of 1916
Mr. Jacobsen moved one of them into Alvord where he resided for a time. This is
the house now occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Herschel Bradley. In 1920 Mr. Jacobsen
built a new home and lived in it until his death January 23, 1927. It is the
place now occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Von Der Lieth. Emma Jacobsen Kappelmann
was the mother of Herman Kappelmann now residing in Alvord.
Jacobsen, Willie – born on August 19,
1896. He married Anna Serck who was born on October 5, 1901. They came to Alvord
in 1941 and lived here until 1953 when they moved to South
Bend , Indiana . Willie operated a
trucking service here and also the county road patrol. He died on July 30, 1962.
They had six children: Mildred; Erwin; Lyle (deceased); Glenn; Mila; and Joan,
all of whom have left Alvord.
Jahr, Rev. Erwin H. – was born at
Primghar , Iowa
April 24, 1889. He attended
Wartburg
College at Waverly and Wartburg
Seminary, Dubuque and was ordained
in the Lutheran ministry in 1911. From 1911 to 1929 he served Christ Lutheran
church at Alvord. He was united in marriage to Kathryn Kroger of Alvord in 1913;
to this union two daughters were born: Esther (Mrs. Arthur Johnson)
Portland ,
Ore. ; and Virginia (Mrs. Arne
Strand) Seattle , Wash.
Rev. Jahr passed away at Cornelius ,
Wash. October 4, 1954.
Jensen, Henry – born December 18,
1862 in Scott County, Iowa. His wife Allie was born September 5, 1860 in
Germany . They
were married February 6, 1887 and were the parents of three children: Raws;
Clay; and Eva. In 1897 they bought a farm near Alvord and farmed approximately
until 1912 and a few years later started a cream station. Mr. Jensen passed away
in April 1935 and Mrs. Jensen September 5, 1960.
Johnson, Henry (Hine) G. – born
September 15, 1888. He married Augusta Wagner on October 5, 1910. She was born
April 23, 1890. They had five children: Elsie (who married Herman Loges, later
remarried John E. Meyer of Boyden ,
IA ); Louie; Emma (deceased); and Luella
(Mrs. Chas. Heyden). The Johnsons farmed north of Alvord in 1911. Mrs. Johnson
once saw a large rat run out of Ralph Trzynka’s butcher shop. She killed it with
a hoe and was rewarded with a ring of fresh metwurst.
Junge, Henry, Sr. – born in the
village of
Cadenberge in the
province of
Hanover ,
Germany ,
February 13, 1866 to Henry Junge and his wife, Gesina Winters Junge. In 1882
when he was 16 years old he came to
America and to
Davenport where he worked in a stone
quarry crushing rock with hand tools. He came to northwest
Iowa in a horse drawn wagon and
about 1894 acquired a farm between Alvord and Larchwood. In 1896 he was united
in marriage to Catherine Schmidt, two children were born to this union: John in
Missouri ; and Mrs. Minnie
Wandersee who lives in Minnesota .
Mrs. Junge passed away in 1910. In 1911 he was united in marriage to Louise
Schultz. She was born in Kaiserlanten ,
Germany January 14, 1894.
To this union the following children were born: Henry W.,
Sioux City ; William,
Sioux City ; Fritz, Pipestone; Annie
(Mrs. John Towne) Alvord; Louise, (Mrs. Jake Kuper) Ellsworth, Minn.; and Maire
(Mrs. Clifford Fitchner) Muscatine, IA. Mr. Junge retired and moved to Alvord in
1950 and passed away October 16, 1952, Mrs. Junge is residing in
Alvord.
Kappelmann, Herman C. – born at
Sedam ,
Germany on May 28, 1853. In
1896 he and his wife Marie (Hasselbrack) came to
America . Marie
was born at Affinghausen ,
Hanover ,
Germany on May 25, 1856.
One daughter Anna came here in 1894. They were the parents of ten children:
Anna; Sophie; John; Henry; Mary; Margaret; Henrietta; Fred;
Lena ; and Freida. They settled just northeast of Alvord
where the government grain bins were. They first year he worked for Ferdinand
Stettnichs and the next year he farmed southwest of Alvord. Later the family
moved to South Dakota but Sophie
stayed in Alvord working for the Schemmel’s and sewing for others. Sophie
married Herman L. Hamann February 23, 1900. At the present time she resides in
Alvord and is the oldest resident.
Kappelmann, Herman – Mr. and Mrs.
Herman Kappelmann came to the Alvord community from
Germany in 1896;
in 1899 they moved to Garretson, SD. Their son John Kappelmann returned to
Alvord in 1902 and worked for wages. Notes from his diary in 1896 to 1898
include the following entries: He received $3 per month for spring field work
and $6 per month during harvest. Oats sold at 10cents per bushel; barley 14cents
per bushel and shelled corn 6cents per bushel. He picked corn (by hand) in deep
snow for 1cent per bushel, had no overshoes but used gunny sacks over his shoes
for protection. On January 16, 1907 he married Emma Jacobsen and started farming
three miles west of Alvord. They were parents of three children: Herman, Frieda
(Mrs. Lawrence Griebel) deceased and Louie. In 1913 he bought a farm 1 ½ miles
northeast of Alvord. In 1818 he built a new house, the old one was moved into
Alvord and is presently occupied by the Maynard Bos family. Mrs. Kappelmann died
March 1, 1923. In 1927 Mr. Kappelmann married Mina Jessen at
Luverne , Minn.
In 1934 he bought a farm northeast of Pipestone and moved there. His
son Herman moved onto the Alvord farm, where he remained until the place was
sold to Thiessen Bros. in 1940, and Herman also moved to the Pipestone vicinity.
John Kappelmann died January 23, 1961; Mrs. Kappelmann died January 23, 1961;
Mrs. Kappelmann October 9, 1962. Herman and family returned to Alvord in 1948,
and bought a house in the south part of town where they have since
resided.
Kelly, James – One of the earliest
settles of the Alvord Community was Mr. James Henry Kelly. He and his brother,
Patrick Kelly, came to Lyon
County in the spring of 1885 from
Indiana . The building site for
his small homestead was located on the area somewhere between what is now the
Lutheran and Catholic Cemeteries. The town of
Alvord , or Park, as it was first
called, had been plotted and soon afterwards the building of the town began. On
November 15, 1887, Mr. Kelly was united in marriage to Marie Donahue and moved
to a farm about two miles east of the new town. The Kelly family consisted of
four children: Blanch and Everett ,
now deceased; Frank who lives on the home place; and Ralph, who with his family
lives a mile and a half north. The children of Ralph and Minnie Kelly are: Mary
Therese, who is married to Wm. Smith, an architect employed by the City Planning
Commission of Boston, Mass. They have three children: Maria Louise, 6, Sean, 4,
and Rebecca Rachel, 2; The other Kelly children are James, Jr., high school
instructor in Central Lyon, Rock Rapids, and who also farms the home place; Dan
is the youngest and is a graduate student at the University of Texas,
Austin.
Kelly, John – a well known farmer of
the community was born on the family farm two miles east of Alvord, May 26,
1886. On March 3, 1919, he married Mary Waters in Immaculate Conception church,
Petersville , Iowa
, and have continued through the years to make their home on the
same place. They have two children: Vernon
, who married Betty McCoy of Emmetsburg in 1946 and farmed in this
area until this spring when they moved to
Sac
City with their four sons. One son
Joe is in the U.S.
army. Madonna married Bernard Hall May 25, 1948 and with
their nine children reside on a farm near Elk
Point , SD.
Kelly, Joseph A. – a son of Patrick
and Jane Kelly was born on the family farm east of Alvord July 15, 1888. He
married Josephine Frembgen December 26, 1922. She was born in
Nebraska July 27, 1889. They
farmed east of Alvord until Joe’s health failed, then moved to
Casper , Wyoming
, for a short time. Since the change in climate produced little
benefit they returned here. Joe, a World War I veteran, died May 27, 1942. After
his death Josie operated the local telephone exchange until her death December
28, 1943. They had one daughter Lois Mae (Mrs. Gerrit Van Beek) of
Wyoming ,
Michigan .
Kelly, Patrick – born April 27, 1856
in New Haven , Conn.
He moved with his family to
Indiana in 1858, coming to
Iowa in 1869, locating first in
Benton
County then in
Cherokee
County . On January 2, 1884 he
married Jane Barron in Benton
County . She was born near
Freeport , Ill.
, in 1861 and came to Iowa
in 1868. In the spring of 1885 the Kellys came to
Lyon county settling on the farm in
Doon township two miles east of Alvord, which he had
purchased and broke ground on the previous fall. They worked and improved this
farm until they retired in 1919, and moved to Rock Rapids. Of their eight
children, five are deceased: Charles, Joe, Clarence, Mae (Mrs. James Spain) and
Agnes. Lucille resides in Rock Rapids, Florence
presently in a nursing home, and John retired on the family farm.
When the village of
Alvord was started Pat Kelly bought
the first lot in the town, which he later traded. He served in various township
offices and was a member of the county board of supervisors six years. Mrs.
Kelly died August 8, 1928; Mrs. Kelly May 10, 1938.
Kiel , Hans –
born September 16, 1887 near Perkins ,
Iowa . He was united in marriage to Sadie
Burggraaf of Rock
Valley , February 28, 1912. Mrs. Kiel
was born at Pella , IA
, April 20, 1892 and passed away February 26, 1937 at the age of 45.
They were the parents of five children: Steve, Kent City, Mich.; Anna was
married to Dick Klarenbeek in 1940. Four children were born to this union:
Leonard, Sally, Wilhelmina and Richard. The family lived in the Alvord vicinity.
Mrs. Klarenbeek passed away May 10, 1964 at the age of 47. Hermina was united in
marriage to Edward Van Whye, have one child, and live in the
Hull area. Jeannie was united in
marriage to Lane Klarenbeek, Jr. in 1946, and they are the parents of three
children: Wanda, Larry and Stanley. They are farming in the Alvord vicinity.
Arie was united in marriage to Gertrude De Vries in 1950 and are the parents of
six children: Ardis, Barbara, Charlene, Laurine, Julie and Russell. The family
live in Alvord and Mr. Kiel is employed at Gage’s at Lester.
Klarenbeek, Lane – born June 14, 1893
in the Netherlands
. He came to this country in 1912. He married Willemina
Rozeboom at Alvord on May 25, 1916. She was also born in the
Netherlands on
November 1, 1899 and came to America
in 1913. They farmed in the Alvord community all but the
last 12 years of their married life. Mrs. Klarenbeek died July 30, 1960, and Mr.
Klarenbeek died on October 19, 1966. They were the parents of 11 children: Ray
of near Inwood, married Dora Fluit January 24, 1940. They have two children:
Wilma and Carol; Dick of Alvord married Anna Kiel August 30, 1940. They have for
children: Leonard, Sally, Wilhelmina and Richard. Anna passed away in 1964;
Gertrude married Wm. Koedam February 20, 1946. They have six children: Merle,
Vernon , Shirley, Wesly, Gloria and
Kenneth. They live in the Alvord community; Lane, Jr. married Jennie Kiel
December 6, 1946. They have three children: Wanda, Larry and Stanley. They live
near Alvord; Jeannie married Keizer of Hull, Iowa on February 5, 1946. They have
six children: James ,
Leon , Gerald, Wesly, Glen
and Carla; Willemina married John Den Besten January 14, 1947. They have two
children: Linda and Harlan. They live near Rock
Valley , IA ; Anna married James
Wielenga of Boyden, October 17, 1952. They have five children: James, Leroy,
Marlene, David and Lisa; Gerrit of Boyden married Geneva Van Beek February 26,
1958. They have four children: Donna, Barbara, Pamela and Thresa; Clarance of
Hull married Mary Ann Kooima April 4, 1959. They have two children: Duayne and
Douglas.
Kock, Christopher – born February 16,
1869 near Davenport ,
Iowa . He was united in marriage to Bertha
Miller February 20, 1895. That same year March 1st the moved to
Lyon county on a farm northeast of Alvord. In 1924 they
retired and moved to Lester ,
IA. Mr. Kock passed away March 14, 1952. Mrs.
Kock passed away November 1954. They were the parents of three children:
Harvey born November 14, 1897, and
married Minnie Schemmel January 17, 1924. They farmed north of Alvord until the
spring of 1932 and then moved to Elkton ,
South Dakota , where they retired.
Harvey passed away July 5, 1962.
They have five children: Donald, Loren, Lois, Shirley and Virgil. Loren Kock
moved to Alvord in Dec. 1959 and is employed at the Alvord Produce. Loren and
Delores are the parents of three children: Vickie, Lorie and Jeff. Harold Kock
was born January 8, 1898. He married Harriet Morgan November 24, 1925. They
farmed north of Alvord and then moved to Valley Springs, SD. He was employed
with John Morrell and Company of Sioux Falls
for 17 years. He is now retired and lives in Valley Springs. They
have three children: Duane, Roger and Patricia. William was born May 5, 1900. He
married Hilda Schemmel June 9, 1926. They farmed in Lyon
county until 1940 and then moved near Luverne ,
Minn. , and farmed there four years. In 1945
they moved to Rock Rapids, Iowa .
There he was employed until August 1949, then moved to Alvord and went into
business known as the Alvord Produce.
Koll, George – born at
Hardwick , Minn.
, in 1897 to Mr. and Mrs. Matthias Koll. His father was born in
Germany and came
to the United States
when he was 15 years old. Mrs. Koll was born in
Ohio . They were married at
Oberlein , Kan.
, and came to Minnesota
in 1890 by covered wagon. Eight children were born to this union,
George being the fourth eldest. He was married to Martha Rath February 12, 1919
and moved to the Alvord vicinity in 1922 where they farmed until 1946 when they
moved into Alvord. Mr. Koll worked on dirt construction work for 20 years
retiring in 1966. He has been mayor of Alvord for six years now serving his
fourth term. Mr. and Mrs. Koll are the parents of five children: Marvyl (Mrs.
Norval Kahl) Inwood; Howard; Aimee (Mrs. Harold Schlumbohm) both of Rock Rapids;
Darryl, Pipestone; and Beverly (Mrs. Vernon Schmidt)
Willmar ,
Minn.
Kramer, Jacob – born at
Worthington , Iowa
, in 1843. He married Elizabeth Cremer of Cascade,
Iowa , in 1884. He bought a
section of farm land southeast of Alvord for $8.00 per acre. In 1888 they moved
to this farm. They had nine children: Nick; George; Pete, John; Mat; Mary;
Elizabeth ; Ann and Susan. John
Kramer married Anna Kelly in 1903. Mrs. Kramer had come to Alvord territory in
1889 and lived in a log cabin on a farm three miles south of what is now Alvord.
The Kramers lived on the original homestead and had four children: Gladys (Mrs.
Joe Ripperda) Rock Valley ,
Iowa ;
Vernon ,
Denver , Colorado
; Agnes (Mrs. Tom McCarty) of Alvord
, Iowa ; and Clifford of Alvord. Mrs. Kramer
died in 1967. Clifford Kramer married Euphemia Warborg on June 24, 1937. They
had six children: Gerald, Sioux Falls ,
SD ; Dennis, Sioux
Falls , SD ; William, deceased;
Joseph, Alvord; Kathleen in College in Sioux
City , and Nancy
, Alvord. Gerald and his family lived for a time in the old family
home, being the fifth generation of Kramers to do so.
Kramer, Peter – born October 22,
1874. He was married to Emma Taashaler in Rock Valley ,
IA on May 30, 1900. They bought the north
half of the family farm from his father and continued to live there until his
death on October 31, 1943. They had six children: Valerian (deceased); Frances
(deceased); Raymond, at home; Paul, Larchwood ,
Iowa ; Urban at home; and Alverna (deceased).
There are three children of Jacob Kramer still living. They are Nick, 98 years
old of Minot , ND
; John, 92 years old of Rock Valley
, Iowa ; and Mary Kramer Wagner, 88 years old
of Sioux Falls , SD.
Kreber, Eugene – born in
Alsace-Lorraine ,
France May 30, 1881. He
came to Tama county with his parents and later to Lyon
county. He was united in marriage to Mary Sieck and five children were born to
this union: Mary (Mrs. Lou Mundt, deceased); Anna (Mrs. Steve Woolway,
deceased); Louise (Mrs. Fred Kroger) Puyallup
, Wash ; Harry
(deceased); and Ed of Ashton. Their occupation was farming. Mr. Kreber passed
away January 29, 1942 and Mrs. Kreber May 12, 1938. Their daughter, Anna was a
registered nurse and served in France
during World War I.
Kreber, Leo – who conducted one of
the first blacksmith and machine shops in Alvord was born in
France . After
coming to America
he lived for a time in Remsen where he married Frances
Daldropp. They were parents of six children: Margaret, John, Joe, William,
Genevieve and Lenore. In 1907 they moved to a farm southwest of Alvord and after
several years to a farm near Flandreau, SD. Margaret who was an accomplished
seamstress soon returned to Alvord, practiced her trade for a time and later
clerked in Meyer store. She married Lou Bramstedt (deceased); is now living in
LeMars.
Kroeger, Claus – born March 16, 1844
in Kiel ,
Germany . He married
Johanna Steenoher in Davenport ,
IA. Johanna was born April 1, 1851 in
Germany . They
moved to Lyon County March 1, 1888 where they farmed two and one half miles east
of Alvord. They broke the soil for the first time and also built the house and
barn that are there now. They had six children: Louis (deceased); Clara (Mrs.
John Berg-deceased); Herman (deceased); Henry (deceased) and Jon (Ellsworth,
Wisc.). Mrs. Kroger died in 1902 and Mr. Kroeger died January 24,
1925.
Kroeger, Louis H. – born in Scott
County September 20, 1871. He came to Lyon county from
Davenport in 1893 and was united in
marriage to Laura Paustian November 22, 1894. To this union three children were
born: Edwin C. and Gilbert T., Alvord; and Elsie (Mrs. Wm. Weber)
Moline , Ill.
Mrs. Kroeger passed away August 5, 1907 and Mr. Kroeger passed away
July 27, 1941. The farm is still being farmed by Ed Kroeger who was born October
11, 1895. He was united in marriage to Hilda Stoltenberg in 1928 and are the
parents of two daughters Elaine (Mrs. George Childress) Rock Rapids; and Melva
Jean (Mrs. Eugene Kohnen) Sioux City
. The Childress’ have five children. Gilbert farms and makes his home
in Alvord.
Kroger, Henry H. – born in the
village of Vitzdorf on the island of Fehmann in the Baltic Sea September 12,
1866. In 1883 he came to Scott county and to Lyon county
in 1888 and bought a farm northwest of Alvord. He sent for his parents Mr. and
Mrs. Jochim Kroger and brothers and sisters, started them farming and giving the
farm to them. He bought another farm and started to build and break sod again.
He was united in marriage to Dorothea Nessler December 10, 1890 and four sons
and one daughter were born to them: Fred J. (deceased); Edward H.,
Puyallup , Wash.
; John P. (deceased); Mrs. Kathryn Jahr, Portland, Ore. One son died
in infancy. They retired from farming in 1915 and moved to Alvord. Mr. Kroger
built the garage building in Alvord now owned by the Farmers Elevator Co. and
housing the town fire houses. He was active in community affairs serving on the
school board, town council, served as mayor and largely through his efforts the
present Lutheran parsonage was built in 1912. Mrs. Kroger passed away August 18,
1930 and Mr. Kroger August 25, 1945.
Langfeldt, John – lived with his
parents on Section 22 in Cleveland
township. On the afternoon of January 12, on his way home from school
he was caught in the terrible blizzard of 1888. He wasn’t found until the next
morning, alive, but with both hands and feet frozen. Dr. G.C. Wallace of Rock
Rapids performed the amputation at the John Klahn farm home, with Mrs. Klahn and
Mrs. John Reimers assisting the doctor, with the instruments being boiled in a
wash boiler. His hooks which were his hands would be removed at meal time and a
special knife and fork would be inserted for eating. He was 12 years of age at
the time. He grew to manhood and worked as a farm laborer and later went to
California with his brother where
he lived until he passed away. This case was written up in the Medial Journal as
this was the only case in medical history where both hands and feet were
amputated and the person lived.
Langfelt, Fritz – born in Scott
County, Iowa March 20, 1884. He married Emma Delfs on February 14, 1917. She was
born in Germany
on October 15, 1890. They had five children: William
(Alvord), Harold (Alvord); Dorothy ( Sioux
Falls ); Freddie (Alvord) and Betty (Rock Rapids – Mrs.
Harold Hasche). They have five children; Harold Langfeldt was married to
Marguerite Hutt on March 20, 1964. They, together with William, live on the home
place. Freddie Langfeldt, was married to Theresa Schuttoffel in 1951. They have
four children: Gary, Joan, Bonnie and Brenda.
Lape, Al – moved to Alvord from the
Larchwood-Inwood area in 1933 with five children: Dorothy (Mrs. Henry Bahrenfuss
of Doon ); Emma (Mrs. Harold Nagel); Cleo (Mrs. Herman
Reit Jr. of California ); and
Junior. On October 8, 1938, at the age of eight years Junior was run over by the
town grader near the Lutheran church and was killed instantly. Jerry was born
February 27, 1940. Al Lape died November 4, 1946. Mrs. Lape ran the telephone
office from 1944 until 1960.
Levens, Thomas E. – Thomas Edward
Levens of Alvord and Mary Corcoran of Larchwood were married in St. Mary’s
church at Larchwood by Father McCormick April 3, 1894. They came to Alvord to
make their home and were members of
Sacred
Heart Church
. Mr. Levens taught in rural schools ($30 per month) and was a
carpenter by trade. He served as mayor of Alvord and was city clerk for several
years. Their family consisted of four daughters and three sons: Rilla (Mrs. Cloy
McKeegan) of Rock
Valley ; Genevieve (Mrs. Wm. A.
Reilly) of Rock Valley; Olive, Philadelphia, PA; Edward – deceased, 1954, a
World War II veteran, buried in National Cemetery at San Diego, Calif.; Theresa,
Dubuque, Iowa; John (deceased, 1960); Lawrence – Philadelphia, PA (a World War
II veteran); Mr. Levens died April 10, 1945 and Mrs. Levens June 13,
1943.
McCarty, John – born in 1858 in
Princeville , Ill.
He married Ellen Dolin, and in 1891 moved to a farm he bought
northwest of Alvord. They had six children: Irvie, (who married Ida Gary), they
had two children; John and Edna. He died in 1946; Mabel (who died in infancy);
Nellie (Mrs. George Weisensee) lived north of Alvord until in 1936 they moved to
a farm near Lennox , SD. They had one daughter, Dorothy;
Lulu, passed away at the age of 17; Edna (Sister Mary Benica) Chicago,
Ill. ; Catherine (Mrs. Wm. Bruer
of Larchwood , IA
). They had six children: Ella Marie; Mildred (Sister Mary Eldred);
Robert; Eileen; Donald and Betty. Mrs. McCarty died in 1897. Mr. McCarty
remarried in 1898 to Emma Jorgensen at Alvord. To this union were born seven
children: George, who lives on the home place, married Anna Van Beek. They had
four children: Connie, George Jr., Jim and Jeannie; Ray, who lives northwest of
Alvord, married Nell Van Beek. They have one daughter Sharon; Paul died in
infancy; Ruth (Mrs. Nick Kelley of Sioux Falls
). They had three daughters: Patricia, Sheila and Colleen; Tom, who
lives northwest of Alvord, married Agnes Kramer. They had six children: Thomas
J.; Marlene; John; Paul; Judy and Michael; Olive (Mrs. Ed Adams of
Chicago , Ill.
). They have five children: Thomas; Gloria; Susan; Patricia and Mary
Frances (who died soon after birth); Alice (Mrs. David Wagner of
Spencer , Iowa
). They have one son, Dennis. John McCarty died in 1933, and his
wife, Emma died in 1964.
McCarty, Thomas J. – born April 1,
1932 at Alvord. He married Martha Frembgen at
Rock
Valley on February 4, 1956. She was
born at Rock
Valley on January 4, 1936. They have
six children: Mark; William; Debra; Joseph; Barbara and Colleen. They lived in
Alvord for a time when Tom worked as a mechanic in
Lester , IA.
They now reside on a farm northeast of Alvord where is he working as
a mechanic in Rock Rapids.
McDermott, John – born in
Ireland , wife
Katherine born in County Down ,
Ireland in 1826. Mrs.
McDermott was widowed before she moved to Alvord in 1884. They had four
children: Hugh; James; Joseph; and Mary (who married George Weisensee). After
Mr. Weisensee died, she married Grant Beck. They farmed four miles northwest of
town.
McMullen, Edward - born in
County Cork ,
Ireland , in 1833. He
married Siscelia Lanaghan in
Ireland on
February 16, 1852. She was also born in Ireland in 1830. They came to a farm
southwest of Alvord about 1890 and later moved
into Alvord. They were the parents of nine children: Catherine
(Mrs. John Doherty); Daniel; Anna; Edward; Margaret (Mrs.
John Spain); Rose (Mrs. James Kineen);
Matthew; Mary (Mrs. Joseph Duffy); and Cecelia (Mrs. John Mann). Mr. McMullen died September 4, 1900 and Mrs.
McMullen died September 30,
1897.
Meyer, Henry – born at
Denison , IA
on February 5, 1873. He came to
Lyon
County in 1895 and worked in a
general store at Inwood before buying a store in Alvord the same year. He was
married to Matilda Everson on December 30, 1896 at Inwood. They had two
children: Dr. Herbert Meyer, who practiced medicine in
Sioux Falls before his death in
1933; and Esther, who married Edwin Ahrens June 27, 1929 at Alvord. Henry Meyer
died in 1948 and Mrs. Henry Meyer died in 1923.
Meyer, Claus – The C. Meyer & Co.
store was purchased in the year 1895 by Claus Meyer who moved to Alvord from
Denison , IA
, in that year. This was continued as a partnership with his son,
Henry, and his son-in-law, Gus Lorenzen, for a number of years. It was then sold
to his son, Henry and Gus Lorenzen. In about the year 1908 Henry Meyer purchased
the interest of Gus Lorenzen who moved to
Pendelton , Ore.
, where his widow still resides. In January 1924, the store and
nearby buildings were destroyed by fire. The business was carried on in several
other locations until his death in 1948. Henry Meyer operated a store in Alvord
for a total of 53 years.
Peter H. Meyer Senior was born in
Holstein ,
Germany , March 11, 1844.
At the age of 15, Mr. Meyers started for
Australia
attracted by word of the gold discovery. After 120 days on
ship board he reached that country where he spent ten years in the gold fields.
Then he returned to Germany
and took part in the Franco-Prussian War. In 1872 he came
to America . He
was married to Bertha Klitzke on February 1, 1876 at
Davenport . In 1885 he came to
Lyon
County and settled on a farm four
miles east of Alvord. Their daughter Ella was born in the morning when the
blizzard of January 12, 1888 struck. He died January 9, 1934, and Mrs. Meyers
passed away April 14, 1935. They had twelve children: Metta (Mrs. Leonard Berg)
deceased; Peter Jr., (deceased); Anna (Mrs. Henry Evers, deceased); Emma (Mrs.
Bill Evers) living in Montana; Bertha (Mrs. Emil Klitzke) deceased; Louise (Mrs.
Oliver Lasby) living in Denver, Colo.; Ella (Mrs. Carl Hasche) in California;
Carl in California; John in Oregon; Marie (Mrs. Bill Bennett) of Flandreau, SD;
Louis in Minnesota and Albert died in infancy.
Moeller, Hans – born February 17,
1855 at Schleswig-Holstein ,
Germany and was united in
marriage to Christine Hartwigsen in 1887. Three children were born to this
union: William; Lizzie Johnson and Mary Schlumbohm. Mrs. Moeller passed away in
1893. In 1895 Mr. Moeller was united in marriage to Christine Lange. Eight
children were born to this union: Katherine; Anna Serck; Hans; Emma (Mrs. Harry
Serck); Charley; Wilma (Mrs. George Bramstedt); Harry; and Dora Preiksat. Their
occupation was farming and Mr. Moeller did secretary work for an insurance
company. He passed away in 1926.
Mundt, George – born February 27,
1875 at Davenport , IA.
Alma Stoefen Mundt was born December 8, 1880. They were married in
1900 and were the parents of three children. Mr. Mundt was a merchant and
undertaker in Alvord. He passed away November 2, 1946. Mrs. Mundt has her home
in Alvord.
Mundt, Henry – was born in
Germany December
22, 1832 and was united in marriage to Henrietta Ehlers who was born in
Germany January
12, 1839. They came to Lyon county near Alvord in 1888.
The following children were born to this union: Henry Jr.; William; Bertha;
Alvina; Claus; George; Ed; Gustav; and Lou. Their occupation was farming. Mr.
Mundt passed away September 6, 1912 and Mrs. Mundt August 20, 1913. William
Mundt, son of Henry, was united in marriage to Ida Stofferahn at
Holstein , IA
in 1888 and came to Lyon
County in 1898. The following
children were born to them: Minnie, Mrs. Henry Schacht (deceased); John
(deceased); Adaila (deceased); Ida (Mrs. John Bull, deceased); Dora (Mrs. Ferd
Heyden); Matilda (Mrs. Harry Hamann, deceased); William Jr.; Charles; Anne (Mrs.
Lou Kroger); Emma (Mrs. Ben Irvine); Edna (Mrs. Clarence Buls); Leona (Mrs.
Terry Senior); and Helen (Mrs. Harry Newborg). Claus Mundt, son of Henry was
born in Germany
October 18, 1868 and was united in marriage to Dora
Schemmel February 26, 1896. Mrs. Mundt was born in Scott county in 1875. They
settled in Lyon county where they farmed. The following
children were born to this union: Gus, Alvord; Albert, Hartley; Alma (Mrs. Fred
Stoltenberg) Hills; Elsie (Mrs. Ben Slob) Garretson, SD; Harold and Raymond,
both of Sioux Falls . Mr. Mundt died
in 1925, Mrs. Mundt in 1920. Gus Mundt, son of Claus, was born February 14, 1898
at Alvord and was unite din marriage to Cora Slob of Doon
January 25, 1928. Mrs. Mundt was born March 6, 1900. Their occupation was
farming near Alvord. One son, Dwaine, of Inwood was born to this
union.
Nagel, Harold – was born December 4,
1905 on a farm five miles east of Alvord. He moved to Alvord in 1906 and has
lived here ever since. He married Vera Schacht and they had two children: Neil
and Carlyn (Mrs. Ronald Jarm). She died on April 28, 1942. He married Emma Lape
on October 20, 1943 in Alvord. She was born in Larchwood August 31, 1923 and had
moved to Alvord in 1933. They had three children: Kenneth, Lynn and Kathy.
Harold trucked from 1924 until December 1966.
Nagel, John – was born June 5, 1866
in Holstein ,
Germany . At the age of 14
he came to America
and settled in Ida Grove. In 1885 he moved to a farm five
miles east of Alvord. He married Anna Schemmel on May 29, 1900. She was the
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fritz Schemmel and was born at
Davenport on October 29, 1875. They
had two children: a girl who died in infancy and Harold. In 1906 they moved into
Alvord where Mr. Nagel died November 4, 1934 and Mrs. Nagel died September 21,
1944.
Nagel, Otto – Otto Nagel and Julia
Ann Arp who were born and raised in Davenport, Scott county, Iowa, were married
January 20, 1893 and they came to a farm near Alvord in 1895. About 1909 they
moved into Alvord where Mr. Nagel was in the saloon business for a time and
later operated a restaurant. They left Alvord in 1913, moving to
Wisner , Nebraska
, where Mr. Nagel was in the implement business. They had two
daughters: Mabel born in Davenport
and now deceased; Lena (Mrs. Robert Brazda)
born on the farm in Lyon
County , now in
Wisner , Nebraska
.
Nagel, Michael, Sr. – was born in
Germany in 1824,
Mrs. Nagel the former Maggie Frank, was also born in
Germany in 1831.
When they came to this country they settled on a farm southeast of what is now
Alvord in 1883. They are buried in the Doon cemetery.
They were the parents of Michael, Jr. Michael Nagel, Jr. was born at Detmarshew,
Germany on September 27, 1855. He married Dora Scklimme on Sept. 26, 1880 and
moved to a farm southeast of what is now Alvord in 1884. He died on March 4,
1929 and Mrs. Nagel died on September 11, 1951. They had 10 children: William
(deceased, married Hulda Frerich); Matilda (Mrs. Carl Watke, of Rock Rapids);
Henry (married Neola Feuerhelm); Louie (deceased); Herman (married Anna Jensen);
Hugo (Alvord, married Ella Schemmel, and have three children); Lottie (Mrs.
Edward Bruhn, deceased); Carl (Doon, Iowa, married Madalen Laackmann); Albert
(married Gasiena Van Gorkom); and Alma (Mrs. Floyd Lehman of Doon,
Iowa).
Nagel, W.F. – was born in
Malm Ditmarahen ,
Germany , on June 22, 1868.
He married Augusta Kroeger on February 13, 1895. They lived on a farm east of
Alvord for 47 years. He died in 1946 and Mrs. Nagel died in 1954. They had five
children: Harry ( Larchwood ,
Iowa ); Martha (Mrs. Herbert E. Puck of
Davenport , Iowa
); Raymond (Dell Rapids, SD); Ann (Mrs. John Lottman of Alvord,
living on the Nagel farm which has been in the family for 73 years); and Vera
(Mrs. Rudolph Schemmel of Davenport, Iowa).
Newborg, Isaac – was born in
Norway on July
11, 1867. He came to a farm five miles northwest of Alvord in 1891. He married
Johanne Larson on September 21, 1898. He died in 1959, and Mrs. Newborg died in
1942. They had five children: Harry (Alvord); Celia (deceased – Mrs. Ivan Kelly
of Denver ); John (Alvord, living on
the Newborg farm); George ( Sioux Falls ,
SD ); and Dalbert (Alvord). Harry Newborg
married Helen Mundt on September 22, 1931. They have two sons; Shirley
( Texas ); and Robert Newborg
married Janet Schemmel on February 14, 1960. They have five children: Vicki;
Merle; Byron; Joel; and Michaele. John Newborg married Marcella Hansen on March
16, 1942. They have one son, Douglas (U.S. Army in
Germany ).
Dalbert Newborg married Kathryn Eihausen on July 17, 1942. They have three
children: Warren (Alvord); Bruce ( Sioux Falls
); and Kae (at home). Warren Newborg married RoxAnn Hamann. They have
one daughter, April.
Nieland, Robert E. – a son of Henry
C. and Cecelia Dagen Nieland was born on
Sioux
County , June 21, 1884. He and his
family farmed in the Alvord area. After his marriage to Edith May Peery in 1908
they lived with the Peer’s and continued to farm the same place until it was
sold to Mr. Langefeldt. In the spring of 1930 the Nielands with their three
daughters moved to Jeffers ,
Minn. , where one daughter, Mrs. Harold Marsh
still resides. Mrs. Nieland died in January 1945; and Robert Nieland in August
1965.
O’Connor, Maurice – born August 13,
1856, in Dingle
County ,
Kerry ,
Ireland . He married Mary
Coyne on February 7, 1879. Seven children were born to this union: Michael,
deceased; John, deceased; Mary Ann, deceased; Joseph, Rock Rapids; Leo, Iowa
City; William, Cedar Rapids; and Clem, deceased. Maurice O’Connor left
Ireland at age
17 as a stowaway on a ship bound for the United
States . He immediately settled on a farm at
Eagle Center , Iowa
. His family moved to Lyon county in 1886
residing on a farm south of Alvord. Moved to the town of
Alvord in 1925. Maurice died in 1939
and his wife Mary passed away in 1926.
O’Connor, Leo – Leo and Loretta
Spain, deceased in 1946, were married November 25, 1913 at Alvord. The couple
resided in Rock Valley ,
Iowa , from 1913 to 1916. Purchased a barber
shop in Alvord in 1916 and lived continuously in Alvord until 1942 when the
family moved to Iowa City ,
Iowa . The children were Teresa, Mrs. Harold
Reynolds of Iowa City ; and twins
Madeline, Mrs. Bernard Erdman, Cedar Rapids
, and Margaret, Mrs. Richard Corcoran, Iowa
City . Leo O’Connor was married to Margaret Dolzal in
1951 and they reside in Iowa City ,
Iowa .
Oldenburg, William – born September
18, 1863. Passed away July 13, 1937. His parents were German immigrant farmers
and settled in Scott county, Iowa
, on a farm near Davenport
. He graduated in 1883 as a competent accountant. He married Meta
Kuelper, February 19, 1891. Passed away January 24, 1956. For three years they
lived on a farm in Scott county and here their two oldest children were born.
Stella Oldenburg Schnepf born February 14, 1892, and Malinda Oldenburg Wohlers
born November 6, 1893. Malinda passed away May 27, 1942. William Oldenburg
became interested in northwest Iowa
and bought a half section of land in
Logan
Township and moved his family in the
spring of 1894. On November 27, 1895, Esther Oldenborg Schnepf was born. William
became quite a community leader serving on school board, township board of
trustees, and Director of the Farmers Elevator in Lester. He served as county
representative in the state legislature 1916 to 1917. April 20, 1900, a won
Wilberg was born and passed away April 10, 1966. On September 25, 1903, a
daughter, Amanda Oldenburg Schemmel was born.
Page, William Porter – born in
Platteville , Wis.
, on November 13, 1868. He moved to Alvord in 1893 and opened a drug
store, which he operated for 47 years. On June 2, 1899, he married Capitola
Boggess at Alvord. In the year 1940, because of ill health, he sold out the
stock of his drug store and moved to Aberdeen
, and in 1941 to Watertown
, where he made his home with his daughter until his death on July
22, 1948.
Peery, James M. – born in
Indiana November 16, 1853. On
January 31, 1877 he married Sarah Baysinger at
Independence , Iowa
. She was born in Illinois
December 6, 1854. They lived in Blackhawk county,
Iowa until they moved to Alvord
about 1887. Their farm one and one half miles east and one and one half north of
town is now owned and operated by Langfeldts. “Roe” Perry as he was known was a
successful farmer and stock raiser specializing in purebred Shorthorn cattle and
Poland China hogs. Every two or three years he would have a large tent put up on
the farm and hold an auction sale which drew buyers from miles around. The
Peery’s had six children, four girls and two boys, all are deceased. Mr. Peery
died May 29, 1920; Mrs. Peery August 17, 1922.
Peters, Fred – born in
Germany
September 6, 1870. Agnes Bornholdt Peters was born in Scott
county December 1, 1880. They were united in marriage January 8, 1902 and farmed
near Inwood before moving to Alvord in 1913, where they operated a restaurant,
pool hall, movie theatre and bowling alley. They were the parents of four
children: Margaret (Mrs. Andy Knock, Melvin ,
Ia. ), Clara (Mrs. Ed Serck); Elsie (Mrs.
H.W. Schlotfeldt) both of Alvord; and Chris,
Puyallup , Wash. Mr. Peters passed
away in March, 1949 and Mrs. Peters in January 1938.
Peters, Henry – born October 31, 1889
in Holstein ,
Germany . Berta Harbeck
Peters was born in Holstein ,
Germany June 9, 1899. The
couple were married in Germany
January 27, 1911 and came to the
United States in
1922. Three children were born to this union: Myrtle (Mrs. Lester Bettinga)
Waverly, Ia. , and they have four
sons; Mary Ann (Mrs. Howard Werner) Portland
, Ore. ; and Robert,
Sioux Falls , and his wife Mary Lou
have a daughter and three sons. They farmed until 1948 and moved to Alvord. He
served on the town council until his death, May 18, 1955. Mrs. Peters makes her
home in Alvord.
Ranschau, Marvin – born at
Rock
Valley on May 1, 1931. He married
Clara Mae Van Beek on December 10, 1951. She was born at
Rock
Valley on October 24, 1933. They have
six children: Janice, Carla, Pamela, Annette, Kathryn, and Michael. They live on
a farm which is a half mile south and a half mile west of
Alvord.
Rath, James – came to
America from
Germany at the
age of six. Mrs. Rath was also born in
Germany and came
here when she was 16. They were married in
Scott
County in 1887 and moved to a farm
northeast of Alvord where they lived until 1915 when they retired and moved to
Rock Rapids. Nine children were born to this union: Louis of Wessington Springs,
SD; Minnie (deceased); Rudolph (deceased); Louise, of Rock Rapids; Albert of
Rock Rapids; Ann of Pipestone; Clara of Kalispell,
Mont. ; Martha (Mrs. George Koll)
Alvord; and George of Pipestone.
Reimers, John – born in
Hollingstedt ,
Germany May 6, 1881. On
October 23, 1907 he was united in marriage to Theresa Locht of
Turning ,
Germany . They were the
parents of one daughter, Gertrude, Mrs. Ferd Kahl. Mr. Reimers occupation was a
carpenter and contractor in Alvord. He passed away November 3, 1942 and Mrs.
Reimers August 16, 1964. As a carpenter and contractor he helped in the
construction and development of a city square block, building new homes in the
western part of Alvord. Gertrude Reimers Kahl graduated in 1927 and attended
Cedar Falls and Morningside colleges
and taught school eight years in the Alvord vicinity and was united in marriage
to Ferd G. Kahl in 1936. Mr. and Mrs. Kahl farmed a number of years and are now
living in Steen , Minn.
, where they operated a grocery store.
Reimers, John H. – born in
Germany in 1849
and came to the United States
in May, 1868 and settled in Scott county,
Iowa . In 1874 he was united in
marriage to Caroline Clasen and four children were born to this union: Otto;
Meta (Meiburg); Mary (Hasche); and Clara (Shenberger).
Mr. Reimers located in Lyon
County in 1885 buying farms in
Cleveland ,
Doon and Garfield
townships. Mr. Reimers helped to organize the first bank in Alvord.
Otto Reimers helped to organize the first elevator in Alvord. Clara Reimers
Scheneberger was born in 1887 on the home place. John H. Reimers died November
18, 1932. Mrs. John H. Reimers died December 13, 1924.
Reimers, Otto J. – Otto J. Reimers
and Ella Rohde were married at the Hans Rohde farm in
Richland township, February 22, 1905
and farmed in Doon township until 1920 when they farmed
nearer Rock Rapids. After being admitted to the bar in 1929 Otto Reimers and his
wife moved to Rock Rapids where he practiced as an attorney. One daughter was
born to them, Elva, Mrs. Kenneth Wallace. Mrs. Reimers passed away June 13, 1952
and Mr. Reimers May 18, 1967.
Ripperda, Joe – married Gladys Kramer
December 28, 1926 and lived on the Reiley Homestead southwest of Alvord 40
years. Their family are: Madonna (Mrs. Don Plueger of
Rock
Valley ); Francis (married Jean
Fieldsmith) home in Forth Worth, Texas
, presently with the United States Army in
Vietnam ; Mary
Ann (Mrs. Carl Selken) of Larchwood; George, at home with parents in Rock
Valley; Larry (married Marilyn Maurer) lives in Worthington, Minn.; Donna Lee
(deceased); Daniel (married Karen Spiedel) they live in Sioux Falls; Mr. and
Mrs. Ripperda moved to Rock Valley in 1966.
Roeman, John – born at
Larchwood , Iowa
on April 21, 1907. He married Loretta Schettler at Larchwood on
January 14, 1931. She was born in Wilmont ,
Minn. on November 9, 1907. They moved to
Alvord in March of 1936 where they farmed southeast of town. They had six
children: Marvin (Rock Rapids, IA); Bernadine (Mrs. Roger Schlotfeldt of
Alvord); Eleanor (Mrs. Larry Childress of Rock Rapids); Evelyn (Mrs. Wm. Ver
Mulm of Harrisburg, SD); Ronald (died August 1, 1955); and Roger (U.S. Air
Force). John Roeman died on July 11, 1965. Mrs. Roeman moved to Rock Rapids in
January of 1968.
Roeman, Marvin – born at
Lester , Iowa
, on May 14, 1932. He married Mary Frembgen at
Rock
Valley on May 14, 1955. She was born
at Rock
Valley on January 4, 1936. They have
seven children: Randall; Kathleen; Kenneth; Gregory; Karen; Brian and John. They
lived in Alvord for a time when Marvin farmed with his father until they moved
to a farm northeast of Alvord where they now reside.
Rogers, Edward – moved to a farm near
Alvord from Elkader ,
Iowa in 1893. His wife was the former Adele
Hutchinson. They had thirteen children: Mike (deceased); Edward (deceased); Anna
(deceased); Sister Mary Lucy; Ernest (deceased); Roy (deceased); Frank
(deceased); James (deceased); Nora (Cangoya, Calif.); Stella (Phoenix, Ariz.);
and Theodore, Doon, Iowa. They lost two children in their youth in a diphtheria
epidemic.
Rogers, Theodore – married Marie
Kersbergen at Alvord on August 9, 1915. They had one daughter, Muriel, Mrs. Carl
Stapenhorst, of Sheldon. They have one daughter. Mrs. Rogers died in 1936. He
married Fern Freese in March 18, 1947.
Rohde, Hans J. – came to a farm five
miles southwest of Alvord in 1895, moved to Alvord in 1908. He died in 1920 and
Mrs. Rohde died in 1919. They had seven children: Julius (
Sioux City ); Paulina (Mrs. Nicholas Kroger,
deceased); Adela (Mrs. Ferdinand Stoefen, deceased); Ella (Mrs. Otto Reimers,
deceased); Alvena (Mrs. Herman Ingwerson of Sioux
Falls ); Amanda (Mrs. Frederick W. Jansen of Long Beach,
Calif.); and Hildegarde (Mrs. Arthur Holberg of Sioux City).
Roskam, Anthony – born May 27, 1885
in Ede ,
Holland came to
America in 1912
and settled in Lyon county where he farmed. He was united
in marriage to Sophia Rozenboom July 7, 1915. Eleven children were born to this
union: Dick of Rock Rapids; Henrietta (Mrs. Tony Van Hill) lives in Alvord where
they farm and Mr. Van Hill is employed at the Farmer’s Co-op Elevator. They are
the parents of three children, Gilbert, Kenneth and Shirley. Gertrude (Mrs. John
Kuiper) of Hudstonville ,
Mich. ; Gertie (Mrs. Lou Dumond) Rock Rapids;
Gerrit, Sioux
Center ; Elizabeth (Mrs. John Van de
Weide) Sioux Center; Anthony, Jr. of Des Moines; Leonard, Hawarden; Cornie,
Hospers; Sophie (Mrs. John Zomer) Doon; and Hilda (Mrs. Jake Van Voorst) Lester.
Mr. Roskam passed away August 16, 1965 as the result of a car accident. Mrs.
Roskam is living in Rock
Valley . Her father, Derk Rosenboom
who makes his home with her is 95 years of age.
Rosenboom, Derk – born December 6,
1872 in Ede ,
Holland and came to
America in 1913.
He was united in marriage to Gertrui Rosenboom on March 4, 1893. They moved to
Lyon county in 1915 where their occupation was farming.
Six children were born to this union: Lane (deceased); William (deceased);
Gerrit, who farms south of Alvord; Wilhelmina (Mrs. Lane Klarenbeek) deceased;
Sophia (Mrs. Anthony Roskam) Rock
Valley ; and Elizabeth (Mrs. Gerrit
Van den Top) living in Rock Valley. Mrs. Rosenboom passed away April 15, 1945
and a few years later Mr. Rosenboom was married to Mrs. Ann Franken and they
lived in Sioux
Center until her death April 10,
1962.
Saeger, Bernardt August Wilhelm – was
born November 9, 1891 to Mr. and Mrs. Julius Saeger of
Hull . He was the youngest of 12
children. He attended the public school and the German school at
Hull and attended
Concordia
College in St.
Paul , Minn. for two years and
then moved to Canada
. He later returned to
Hull and married Maybelle C. Mackie
and the couple had one daughter, Lavonne June. In 1924, Mr. Saeger moved to
Alvord and entered the café business. He was active in civic and church affairs
and a member of the Christ Lutheran Brotherhood and the Alvord Commercial Club.
He passed away April 26, 1957 with burial at the Hull Lutheran cemetery. June
and her husband Lloyd Drysdale are both deceased. They had one daughter Jayne
Barger of Walnut, Ca.
Ben’s nephew, Edwin Saeger of Rock
Rapids has contributed some history on Ben. When the Saeger’s moved to Alvord
they lived in a two story house in the southwestern part of town right near the
water tower. He was a great baseball player and was called another Babe Ruth. At
one time the café was in the former Farmer’s and Merchants Savings bank located
on the east side of the street. Later they moved across the street, to the west
side. Edwin remembers Ben telling him that when Lawrence Welk and his band came
to Alvord to play for the dances that they would eat at his café. An indelible
memory that he has of his uncle Ben is seeing him with his white apron and
little white chefs cap on his head. He would sit down on a chair to visit and
place his feet on another chair. Light his cigar and visit. Always interested in
farming activities, crops and livestock. Then a customer would come in for a
sandwich and a cup of coffee. After serving the customer he would sit down again
and relight his cigar for a continued visit.
Schemmel, Albert – born December 14,
1900 on a farm one and one-half miles east of Alvord. In 1921 he enrolled in an
auto mechanics school at Sioux City ,
Iowa , which he attended for two years. After
graduation he returned to Alvord and was employed by Harry Nagel as a mechanic.
A partnership in the garage was formed between Mr. Nagel and Al in 1923 and the
Nagel-Schemmel Garage was operated under this partnership until 133 when it was
dissolved. He continued alone until 1944 when he moved the business to a new
location. He has successfully operated the garage in the same location until the
present date. On October 28, 1925 he was united in marriage to Amanda Oldenburg.
Two sons were born to this marriage: Ronald, June 25, 1931 and Larry, April 28,
1941.
Schemmel, August J. – born February
3, 186r in Germany
and was united in marriage to Mary Jensen March 8, 1888.
Five children were born to this union: John A. (deceased); Louise (Mrs. John
Groth, deceased); Ann Kroeger, Castro Valley ,
Calif. ; Lena (Mrs.
Bill Rowland) Inwood; Edna (Mrs. Emil Roloff, deceased). Their occupation was
farming and lived on a farm in Richland
township until retiring to Alvord. Mr. Schemmel passed away in 1929
and Mrs. Schemmel in 1932. In the early 1890’s Mr. Schemmel had a windmill on
top of the barn to shell corn and would elevate it on the haymow floor for
cattle feeding was mostly done in barns. John A. Schemmel was born December 31,
1891 in Richland township and was
united in marriage to Mathilda Bosler in 1914 and four children were born to
this union, Helen (Mrs. Arndt Buckneberg), deceased; Eleanor (Mrs. Bill Jacobs)
Inwood; Lois, Sioux Falls; and Rev. Ervin Schemmel, Sumner, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs.
Schemmel farmed and also had a dairy farm in Alvord. Mr. and Mrs. Bill Jacobs
now live on the Schemmel farm. Mr. Schemmel passed away in
1954.
Schemmel, August E. Jr. – born in
Germany on
November 13, 1866 at the age of two came with his folks to Scott County, Iowa.
In 1885 they migrated to Lyon County ,
Iowa . On February 18, 1890 he married Mary
Catherine Schneede who was born at Davenport ,
Iowa January 7, 1869. To this union five
children were born: Pauline married to Frank Cohrt (deceased); Tena married to
Thomas Friedrichsen (deceased); Rose (deceased); Amanda (deceased); and Rudolph
married to Opal Jungersen. Mr. Schemmel passed away July 6, 1943 and Mrs.
Schemmel December 29, 1944.
Schemmel, August, Sr. – Mr. and Mrs.
August Schemmel Sr. came to Lyon County in 1885 and settled on the farm east of
Alvord coming from Scott County. Their children were August, Jr.; Gustav;
Bernardt; Dora (Mrs. Claus Mundt); Emma (Mrs. August Berg) all deceased. Gustav
was married to Mary Hasse in 1893, three children were born to this union: Ella
(Mrs. Hugo Nagel; Herman; and Lou. Mr. and Mrs. Hugo Nagel were married in 1917
and were the parents of three daughters: Francene (Mrs. Bill Rohr, deceased);
LuVane (Mrs. Vernon Schacht); and Jean, Mrs. Dwaine Mundt; Herman (deceased) was
married to Irene Reit in 1939 and they were the parents of three children:
Douglas is married to Harriet Marra and are the parents of four children:
Bradley, Russell, Susan, Kurt. Janet (Mrs. Robert Newborg) they are the parents
of five children: Vicki, Merle, Brian, Joel and Michael and Galen at home. Lou
and Bernice Simmons Schemmel were married in 1928 and are living in Burbank,
Calif. They are the parents of two children: Rannie and
Jackie.
Schemmel, Bernhardt – born December
7, 1972 on a farm in Scott county, Iowa
. He moved to Lyon county as a small boy with
his family and settled on a farm one and one-half miles east of Alvord. He was
united in marriage to Emma Watke on November 24, 1897. Bernardt remained on the
home place and farmed it until his death on June 7, 1914. His wife, Emma, with
the help of her children continued to work the farm until 1941 when she moved to
Alvord. She resided there until her death on June 22, 1967. Five children were
born to this marriage: Walter, September 3, 1899; Albert, December 14, 1900;
Minnie, October 30, 1902; Hilda, December 12, 1904; and Leone, July 28, 1907.
All are living.
Schemmel, Fritz – born in
Germany November
22, 1842. He was united in marriage in 1873 to Dorothea Arp who was born
February 3, 1855. Eight children were born to this union: Annie (Mrs. John
Nagel); Fred; Adelia (Mrs. Henry Bramstedt); Clara (Mrs. Fred Wilke); August;
Tillie (Mrs. Henry Scherff); Dora (Mrs. John Holmstrom); and Henry. Their
occupation was farming and farmed in the Alvord vicinity for 27 years when they
retired and moved to Alvord in 1919. Mr. Schemmel passed away July 6, 1924, and
Mrs. Schemmel November 1, 1934.
Schemmel, Henry – married Margaret
Peters on June 18, 1892. They farmed southwest of Alvord until 1905 when they
moved into Alvord and bought a house on south Main
Street . They had four children: Emma, Fred, Marcus
and Henry, Jr. The family moved to Little Rock
in 1919.
Scherff, John, Jr. – born January 13,
1877, in Hanover ,
Germany . He came to
America with his
parents in 1882. He married Magda Laackmann February 27, 1908. They moved to a
farm four and one-half miles northeast of Alvord
, Iowa , which was owned by the late John
Reimers. In 1912 they bought the Rufus Ames place where he lived the rest of his
life. He died November 1, 1938 and his wife died February 24, 1964. Three
children were born to this union: Walter born November 27, 1908, still resides
on the Scherff home place; Lillie born January 12, 1912, he married Elmer Watke
June 4, 1939 and now resides two and one-half miles south of Alvord; Harry born
October 20, 1919, served in the U.S. Navy during World War II from 1945 to 1946,
and now resides on the Scherff farm place, farming it with his
brother.
Schreuers, Lawrence – married Peggy
Allen. They farm on the northeast corner of Alvord. They had five children:
William (deceased); Douglas ( Wayne
State College, Nebraska
); Sheila; Judy; and Daniel, all at home.
Schnee, Alphonse – born at Alvord on
June 9, 1892. He married Maria Gansener of Ahston on July 17, 1916. They had 11
children. He is now retired from the real estate business and lives in
Sioux City , Iowa
.
Schnee, Joseph Henry – born in
Mineral Point , Wis.
, on November 21, 1865. He married Susann Eulberg in Alvord in 1891.
He built the Alvord Hotel and livery stable and ran it for a number of years and
also was weightmaster, fire chief, marshall, deputy sheriff, and the first mayor
of Alvord. The Schnees had six children. Mr. Schnee died on November 21,
1947.
Schneede, Hans J. – was born in
Germany May 23,
1837. He came to Davenport at the
age of 28 where he married Katherine Steen also a native of
Germany born
July 8, 1942. In the spring of 1888 they came to Lyon county Iowa with their
five children: Henry, Mary, Anna, John and Lena . The
Schneede farm included what is now the west part of Alvord extending from
Seefeldt Avenue west
including both cemeteries, their first house was located on what is
now the Schneede burial lot. Henry (deceased), Mary (Mrs. August E. Schemme,
deceased), Anna (Mrs. H.D. Hansen, deceased), John (deceased),
Lena (Mrs. Max Dibbern) now living in Luverne. Mr.
Schneede passed away March 7, 1920 and Mrs. Schneede on September 12, 1912. Mrs.
Schneede is buried where her house stood on cemetery (Lutheran)
grounds.
Schlotfeldt, H.W. – born near Rock
Rapids on November 19, 1900. He married Elsie Peters on June 29, 1920. They had
nine children: Gale, South Bend ,
Ind. ; Dale,
Milwaukee , Wis.
; Roger, Alvord; Glenn, Los Angeles
, Calif. ; Loren, San
Diego , Calif. ; James,
Washington, D.C.; Larry, Alvord; Paul, Alvord; and Judy, South Bend,
Ind.
Schlotfeldt, Roger – born on May 18,
1933 at Alvord. He married Bernadine Roemen at Alvord on May 24, 1956. She was
born at Lester , Iowa
on September 30, 1934. They live on the Roemen home place where
Roger farms and also works for the Iowa Beef Packers at
Luverne , Minn.
They are the parents of six children: Gerald, Mark, Bruce, Carol,
Bradley and Thomas.
Schlumbohm, Herman F. – born April 1,
1887 at Hawarden , Ia.
Maria Christina Moeller was born November 17, 1890 at
Rock
Valley . They were married January
12, 1920 and seven children were born to this union: Richard, Alvord; Evelyn
(Mrs. Otto Schlotfeldt) Garvin ,
Minn. ; Viola (Mrs. Wallace Childress)
Alvord; Harold, Rock Rapids; Fern (Mrs. Walter Nelson)
Sioux Falls ; Betty Lou (Mrs. Leo
Peterson) Inwood; and Wallace (Haysville, Kans.). They came to
Lyon
County in 1919 and their occupation
was farming and they are now retired and living in Inwood.
Schmahl, Eldon F. – born April 1,
1926 at Watertown , SD.
He married Emily Harlene Albertus on September 14, 1952 at Alvord.
She was born in Sioux Falls ,
SD , on February 16, 1932. They have three
children: Billy, Dicky and Robby. They now reside at
Aberdeen , SD
where Eldon is employed by the Consumer’s Marketing Service,
U.S.D.A.
Serck, Henry – born in
Fehman ,
Germany in 1865 and came to
the United States
in 1885. Elise Sieck Serck was born in
Afte ,
Germany in 1876 and came to
the United States
in 1887 and they were married in 1893. Five children were
born to this union: Bernard in 1894; Harry in 1897; Edward in 1898, who married
Clara Peters in August 1923. Two children were born to this union: Lois in 1928
and Vern in 1935. Ed was manager of the local Farmer’s Elevator for 31 years
when he retired in 1966. Anna (Mrs. Wm. Jacobsen) was born in 1908. The Sercks
moved to Alvord in 1918. Mr. Serck passed away in 1925 and Mrs. Serck in
1965.
Serck,
Vernon – born at Alvord June 27,
1935. He married Arlene Andresen on April 12, 1955. She was born at Alvord on
March 30, 1936. They are the parents of four sons: Eugene, Steven, David and
Gregory. They live on the Andresen farm northwest of Alvord.
Smith, James H. – born in
Clinton County , Iowa
on December 12, 1860. He was married to Jennie O’Meara on February
8, 1891. Jeannie O’Meara was born on October 3, 1870 and died January 15, 1933.
To this union were born eight children: four died in infancy, three others in
early childhood. Only one child survived to manhood, Vincent was born in January
21, 1939. James Vincent was born in July of 1907 and died January 21, 1964. He
married Ada Haas in January of 1936. They had seven children of whom three boys
died in infancy. The living children are: Robert, married to Carol Stettnicks;
William, married to Mary Therese Kelly; Mrs. Richard Benzkofer (Peggy); and
James Charles. James married Joanne Schuurman in June of 1966. They have one
daughter, Melinda Sue. They now reside on the Smith homestead near
Alvord.
Spain
, John – John Spain and Margaret McMullen were both born
near Clinton , Iowa
. They were married in February of 1887 in
Clinton
County . They came to a farm
southwest of Alvord in 1891 with their two children, Jim (deceased) and Loretta
(Mrs. Leo O’Connor, deceased). After coming to the Alvord community seven
additional children were born. These include Irene (who died in childhood);
Agnes (Mrs. Lester Doherty of Sioux Falls
); John ( Waterloo ,
Iowa ); Matt (
Omaha , Neb.
); Bill ( Long Beach ,
Calif. ); Dan (deceased); and
Teresa (who also died in childhood). Mrs.
Spain died at
Alvord in 1930 and Mr. Spain
died in 1950. They had nine children, eleven grandchildren,
thirty-eight great grandchildren and two
great-great-grandchildren.
Stettnichs, August – son of Ferdinand
and Wilhelmina Oldenburg Stettnichs of Alvord, married Dorothea Wacker February
10, 1909. They resided on a farm southeast of Alvord for most of their lives. To
them were born eight children: Arnold
, Harry, Earl, Vernon ,
Evelyn, Loren, Loreen and Marvin. August Stettnichs was born October 17, 1883
and passed away April 19, 1933. His wife Dorthea was born February 2, 1888 and
passed away September 5, 1944. Arnold, the eldest son, was born March 2, 1910.
He married Agnas Gary June 4, 1934. They are the parents of six children:
Merlyn, Leland, Lyle, Douglas, Arla Kaye and Evelyn. They now reside in Rock
Rapids. Harry was born March 6, 1912. He married Martha La Freng on Sept. 6,
1934. They are the parents of four children: Sharlene, Carol, Virgil and
Stanley. They reside on a farm near Larchwood. Earl was born September 23, 1915.
He married Elsie Bramstedt on January 23, 1947. They are the parents of one
daughter, Elnora. They have farmed northwest of Alvord for the past fifteen
years. Earl died on May 26, 1968. Vernon
was born June 18, 1918. He married Erma Rohr on August 21, 1947. They
have two sons: Vernon Jr. and Donald. They reside in Alvord, where
Vernon is engaged in carpenter work.
Evelyn was born March 8, 1921. She married Arthur Weststeyn on November 15,
1940. They have three children: Delores, Robert and Carol. They now live near
Ripon , Calif.
The twins, Loren and Loreen, were born August 19, 1923. Loreen
married Donald Bryan Jr., on August 3, 1958. They have three daughters: Cheryl,
Mary and Dori. Both Loren and Loreen reside in Rock Rapids. Marvin, the
youngest, was born August 28, 1925. He married Delaine Kracht on December 31,
1947. They have three children: Jeffrey, Diane and Rodney. They reside in Rock
Rapids.
Stettnichs, Ferdinand – born October
13, 1857 in Germany
. He came to
America in 1868
and settled in Scott county. He married Wilhelmina Oldenburg August 23, 1879 and
lived near Crystal in
Tama
County . The family moved to
Lyon
County in 1894 and settled a mile
northeast of Alvord, where they lived until January 1910, when they retired from
farming and moved to Alvord. Ferdinand died November 2, 1926. Wilhelmina was
born June 29, 1860 and died June 29, 1936. The Stettnichs were the parents of
five children: Amela (Mrs. George Dickman); Laura (Mrs. Barney Watke); August;
Caroline (Mrs. Herman Thielvoldt); and Freddie (all
deceased).
Stettnichs, Freddie – born July 20,
1886 at Crystle , IA.
He farmed the Stettnichs farm before moving to Alvord in 1914. He
served in an infantry division during World War I. He was in the cement block
business for a number of years. He married Tillie Bramstedt on March 25, 1937.
He was mayor, on the town council and a fireman as long as his health permitted.
He died March 19, 1965.
Stoltenberg, Wm. – born at
Walcott , IA
, June 19, 1870. He was united in marriage to Marie Lecette Harms
December 2, 1893. Mrs. Stoltenberg was born at
Borstel-Holstein ,
Germany April 16, 1872.
They farmed at Lostein ,
IA , Huron, SD, and at Alvord. In 1937 they
retired to Alvord and were privileged to celebrate their golden wedding in 1943.
Eight children were born to this union: Asmus, Fritz, Lillion, Linda, Edna,
Hilda, Viola and Luella. Asmus (deceased) was married to Elsie Kroeger and they
were the parents of a son, Glen. Fritz (deceased) was married to Alma Mundt and
they were the parents of six children: Daryel, La Vane, Dale, Delbert, Delmer,
Dea. Lillian was married to Ernest Paulsen (both are deceased) and they had
three children: Francis, Wendell and Wanda Mae. Edna was married to Fritz Wenzel
(deceased). They were the parents of seven children: Don, Delores, Wallace,
Robert, Charles, Janet and Douglas. Hilda, Mrs. Edwin Kroeger, are the parents
of two daughters: Elaine and Melva Jean. Viola, Mrs. Bill Moser, they have two
sons: Wm. And Howard. Luella, Mrs. Leonard Bosler, they have three sons:
Kenneth, Jim and Wayne. Mr. Stoltenberg passed away in 1952 and Mrs. Stoltenberg
in 1944.
Sueverkruebbe, Herman – was born
April 1861 in Germany
to John and Katherine Sueverkruebbe. He was a year old when
he came to the United States
and grew to manhood near
Davenport , IA.
He came to Alvord in 1906 and made his home with his sister and
family where he was a farm laborer. He was united in marriage to Ella Mundt,
November 26, 1913. She was born near Alvord and to this union nine children were
born: Lloyd (deceased) married to Blanch McPhearson; Helen married to August
Carstens (deceased); Esther married to Henry Horn (deceased); Leona married to
Wm. Everly (deceased); Herman (deceased) married Minda Korenberg; Raymond
married Viola Engersoll. Clay married Gloria Schemmel; Gloria married to Wilmer
Hall (deceased) and Robert married June Brooks. Herman passed away January 2,
18937 and Ella passed away May 27, 1976.
Suhreptz, John – born June 2, 1863 in
Austria and
migrated to the U.S.
in 1881. In 1903 he was married to Cecelia Crowley Gunter
and in 1906 they moved to Lyon
County to the farm two and one-half
miles south and one mile west of Alvord. Their children were Clarence, deceased;
Erwin, living on the home place; Adeline married to John Vint living in
California . In 1935 Mr. Suhreptz
retired to Alvord. He die don December 12, 1949.
Sullivan, Martin – born in
Highland , Wis.
, on December 15, 1858. He married Ellen Barth in
Rock
Valley on January 16, 1886. She was
born in Shullsburg , Wis.
, on October 13, 1863. They had six children: John (Alvord); Anna
(Alvord); Clara (Alvord); Stella (deceased); Frank (deceased); and Robert
(Alvord). They moved to a farm adjoining Alvord on the south in 1900. All the
living children are still living on the same land. John is probably the oldest
farmer near Alvord still working on the land. Clara, a registered nurse, worked
for the same Doctor and his son for 51 years in
Aberdeen , SD.
Sullivan, Robert – married Mary Duffy
in Alvord on January 30, 1918. They had four children: Mary Rita (Mrs. P.G.
Lewandowski) Sturgis , SD
; Joseph, Sioux Falls ;
Ellen, deceased; and Robert Jr., Alvord.
Sullivan, Robert, Jr. - married
Phyllis Frembgen in Rock
Valley on April 22, 1952. They have
children: Thomas, James, Susan, Laura and John. They live on the home place
where Bob farms.
Thielvoldt, Herman – born June 27,
1884 in Wisch, Germany and came to America in 1900 and settled in Scott county
where he worked on farm until 1906 when he came to Lyon county. In 1910 he
married Caroline Stettnichs and started farming on the Stettnichs’ homestead
northeast of Alvord. Four children were born to this union: Erwin was born
November 22, 1911 and was united in marriage to Joan Tiedeman September 30, 1940
and on August 21, 1943, his death came instantly when he was struck by lightning
while baling straw; Helen was born September 25, 1915 and she married Edwin Hein
in 1936. They have one son Laurence born October 6, 1939. Glen married Elsie
Ranschau December 14, 1946. To this union four children were born: Dennis,
December 23, 1947; Dean and Jean, October 20, 1949; and Alan, March 2, 1956;
William was born February 27, 1919. He was killed in a car accident on September
7, 1941.
Thompson, Dallas – born June 8, 1882
at Decatur , Ill.
, and was married to Elizabeth Levins on June 14, 1905 at
Sacred
Heart Church
in Alvord. Elizabeth was
born August 1, 1881 at Galena , Ill.
They came to Alvord in 1913. Dallas
was a barber and Elizabeth a teacher. They had six children: LaVohne,
Grace, Myva, Corryne, Bernard John and Adrian.
Dallas died in 1935 and
Elizabeth in 1958. Elizabeth Levins,
at the age of 13, read the Declaration of Independence at a Fourth of July
celebration in Alvord, 1894.
Towne, John – born at
Silver Lake , IA
in 1896. He was orphaned at the age of six and lived at the Beloit
Children’s Home, Beloit ,
IA until he was 12 ears old when he started
to make his own living. He married Annie Junge in 1935 and two children were
born to this union: John E. Towne, Jr., and Karen Stettnichs. Mr. Towne is
retired now after ten years as a school janitor at the local
school.
Vint, Joe – born April 4, 1911 at
Kinsman, Ill. In 1916, he moved
with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Vint, Sr., and five brothers to
Lyon county. He was united in marriage to Erma Dickman on
November 30, 1946. A daughter, Mary Jo, was born to this union on February 1,
1950. The Vint family moved to the Dickman farm west of Alvord August 1956 where
they made their home until moving to Alvord in October 1965.
Von Der Lieth, Mrs. Henry – Marie
Schultz was born in Kaiserslanter ,
Germany , to Mr. and Mrs.
Henry Schultz. She came to America
in 1913 and made her home with her sister, Mrs. Wm.
Barenfus until she was united in marriage to Henry Von Der Leith. Six children
were born to this union: John, Charlie, William, Henry, Jr., Patricia, and
Betty. The Von Der Lieth’s operated a butcher shop in Alvord from 1918 to 1929.
Mrs. Von Der Lieth passed away when she was 49 years old.
Watke, Barnie – born June 10, 1879 at
Krokau ,
Germany . He was married to
Laura Stettnicks on February 24, 1904. They farmed one mile north and one mile
west of Doon , Iowa
. This is where they spent most of their life. His wife died
November 11, 1942 and he died September 1, 1967. Six children were born to this
union: Harry, the oldest, was born December 17, 1904, and was killed by
lightning on April 15, 1924. Caroline was born January 10, 1908. She married
John Hamann August 17, 1932 and resides three and one-half miles north of
Alvord; Elmer was born June 8, 1909. He married Lillie Scherff June 4, 1939.
They moved to a farm two and one-half miles south of Alvord, which he bought
seven years later in May 1946 from the John Groth Estate. Three daughters were
born to this union. Excelda was born June 2, 1940. Lorietta was born February
27, 1945 and died in infancy. Gwendolyn was born September 1, 1948. Louie,
Barnie’s second son, was born November 11, 1910 and married Viola Hanson,
September 20, 1939 and now resides at Doon ,
Iowa . Lillian was born April 4, 1920 and
married Edward Bramstedt February 4, 1947. Lois was born March 17, 1923 and
married Harold Engman February 21, 1951 and resides at
Omaha , Nebraska
.
Watke, Carol – born March 5, 1882 in
Krokau ,
Germany . Mathilda Nagel
Watke was born November 2, 1882. The couple were united in marriage February 27,
1907 and settled in Lyon
County where they farmed. Three
children were born to this union: Albert,
Brandon , SD
; Linda (Mrs. E.C. Schlotfeldt) and Viola (Mrs. E.C. Fitzgerald)
both of Rock Rapids. Mr. Watke passed away December 23, 1966. Mrs. Watke makes
her home with her daughters in Rock Rapids.
Watke, Hans – born March 20, 1849 in
Germany . He
married Adel Mundt in Germany
. In 1896 he came to
America with his
family. They settled on a farm northeast of Alvord and farmed for 11 years
before retiring to Alvord in 1907. He passed away July 21, 1926. His wife died
December 23, 1931. Six children were born to this union. Emil, the eldest, was
born in 1874. He came to America
in 1894 with his brother Barnie two years prior to his
parents. He died at Davenport ,
Iowa , in the Spring of 1939. He never
married. Emma was born February 4, 1877. She was married to Bernard Schemmel
November 24, 1897 and they resided on a farm near Alvord. She died June 22,
1967. Barnie was born June 10, 1879 in Krokau ,
Germany . He was married to
Laura Stettnicks on February 24, 1907. They resided on a farm north of
Alvord , Iowa
. He died December 23, 1966. Mina was born February 3, 1885, and
passed on at the age of 13, March 14, 1898. Richard was born July 17, 1889. He
served in the army in World War I for six months in 1919. He still resides in
Alvord.
Waumett, Frank J. – born in 1871 at
Owatonna , Minn.
, and was united in marriage to Emelia Gasner at
Owatonna October 21, 1896. Mr.
Waumett’s occupation was a school teacher in Steel county,
Minn. and later a grocer in
Meriden , Minn.
, before coming to Alvord in 1900 where he bought the Umhofer store
in which the post office was at this time. Later he sold the store and continued
to be postmaster until his retirement. Five children were born to this union:
Lucille (Mrs. W.P. Garrison, Long Beach ,
Calif. ); Luella (Mrs. Luella McCarthy,
Seal Beach , Calif.
); Florence (Mrs. Chris
Nelson, Long Beach ,
Calif. );
Chester (
Owatonna , Minn. ); and
Vernon (
Cleveland , NC ). Mr.
Waumett passed away in 1956 at Long Beach
and Mrs. Waumett in 1958 also at Long
Beach , Calif.
Wiesensee, George, Sr. – married Mary
McDermott and lived on a farm three miles north of Alvord. Their house was the
first house in this territory to have running water which was piped in from a
supply tank located inside the barn. They had five children: George, Jr.
( Lennox , SD
); Katie (Mrs. Ed Flanery, deceased); Minnie (Mrs. Dan Healy,
deceased); Annie (Mrs. Ed. Doherty, Kansas City, MO); and John (Sioux Falls,
SD).
Weisensee, John - married Lillian
Duffy on November 10, 1915. They lived on a farm three miles north of Alvord on
which John built the buildings. They had nine children: Kenneth (deceased);
Eileen (Mrs. Jerry Slotsky, Sioux City, IA); John (Wichita Falls, Texas); Mary
Rose (Mrs. Robert Carpenter, Salem ,
OR , deceased); Lillian (Mrs. Dick Anderson,
Sioux Falls, SD); George (Sioux Falls, SD); Juanita (Mrs. Adrian Roland, La
Marque, TX); Jeanne Anne (Mrs. Francis Reiser, Sublimity, OR); and
Lawrence (
Canton , SD). The Weisensees now reside in Sioux
Falls . Mrs. Weisensee died in April of
1968.
Weisensee, George, Jr. – married
Nellie McCarty at Larchwood ,
IA on October 7, 1914. They had one daughter,
Dorothy (Mrs. Obel Lund) Lennox , SD. The Weisensees
started farming two and one-half miles north of Alvord. They presently live on
their farm near Lennox .
Wenzel, Charles – born in
Langasalsa ,
Germany , February 14, 1862
and came to the United States
to Sioux
County where he was employed a number
of years. Ida Lemke Wenzel was born in Clayton county,
Iowa , October 24, 1868 and they
were united in marriage March 14, 1888. Six children were born to this union:
one child died in infancy; Wm. (deceased); Fritz (deceased); Tillie (Mrs. John
Groth, deceased); Kate (Mrs. John Witt); Tony; Mrs. Wayne Emery. Mr. and Mrs.
Wenzel farmed for a time and after moving to Alvord Mr. Wenzel operated a
service station, delivered mail and operated a scale office. Mr. Wenzel passed
away in 1952 and Mrs. Wenzel in 1951. In 1948 they were privileged to celebrate
their 60th wedding anniversary.
Strahmann, Wilhelm H. – and his wife,
Margaret Backhop Strahmann lived in Alvord for several years at least 3 years
from 1896 to 1899. There were six children in the family and two of the children
were born in Alvord, Lillie E. Strahmann Brown, born April 25, 1896 and Wm. H.
Strahmann born November 4, 1898. Other children in the family were
Meta , Ella and John and another daughter Dora was born
after they returned to farming near Paullina. While in Alvord Mr. Strahmann ran
a saloon and his wife ran a hotel. This business later belonged to Fred
Peters.
Wilke, Robert – born August 22, 1881
in Wendisch Priborn ,
Germany . In infancy his
parents immigrated to America
moving to Scott County, Iowa. Some ten years later they
moved to Lyon county were his parents purchased a farm
four miles west of Alvord. He was united in marriage to Lillie Heyden December
21, 1910. In 1913 he joined the Lutheran church by the rite of confirmation.
They were the parents of six children: Amanda, Eleanor, Helen, Marcella, Vera
and Wayne.
Winter, Fred – born June 3, 1884 in
Meade County , Kansas
. He married Margaret Jensen on August 29, 1906 in
Canton , SD. She was born February
26, 1884 at Bettendorf ,
Iowa . For a time he was a decorator on the
Mitchell
Corn Palace
till he came to Alvord in 1912. His first occupation here was
driving the livery wagon for John Berg. Later he worked with A.W. Ripley as a
well digger. After this he worked for Henry Meyer hauling cream, a job he
continued until two years before his death on July 14, 1958. Mrs. Winter died on
October 12, 1960. They were the parents of 11 children, all of whom survived.
They are: William (Rock Valley, IA); Leroy (Ash Creek,
Minn. ); Leona (Mrs. Ashton of
Larchwood); Ernest ( Battle Creek,
IA); Wilma (Mrs. Harston of Center Point, IA); Lyle Ballinger, Tex.); Marcella
(Mrs. Jerde of Hayti, SD); Aileen (Mrs. Harvey Heyden of Canton, SD); Margaret
(Mrs. Klosterboer of Luverne, Minn.); Lorraine (Mrs. Jens of Waubay, SD); and
June (Mrs. Melvin Kahl of Rock Valley, IA).
Witt, John – born in Scott county
December 16, 1890. Katie Wenzel was born November 17, 1894 at Larchwood. They
were united in marriage February 11, 1914 and farmed until 1926 when they moved
to Alvord. Four children were born to this union: Harold, Helen, Hilda and
Herbert. Mr. Witt was janitor at the local school for 16 years and served on the
town council for 12 years. Mr. and Mrs. Witt celebrated their golden wedding
anniversary in 1964.
Alvord, Iowa 1893-1993
Centennial
Transcribed by Karyn Berg
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