Regarding surname "Gaskill", is there a new e-mail address available for Dorris Kimbrough? Thanks -Sherry Sherry Balow balowmsg@earthlink.net "Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced." - James A. Baldwin

On Barry's listing of May 16, 2005, the newspaper article mentioned a Mrs. Leo Dingman and Daughter who were visiting relatives. Would anyone know about this woman. I have a cousin, Arlene(Palmer) Dingman who was the daughter of Emmett Palmer. Her daughter was Sharon, and the family lived behind my family in a place outside of Portland called Rockwood. Any information you can give me would be appreciated. Donna in OR

from grandmother West's scrapbook Barry West Mar. 14--Mr. and Mrs. Don Cochrane and son Joe and Mr. and Mrs. Levi Cochrane spent Sunday at the Roland Redman home. Miss Ruth Forster, teacher of Stone school, spent the week end with her sister in Burlington. Mr. and Mrs. Russell Greenhalgh and daughter of Craig, Colorado, are visiting at the parental R. B. Greenhalgh home and with other relatives and friends here. Mrs. Harry Greenhalgh and daughter of Los Angeles, California are fisiting at the R. B. Greenhalgh home and with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Hembry in Leon and with other relatives and friends. Jack Redman, Clyde Watson and Roland Redman attended a sale near Norwalk Monday. Mrs. Jack Redman accompanied them as far as Indanola where she spent the day at the Clarence Burchett home. Mrs.Watson spent the day at the Hoyle Anderson home in Spring Hill. Mr. and Mrs.Bud Snare and family moved Monday from a farm near Van Meter to the Anerson farm recently vacated by Mr. and Mrs. Russell Kernen. Bert Binning recently purchased the farm and Bud will work for him this year. Mr. and Mrs. Jack Redman and family were Sunday afternoon callers at the Melvin Shell home. Mr. and Mrs. Cliffton Redman and daughters spent Sunday near Mruuar at the Morris Lillard home. Mrs. Redman's parents of Des Moines and her brother, Lewis, who is home on furlough from the army, were also present. Leonard Redman became ill Sunday night and was taken to Osceola to a doctor where he remains a patient this Monday morning with the trouble not as yet diagnosed.

from grandmother West's scrapbook Barry West Weldon Mar. 15. --Miss Harriett Wade, student at Simpson college, Indianola, was a week end visitor with her mother, Mrs. Diana wade and sister Mary. Mr. and Mrs. Matt Garton and Mrs. Will Erb of Des Moines came Sunday to spend the day with their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Cash Garton, Sr. Mrs. Erb remained for a few days with her parents. Miss Mary May Hacker came from Ellston, where she teaches, to spend the week end with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Don Hacker. (grandmother's brother) The Misses Helen Jean Colter of Melcher, Marcella Smith of Atlantic and Freda Martindale of Clarinda, all accompanied their sorority sister, Miss Harriett Wade home for the week end. They are all students at Simpson college. Miss Carol Beam, student of Thompson's Beauty School in Des Moines, came Friday evening for the week end at home. Her sister, Bessie, came Saturday evening to spend Sunday. Miss Rio Jean Pierson of New Virginia, spent Sunday at the Beam home. The World day of Prayer was observed at the home of Mrs. C. M. Kline with twenty-seven persons present. Members of the Christian and Methodist churches united in presenting the program prepared by Dr. Georgia Harkness of Garrett Theological Institute, Evanston, Illinois, and Mrs. Benjamin E. Mays of Morehouse College, Atlanta, Georgia. A generous offering was given for our four pieces of Interdenominational Christian Service, Indian students in U. S. government school, Christian literature, migrants and Union Christian college. Mrs. O. A. Wickless went to Des MOines last Saturday. Her daughter, Miss Jean a student at Simpson college, returned with her. On Sunday, Mr. and Mrs. Wickless and Jean spent the day with Dr. and Mrs. Paul E. Eggleston of Winterset. They took Jean back to school as they were enroute home. Mrs. and Mrs. Cecil Wright and daughter Jeannette of Des Moines spent Sunday in the parental A. E. Pearcy home. Claude Worden and Walter Peifer recently purchased the Kimberlin shop and moved it to a 40 acre tract across the road frp, Worden's. The building is to be converted in a dwelling house for the Peifer family who lately moved back here from Bloomington, Illinois. Percy Black was a business visitor in Creston last Monday. Seaman Second Class Glendol Wade has been enjoying seven days leave of absence from the Great Lakes naval training station. His wife came from Murray to spend part of the time here with him. Lieut. Jack Blohm spent two days early last week with his parents. He was being transferred from Fort Sill, Lklahoma. The death of T. N. Keeran came Friday morning aftera long and serious illness. The funeral was held Sunday afternoon from the Methodist church. The body was laid to rest Monday in a Mausolium at Glendale Abby, Des Moines. Mr. Keeran and wife, who was daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. M. McFarland, have made their home here the past few years. His absence will be mourned by a large group of relatives and many friends. Among those who attended the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. Pearl Keeran, Mr. and Mrs. Newson Trisler and Mr. and Mrs. John Brechtel of Des MOines; Glen McFarland of Audubon; Mr. and Mrs. Leland Creger of Truro; Mr and Mrs. Theo Armstrong, Mrs Dora Weeks and Miss Rose Garris of Osceola. Mr. and Mrs. Austin Wallace celebrated their 56th wedding anniversary on Wednesday, March 10 at their home. Mr. and Mrs. Otis Erb of near Garden Grove of near Garden Grove and Mr. Mrs. Earl Wood were the only chidren who could be with them. Mrs. Wallace's sister, Mrs. Evelyn Brower, of Rochester, Minnesota, came on Tuesday to spend some time with her sister and husband and other relatives.

The Chariton Leader, Chariton, Iowa Thursday, March 11, 1909 WILLIAM FEIGHT was born July 25th, 1863, near Burkville, Ind., and died March, (?) 1909, at Garden Grove, Iowa. When he was two years of age, he moved to Iowa, with his parents, ADAM and BARBARA FEIGHT, who took up their residence near Newbern, Warren County, Iowa. He was married to CLARA WILSON of Newbern, in 1890; after one year of marriage she died and her remains were laid to rest in the Newbern Cemetery. He has been a resident of Decatur County, Iowa, for about seven years. During his stay here he has made many friends and has enjoyed the respect and esteem of all his neighbors and associates. When he was a boy he united with the German Lutheran Church. After his marriage he and his wife attended the Methodist Church. During his stay in Decatur County, he attended services at the Methodist Church at High Point. He had four sisters, 2 half sisters, 3 half brothers. Two of his sisters, one half sister and father and mother have passed on before him. During his last illness he was at the home of his nephew, WM. FEIGHT, who lives southeast of Garden Grove. During his sickness he gave evidence of his faith and trust in the Savior and said that it is well with my soul thus we tenderly lay his body to rest, hoping for a glad meeting in a better world than this. His remains were brought to the Union Church, west of Newbern, and funeral services were conducted by Rev. McCardy, of Lacona, after which the body was laid to rest in the Newbern Cemetery by the side of his wife. A large crowd attended the services which spoke of the high esteem in which he was held by his many friends of this community. Friends extend their heartfelt sympathies to the relatives in this their hour of great sorrow. Those from a distance who attended the funeral were, Mr. and Mrs. S.B. Fris, of Burlington; Mr. and Mrs. Will Feight, of Garden Grove; Rev. Adam Feight and wife, of Derby; Mr. and Mrs. John Feight, of Milo; Ed Feight, of near Russell; Mr. and Mrs. Walter Feight, of Dallas; and Dan Feight, of Caloma. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert May 24, 2005 iggy29@rnetinc.net

I have been faithfully reading Barry's notes hoping to find a mention of my Wiley's. In 1870, there were five siblings living in Decatur County. Most of them disappeared by 1880. From Barry West's notes on his grandmother's scrapbook. Charley Gibbens called at the Dell Wiley home Sunday. Pearl Wiley called on Von Davis Thursday Morning. Dell Wiley was probably Delbert Wiley who was born in Decatur County on July 15, 1866. He was my grandfather's first cousin (and also his second cousin). Delbert's parents were John McWilliams Wiley and his first cousin, Mary Jane McWilliams. They are both buried in Lilly (sp?) Cemetery in Bloomington. Pearl Wiley would be Pearl Elroy Wiley, son of Delbert's brother, Wilbert, and Eva Florence Rhodes, who lived in Davis City. What little info that I do have is from Pearl's daughter, Peggy Ophelia Wiley. This family moved west from Belmont County, Ohio about 1852. Eventually, most of them showed up in Decatur County, at least for a while. My great grandfather, James Wiley, was one of the few children who stayed in Belmont County, where I was born. Does anyone know anymore about this family in Decatur County? Jack Ehmer

A few months ago I posted Elizabeth Hill's story here. One aspect of it was in regards to her oldest son, WILLIAM LOUIS JACKSON JONES. In the story, William leaves for Texas prior to 1880, does return to Miller Co., MO, but by the time Elizabeth and her other son, Grant, had returned, William was married and left for Blue Rapids, Kansas. Elizabeth never saw her son, William, again, though the family did know he'd gone on to Oregon. This was just shared with me. I thought I'd post it here for anyone that followed the story. There are discrepancies in the dates, for instance, the obit speaks to William being born March 17, 1844 and dying at 106 years old. Elizabeth's story provides March 17, 1860 as Williams birthdate, which would have him dying at 90. Perhaps, one day, family will find this and be able to add to it. (Or get something out of, ....the rest of the story.) -Sherry (With thanks to Gunnar Roos) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Times-Herald, Thursday, July 14, 1950 Burns, Harney Co., Oregon Wm. L. Jones Dies Here At Age of 106 WILLIAM LOUIS JONES, who had been living In recent months wIth his daughter, Mrs. Sophia Kimball of this city. died the morning of July 13 following an Illness of some 18 months. Mr. Jones had reached the age of 106 before he passed away, having been born on March 17, 1844. In Miller county, Missourl. He Was the eldest of a large family but one of whom remains alive, a brother, GRANT JONES of Independence, Missouri. Mr. Jones was married to ELIZABETH WOOD In 1878 and to this union two children were born, both having died, together with the mother, In1882 he was married to ELIZABETH TRUEBELL NORTON. at Blue Rapids, Kansas and 10 children were born to this union, 8 of whom survive him. He came to the Drewsey vicinity in 1891 where he had made his home until age caused him to cease his active life. However, he continued vigorous and retained his mental faculties until almost he day of his passing. He had lived a rather rugged life, although he was a man of slight build. To have attained the remarkable age of 106 years and to have the distinction of having 68 grand- children, 101 great-grandchildren and 5 great-great-grandchildren is unusual. He was highly regarded by his numerous acquaintances and always had a cheerful attiude toward his fellow men. The surviving children are Mrs.CLARA CHANDLER, of John Day. JESS J. JONES, of Merlin, Oregon; EMMA CRONIN, of Drewsey; MARTHA RICHARDSON, of Canyonville, Oregon; LEONARD JONES, John Day; SOPHIA KIMBALL, Burns; WILLIE JONES, John Day, and RUTH KENNEDY, John Day. Funeral services are set for Sunday afternoon, July 16 from the Olsen Funeral Home with Rev. Jacobs in charge. Burial is to follow in the cemetery at Drewsey, the former home. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sherry Balow balowmsg@earthlink.net "Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced." - James A. Baldwin

T.N. Keeran and J. A. Keeran were uncles of my mother-in-law,Belle Landis Wallace. Thanks. Betty in Weldon

from grandmother West's scrapbook Barry West (summarized) Cyclone Caused Heavy Damage Near Garden Grove Early Monday Evening Franklin Schoolhouse Flattened Tow Large Barns and all chicken houses swept away at Henry Coontz Farm; Cattle Killed Jim Taggard, farm one mile northwest of Garden Grove, the large live stock barn, one of the largest in the county and in fine shape, was blown down. The storm moved in a northeasterly direction and tore up many building at the everett Wagner farm. A sulky plow and a heifer were picked up with whirling wind carred over the house, across the road and into a field. the heifer was killed. At the Pete Thurlow farm, near LeRoy all of the buildings were damaged.

from grandmother West's scrapbook Barry West Left Monday for Market Arch Edwards, Manager of the Graham Department Store, left Monday for St. Louis where Graham store executives are meeting this week for the purpose of buying merchandise for this big organization.

from grandmother West's scrapbook Barry West Leave for Alaska Vernon and Ralph Andrew of near Grand River returned last Saturday to Alaska, where they will again be employed on the Alaskan highway. The Andrew boys worked on that contract last summer and fall and had been home for a few months.

from grandmother West's scrapbook Barry West Funeral services today for Arthur McMorris Arthur McMorris, 54, who lives three miles south of Weldon, died at the Decatur county hospital Tuesday afternoon. funeral services in charge of the Slade Funeral home will be held at 2:30 p.m. today at the Brethren church, Besides his widow, he leaves a daughter.

from grandmother West's scrapbook Barry West T. N. Kerran, 78, of Weldon, died Friday morning. Funeral services conducted by the Rev L. L. Smith were held in the Methodist church at 1:00 p.m. Sunday in Weldon. Interment was made in the Glendale cemetery in Des Moines. Mr. Kerran formerly lived in Red Oak and Des Moines. He is a brother of J. A. Kerran of this city. He leaves a widow.

from grandmother West's scrapbook Barry West from bicentennial Leon Journal-Reporter, Iowa Sep. 25, 1975 Photo's of Depot and freight house, 1910 West side of Main stree, south of railroad tracks, 1913. south building Fred and Fannie Hall Millinery and Jewelry Store(I'm related to Fannie Hall and have a doll head given to me by dad from the burned building), Post office, Ben Easter Grocery store, Avery's cafe, A. J. Owens Real Estate and Barber Shop. Photo of Grading Highway 69, 8 1/2 miles north of Leon. Picture taken in 1924 in front of the Ivan Corsbie home. This was when the road was graded between Popcorn and Fairview. The road was an interstate highwasy "From Palms to Pines". Then changed to Jefferson Highway, then Sixty-nine. This road was paved in 1930. An Editors note: Practically all of this history was taken from a newspaper article written by A. E. Price. the article appeared in the Leon Paper May 12, 1926. Photo of Third Van Wert school building, built in 1885 and stood where the Assembly of God Church now Stands. Photo of Present school built in 1918 and was used until the fall of 1962, when they merged with Clark County Community School Dist. Van Wert State Bank Paid up capital $25,000.00 Surplus $5,000.00 Van Wert's General Store Ray A Easter, Prop. Manley & Hampton Dealers in General Merchandise Halstead & Crawford Lumber & Coal The Van Wert Garage Tiedje Bros. Prop. Automobiles and Accessories Price & Mote Real Estate J.M. Allen Groceries and Shoes H. O. Tuttle Funeral Director and Embalmer Professional Photographer Blair & Prather Hardware, Furniture, rugs and House Furnishings A. L. Belding Drugs and Stationery Van Wert Ball Team, 1913 Everett Saylor, Orban Hanks, Harley Gill, Neal Briner, Gary Saylor, Louis Gorsline,Earnie Saylor, Frank Mote, Ralph rumley, Holgar Rasmussen, John Smith Phote submitted by Clyde DeVore

from Grandmother West's scrapbook Barry West No date or newspaper name just a clipping A former Decatur County lady, Dr. Florence Davis, has retired as head of the home economics department at Illinois State University. she was raised in the Fairview area and graduated from the Leon high school. She has a brother Irvin Davis, of El Paso, Tex. and they often visit relatives and friends in this vicinity. Dr. Davis will leave the United States late in September for Nagasaki, Japan. In Nagasaki she will be curriculum coordinator and teacher in the home economics department at Kwassui Gakuin, the oldest women's college in Japan. She has retired two years early in order to do work abroad. She will fly to Hawaii and stop at the University of Honolulu to check on some research. She will go toTokyo before going to Nagasaki. She will be working under the Unted Church of Christ in Japan. She will teach a Kwassui Gakuin for two years and during that time, hope to travel in the Orient.

Barry's messages from his Grandmother are great! I've been thinking about three persons he mentioned a coupla days ago: Idavee Crouse - A brassy blonde - and some people labeled her with the dizzy blonde label. Nothing could be further from the truth. She had a head on her shoulders and was an excellent interviewer and writer. I don't quite know why she flaunted that "blonde" image but I liked her - as did anyone else who knew her. Virginia Archibald - the wife of "Arch" Archibald who ran the restaurant and bus station for so many years. I worked for him for a few months and he was a slave driver - insisted the place be clean. What a novelty. She had to pitch in and help - a lot. Those were hard times. But she didn't complain. She was one of the Penniwell girls before she married Arch. Helen Friday - listed, I believe, as Mrs. Cal Friday. Well, Cal roomed with us for two years or so while he was dating her. What a nice pair. They were close to my parents up until WW2 and then things kind of faded. Thanks again, Barry. These notes are wonderful. By the way, take good care of Lynn ... jack

Don't forget, back then they were often stacked, not laid side by side. The U.S. Military Cemeteries, even today, stacks spouses and dependents.....mac ----- Original Message ----- From: Stacy Smith To: IADECATU-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Sunday, May 23, 2004 7:22 PM Subject: Re: [IADECATU] "By Mother" Hi Sherry, At first I thought maybe it ment that he was buried next to mother, but there didn't appear to be room between the two stones (they were born a year or so appart, so they could be brothers, but both couldn't be "by mother" if there wasn't room for her to squeeze between them....) ----- Original Message ----- From: "Sherry Balow" <balowmsg@earthlink.net> To: <IADECATU-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, May 23, 2005 6:57 PM Subject: RE: [IADECATU] "By Mother" > Great Question! I'll hazard a guess. I assumed it meant "next to mother" > -- even if mother wasn't in evidence. It was suggested it was "by mother", > in this case, "earth" when I googled it. You HAVE TO TELL what your > grandma thought! > > Sherry > > > > [Original Message] > > From: Stacy Smith <slsmith@grm.net> > > To: <IADECATU-L@rootsweb.com> > > Date: 5/23/2005 4:15:37 PM > > Subject: [IADECATU] "By Mother" > > > > Ok all you smart cemetery people. I have a question for you. > > What does "by mother" mean when found on a gravestone? > > My grandmother and I were out cemetery walking last weekend, and we ran > across two stones next to eachother and they both had the man's name > birth/death year and below this, it said By Mother. > > Ok, what does that mean? They weren't infants...I can't remember exactly > how old they were, but I think they were both older than 20.... > > Any ideas? (I am not going to tell you what my grandma thought it might > mean.) :-) > > Thanks in advance > > Stacy > > > > > > (searching for the surnames: Green, McLaughlin, Wion, Jones, White, > Truitt, Newberry, ?McCoy? and Stephen(s) that came to Decatur county, IA, > AND > > Stone, Elkins, Ward, Johnston/Johnson, Bowen, Gillespie, Coots, Shain, > Polley, Clevenger, Hook, Bridges, Moore and Smith that were in Harrison > County, MO) > > > > > > > > ==== IADECATU Mailing List ==== > > Stacey Dietiker, Momdit@aol.com: Decatur County List Administrator, > > Website Coordinator, Decatur County IA Genweb - > http://www.rootsweb.com/~iadecatu > > > > ============================== > > View and search Historical Newspapers. Read about your ancestors, find > > marriage announcements and more. Learn more: > > http://www.ancestry.com/s13969/rd.ashx > > > > ==== IADECATU Mailing List ==== > Stacey Dietiker, Momdit@aol.com: Decatur County List Administrator, > Website Coordinator, Decatur County IA Genweb - http://www.rootsweb.com/~iadecatu > > ============================== > Find your ancestors in the Birth, Marriage and Death Records. > New content added every business day. Learn more: > http://www.ancestry.com/s13964/rd.ashx > ==== IADECATU Mailing List ==== Stacey Dietiker, Momdit@aol.com: Decatur County List Administrator, Website Coordinator, Decatur County IA Genweb - http://www.rootsweb.com/~iadecatu ============================== Search Family and Local Histories for stories about your family and the areas they lived. Over 85 million names added in the last 12 months. Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13966/rd.ashx

There's one of these in the Decatur cemetery also.....just left of the entrance....maybe 3 or 4 rows in on the left side. As a boy, I always thought it meant the mother arranged for the tomb stone. I don't recall the exact date of the stone but I remember knowing at the time that it was the grave of a Civil War soldier with the date of death being during the Civil War....or the Great War of Northern Aggression......depending on how you look at it, I guess.....mac ----- Original Message ----- From: Stacy Smith To: IADECATU-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Sunday, May 23, 2004 6:23 PM Subject: [IADECATU] "By Mother" Ok all you smart cemetery people. I have a question for you. What does "by mother" mean when found on a gravestone? My grandmother and I were out cemetery walking last weekend, and we ran across two stones next to eachother and they both had the man's name birth/death year and below this, it said By Mother. Ok, what does that mean? They weren't infants...I can't remember exactly how old they were, but I think they were both older than 20.... Any ideas? (I am not going to tell you what my grandma thought it might mean.) :-) Thanks in advance Stacy (searching for the surnames: Green, McLaughlin, Wion, Jones, White, Truitt, Newberry, ?McCoy? and Stephen(s) that came to Decatur county, IA, AND Stone, Elkins, Ward, Johnston/Johnson, Bowen, Gillespie, Coots, Shain, Polley, Clevenger, Hook, Bridges, Moore and Smith that were in Harrison County, MO) ==== IADECATU Mailing List ==== Stacey Dietiker, Momdit@aol.com: Decatur County List Administrator, Website Coordinator, Decatur County IA Genweb - http://www.rootsweb.com/~iadecatu ============================== View and search Historical Newspapers. Read about your ancestors, find marriage announcements and more. Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13969/rd.ashx

Great Question! I'll hazard a guess. I assumed it meant "next to mother" -- even if mother wasn't in evidence. It was suggested it was "by mother", in this case, "earth" when I googled it. You HAVE TO TELL what your grandma thought! Sherry > [Original Message] > From: Stacy Smith <slsmith@grm.net> > To: <IADECATU-L@rootsweb.com> > Date: 5/23/2005 4:15:37 PM > Subject: [IADECATU] "By Mother" > > Ok all you smart cemetery people. I have a question for you. > What does "by mother" mean when found on a gravestone? > My grandmother and I were out cemetery walking last weekend, and we ran across two stones next to eachother and they both had the man's name birth/death year and below this, it said By Mother. > Ok, what does that mean? They weren't infants...I can't remember exactly how old they were, but I think they were both older than 20.... > Any ideas? (I am not going to tell you what my grandma thought it might mean.) :-) > Thanks in advance > Stacy > > > (searching for the surnames: Green, McLaughlin, Wion, Jones, White, Truitt, Newberry, ?McCoy? and Stephen(s) that came to Decatur county, IA, AND > Stone, Elkins, Ward, Johnston/Johnson, Bowen, Gillespie, Coots, Shain, Polley, Clevenger, Hook, Bridges, Moore and Smith that were in Harrison County, MO) > > > > ==== IADECATU Mailing List ==== > Stacey Dietiker, Momdit@aol.com: Decatur County List Administrator, > Website Coordinator, Decatur County IA Genweb - http://www.rootsweb.com/~iadecatu > > ============================== > View and search Historical Newspapers. Read about your ancestors, find > marriage announcements and more. Learn more: > http://www.ancestry.com/s13969/rd.ashx

My last email went to the Decatu-l list instead on where I wanted it to go. Sorry, Barry