hi Mom, Lynn went in and had her cast removed and they said there was to much unhealed skin for them to do the operation tomorrow. She goes back on Friday. The doctor removed the dead skin from where her blisters were. They had drained, but not healed up. He had to resent her break and that was painful for Lynn. We got home at 1:30. Lynn took some pain pills and feels better now. She is on the phone complaining to her mother. James helped get her in the house and down to the basement. Love, Barry

Part 5 History of Van Wert Christianity has held an important place in our community life. From the very beginning of the town's history there has been an organization of the Methodists and I find that James Blair and wife, parents of E. J. Blair and W. F. Blair, were charter members. Before the town was three years old there had been erected by this band of pioneer Christians a church. This building stood a few feet from the sidewalk near Mr. Vaughts store, now. This building served the people for many years until the new frame building was erected on the ground where the fine brick sturcture now stands. The Christian church has not so early a history. Just after the days of the Divil War or about ten years after the first Methodist church was built. A man by the name of Josephus Porter held protracted meeting in a log building that stood one mile south of town where Mr. King's orchard now is and the close of the meeting organized the Christian church. About two years thereafter this band in turn built their firs church building with which you are all familiar, was didicated, after which it was moved and converted into the present home of Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Walker. The town has enlarged her borders many times. First there was Irving's First and Second additions. Franscomb's addition, Corbett's first and second additions. Corbett also gave the town the beautiful park that we now enjoy. Later there were Barr's, Blair's and Thompson's additions. Altogether we now have the beautiful little town called Florence, Prairie City, Prairieville and Van Wert, your Home and Mine.

Part 4 Van Wert History After the burial of his baby Dr. Powell decided to locate here, and his wife taught one of the first, if not the first term of school in this district. The school house stood where Clyde Gould now resides and the land on which it stood was donated by Mr. Steen for school purposed. In all we have had four school building, the first being a log schoolhouse referred to above; the second was a frame building, 22 by 28 feet in size, built in 1872 at a cost of $465. The third was built in 1885, on the lots where J. a. Hawkins now lives, costing $2,700. The present building was erected in 1918 at a cost of $21,000. The last bonds were paid off in April of 1936. It was a great day when we got our first railroad. This occurred in 1880 and in October of that year there gathered an immense crowd of people some of whom are living still to witness the coming in of the first regular train over the then called Humeston and Shenandoah road. The crowd then was perhaps never surpassed at the place until years later when Theodore Roosevelt, then president of the United States spoke to the people who had gathered on the same spot to listen as America's first citizen made his Van Wert speech. Two years later the Des Moines and Cainsville road was built through Van Wert and located their first depot just west of main street of today. I ought also to mention as of special interest the coming of our first bank. This bank was started and operated for a short time by Mr. Shaw who later sold out to the bank of Van Wert and organized in 1900, "The Van Wert State Bank." This bank operated until 1930.

Part 3 At a very early date there was a family by the name of Whitecar living where the bank now stands. Also one by the name of Waldons just south of the hotel, and Granddad Murray, an old bear hunter, lived where B. A. Hall now resides. There also seems to have been two families by the name of Wroth living on the west side of the street and one by the same name where Ira Rogers now lives. Among the early merchants of our town no one name stands out with greater prominence than that of John Gemmill, who was for many years the leading merchant of the town. He built the house where Bill Fry now resides and lived there several years before he left of other parts. Next came Epp Stone, a bustling merchant for those times, followed by John Tallman and still later by W. F. Blair, then a very young man, who operated his first independent store on the corner, where the Tiedje garage now stands, forty odd years ago. Since that time wh have had many enterprising merchants, but they are of too recent date to need mention here. Very earl in the town's history there camped by the side of the road one night of Dr. Powell. The next morning the neighbors were shocked to learn that during the night his little baby had died. This raised the question of suitable place to bury not only this baby, but all other that death was sure to claim as time went on. At this time Mr. Irving ever in the fore front, gave one acre of land located in the southwest corner of his quarter section to be used as a public burying ground. Since that time literally hundreds of bodies including the body of an Indian woman have been laid away.

Part 2 Just what sentiment entered into the selection of the name, is perhaps not known by anyone now living. Neither have I been able to ascertain definitely why the name was changed within a few years to Prairieville or Prairie City. Some people claim that those two names were used interchangeably and were applied to the same town during the same period of time. Others that it was first Prairie City, then Prairieville, still others the other way round, Prairieville and then Prairie City. There came a time, however, when the name because of post office complications, was again changed, this time at suggestion of Adam Johnson, a then prominent citizen of this little village, to Van Wert. I understand that he wished it thus in honor of Van Wert, Ohio, the town of his Nativity. The first post office in this new town was kept by Mr. Irving in his own home. The first store by James Taylor, a relative of Lambert Taylor, before mentioned. This store was located in a log building that sto od near where the back end of what is now Davy Jones oil station, and faced the north. There was another store soon after, located near wher Mr. Owens; barber shop now is, operated by Geo. Bigford. Still another on a parcel of ground near where the bank building now stands, but I have not been able to ascertain the name of the first owner. The first blacksmith shop, a very necessary part of every pioneer town, was erected by an Irishman by the name of Gallagher. The shop was located at the extreme south end of the row of surveyed lots and was very near where Billy Fry now resides. Mr. Gallagher was followed in this shop by a Mr. Medkiff, he in turn by Frank Manuel, and still later by Steve Mills, whom many of our citizens still remember.

from grandmother West's scrapbook Barry West Van Wert Hstory from Leon Journal-Reporter, Leon< Iowa September 25, 1975 County Bicentennial Part 1 Early History of Van Wert Prior to the year of 1854 the territory on which the town Van Wert now stands was in the midst of an almost limitless expanse of gently rolling prairie broken only by a small amount of timber that followed very closely the water courses and consisted principally of large trees without the smaller timber and underbrush that prevailed in later years. On this vast expanse the blue stem grass, native to the virgin soil, waved in the gentle breeze or furnished material for almost annual prairie fires that swept with devastating effect across the country. This was the natural feeding ground for deer and buffalo and antelope. Hundreds of these animals were seen by the early settler feeding unmolested, save as some hunter or settler sought to replenish his larder or secure skins and robes for the protection of himself and household against the call of winter. Prior to the coming of the settlers this section as others of our vast domain was claimed by the red men. Neither did he relinquish his claim without a struggle. Within three miles of van wert there is a field that bears even today, unmistakable evidences of a mighty Indian battle whether with some luckless emigrant train, some daring settlers or some other Indian tribe will perhaps never be known, but the battle was fought and Indian moved on. About this time the emigrants from the east attracted by the wealth promised by our fertile prairies began the settlement of this section and among others came James Irving, a man of culture, who had enjoyed social distinction in his native state, and settled in the year 1854 on the northeast quarter of section 13, Long Creek township. In this he used his homestead right and paid the federal government $1.25 per acre. A man by the name of Lambert Taylor secured the homestead right to the northwest quarter of the same section. Mr Irving built his cabin home a few feet south and west of Harrison Devore's residence. Mr. Taylor built his near where the Grant Spencer house now stands. As the country was being rapidly settled at this time these two enterprising citizens at once conceived the idea of adding materially to their wealth by locating a town on their lands, and in order to play fair with each other they decided to open up a new road running north and south between their lands, even though this was not on a section line, and lay out a certain number of lots on each side of said road. This they did and named the town thus created Frorence.

from grandmother West's scrapbook Barry West Miss Beatrice of Beaconsfield who had been on a trip to Des Moines visited relatives here Wednesday after bus time until train time Thursday when she returned to her home. She is a teacher and reported that there hadn't been any school at Beaconsfield for two weeks. They had fuel but blocked roads. No Service at either church on Sunday. It was decided that the fuel better be used in homes. Those bringing coal from the mines by truck have been very kind, letting the coas go in small lots so no one would be entirely without fuel. Friday was a fair day and a few loads of wood were brought in which helped to relieve the situation. So far as we know no one is suffering for fuel. Harry Wickham, cafe,proprietor, was taken seriously ill first of last week, was taken to the Decatur County Hospital, he submitted to a major operation there, and has gotten along fairly well, but is still in serious condition. Friends are hoping for his recovery. The star route man from Osceola and the Colonial bread truck driver of Des Moines both came Saturday , but did not get away again until Sunday afternoon on account of blocked roads. Miss Marjorie Young of the school faculty went to her home in Peru, Neb., to remain until such time as school can be opened. Ray Krutsinger and family moved Wednesday from the Williams house near the school house to the Hall place in the east part of town. On Wednesday of last week Marvin Stevens who was suffering with pneumonia, was taken in ambulance to an Osceola hospital. His mother had been with him and Sunday the neighbors turned out with shovels and opened the road so the father could go to Osceola as Marvin was worse at that time. But today, on Monday, the report is better, and everybody hopes he will continue so. Jack Nelson came Wednesday from Des Moines and has been here since with his grandmother, Mrs. John Solomon and family. We had no trains Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday. Blocked Tracks. The bus from Des Moines came every day except on Saturday.

from grandmother West's scrapbook Barry West Another Blizzard struck this vicinity last week so the roads are still impassable. So school at Union Ridge this week on account of blocked roads. Ralph Sage and wife, and also Ancil Lovett were dinner guests at J. A. Record's Sunday. Mrs. Francis Lovett is doing housework at the Pyfer home in Leon. Marjorie Hampton and brother James were callers at the Jasper Record home Sunday afternoon. Clarence McDaniel and wife spent Thursday evening at the D. Davis home. Roy Clark and Lyman Allbaugh called in to see Grandpa Newlin who is not so well. Mrs. Sage spent Friday with Mrs. Pat Hampton and assisted Mrs. Hampton get dinner for the men who were hauling hay Mr. Hampton who had the misfortune to lose one of his mules. Mart Newlin also lost a mule and Mr. Conwell and Lyman Allbough each lost a horse. Maurice Lovett returned home Monday having spent the past two weeks in Leon. J. A. Record was a business caller at Bert Adams Monday morning.

from grandmother West's scrapbook Barry West Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Smith visited Sunday in the Ver? Naylor home. Mr. and Mrs. Garvin Pruyn and Mr. and Mrs. Von Davis visited Monday in Des Moines. Mrs. Ike Blunt is recovering from a badly bruised arm caused from a fall at her home. Floyd and Arthur Smith and Von Davis were Davis City callers Thursday. Mrs. Fay Smith returned home after a week's visit with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Reed of near Pleasanton. Misses Rowana and Rocalie Pruyn are home for several days as their school has been closed until the roads are cleared of snow. They have been staying with their grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. John Prnyn. Mr. and Mrs. Harold Benton and Mrs. Garrett Benton were in Leon last Friday. We are sorry to note that the Paul Hamilton family are quarantined for Scarlet Fever at this writing. Their son Francis is quite ill. Mr. and Mrs. Von Davis visited Friday evening in the Elvin Hubbard home and also visited other friends in Lineville. Pearl Wiley called on Von Davis Thursday Morning.

from grandmother West's scrapbook Barry West Feb. 10 John Tullis of Leon was calling on friends here last Thursday. Mrs. Bob Bright was a visitor in Leon Thursday. Mr. and Mrs. Bert Adams and son James were guests at the F. W. Sears home Wednesday and attended the funeral of their cousin, Garrett Benton at the M. E. church School closed here Monday on account of the fuel shortage. Mrs. Garret Benton visited over Sunday at the home of her cousin, Mrs. F. W. Sears and family. Loislee and Bobby McMorris called on their grandparents last Monday afternoon. Mrs. Sears visited Mr. and Mrs. John Hanner Friday afternoon. Mrs. Garrett Benton visited at the home of Mrs. Ida Peck Monday afternoon. Mrs. Elmer Akers was operated upon at the Decatur County Hospital the past week. Roy Daniels was a caller here Monday. Harlen Schoonover of Leon called on his parents Monday afternoon. Frank Riddle who has been so sick the past week is better.

BARRY, thanks again. Harrison ORFIELDS son married my Annie Noftsger. Fred CASH connects to our Wion/Noftsgers also, AND our CASH /SELLERS. These are nice additions to our family history. Thanks for sharing memories. marie, iowa -----Original Message----- From: BRWest@aol.com [mailto:BRWest@aol.com] Sent: Saturday, May 21, 2005 8:01 PM To: IADECATU-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [IADECATU] Lamoni Route One Feb 10, 1936 from grandmother West's scrapbook Barry West Harrison Orfield called at the Joe Deemer Home Monday. Charley Gibbens called at the Dell Wiley home Sunday. Harve Newton called at the home of his brother to get feed Thursday. Joe Deemer called at the Gharley Bivvens home Saturday night to help care for his daughter, Marie, who was badly frozen when she made an effort to come home from the Doolittle Home and couldn't get any farther until the next day. Mrs. Joe Deemer and the children visited with Mrs. Doolittle Friday afternoon. Fred Cash called at the Morris Millard home Friday. Hazel and Goldie Deemer visited with Mrs. Geo. Cox Wednesday. Our mail carrier hasn't been through here for three weeks on account of the blocked roads. We are hoping they will be open by March first, as that is moving time. ==== IADECATU Mailing List ==== Stacey Dietiker, Momdit@aol.com: Decatur County List Administrator, Website Coordinator, Decatur County IA Genweb - http://www.rootsweb.com/~iadecatu ============================== Search the US Census Collection. Over 140 million records added in the last 12 months. Largest online collection in the world. Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13965/rd.ashx

from grandmother West's scrapbook Barry West Mary Leona Evans was born at Van Wert, Iowa, Dec. 20 1888 to John and Alice Hacker, and died May 22, 1974, in Leon, Iowa at the age of 85. Her life was spent in the Weldon and Van Wert areas, with the exception of a few years in south Dakota. She was a member of the Methodist Church. On March 24, 1915, she was united in marriage with Arthur Evans. To this union three sons were born. She was preceded in death by her parents; one son Louise and wife Ruby, Ankeny; and three brothers: Charles, Byron and Don Hacker. Survivors are her husband Art, Weldon; two sons and wives, Max and Eugenia, Weldon; and Raymond and Maxine, Ames; nine grandchildren, Paul, Karen and Mary Francis Evans, Ankeny; Scott, Becky and Nancy Evans, weldon; Richard and Jeff Evans and Linda McVey, ames; one great grandchild, Troy McVey, Ames; four sisters and one brother, Ruth Poch, Cheyenne, Wyo.; Laura Thompson, Hereford, Colo.; Hattie Allen and Alice Coffey, Leon; and Joe Hacker, Lincoln, Neb.

from grandmother West's scrapbook Barry West Brother of Mrs. Carl Coffey Died Mrs. Carl Coffey (West) (Hacker) received a message Saturday about the death of her oldest brother, Charlie Hacker, 79, who lived in West Covina, Calif. Mr. Hacker lived south of Van Wert until he was married. They moved to Pine Bluffs, Wyo., in 1913 ant later to California. He is survived by his wife, the former Arla Worden of Weldon; a son and a daughter. He also leaves the following sisters and brother: Mrs. Hattie Aleen of Leon; Mrs. Arthur Evans of Weldon; Mrs. Laura Thompson of Hereford, Colo.; Mrs. Ruth Poch of Cheyenne, Wyo.; Mrs. Alice Coffey of Leon; Don Hacker of Weldon; Bryon Hacker of Calistago, Calif.; and Joe Hacker of Crete, Nebr. Funeral services were held April 9 in Rose Hill Memorial Park, Near Whittier. Calif.

from grandmother West's scrapbook Barry West Bryon Lewis Hacker Passes Away July 4 Bryon Lewis Hacker, age 76, passed away on July 4th. He Lived on Kortum Canyon Road for the past ten years. He is survived by his wife, Lola Hacker of Calistoga, a daughter, Mrs. Beverly Field of San Leandro, and a son, Bus Hacker of Cheyenne, Wyoming. He was the brother of Don Hacker of Weldon, Iowa: Joe Hacker, Crete, Nebraska; Mrs. Laura Thompson, Hereford, Colorado; Mrs. Ruth Poch of Cheyenne, Wyoming; Mrs. Alice Coffee of Leon, Iowa; and Mary Evans of Weldon, Iowa. Funeral services will be held Friday, July 8, at 11 a.m., at Simic Funeral Home, folloewed by cremation at Chapel of the Chimes, Santa Rosa.

from grandmother West's scrapbook Barry WEst Enjoying Deep Sea Fishing in the South. (note in pencil Dr. that delivered Marie's Boy West me) Dr. and Mrs. G. P. Reed and Mrs. H. L. McClaran of Davis City departed Tuesday for Havana, Cuba, where Dr. Reed will enjoy deep sea fishing during a month of vacation. Yadirf Club will hold regular meeting tomorrow Mrs. Kenneth Harris was hostess to the Yadirf last Friday with Mrs. M. C. Archibald in charge of the sesson study. The club will hold a regular meeting tomorrow afternoon with Mrs. Calvin Friday. (okay what is Yadirf Club?) Francis Warrington complimented at choop suey supper Athe home of J. A. Sheldon, superintendent of school in Garden Grove Friday evening Francis Warrington, student of Iowa State College at Ames, who was home for the week end, was complimented at a chop suey suppper, on his birthday anniversary. Fifteen persons shared the event. Mr. Warrington is the son of Mr. and Mrs. F. E. Warrington of Garden Grove. (I thought Chop suey was the great invention of the 50's)

from grandmother West's scrapbook Barry West Those calling at the will jones home Sunday afternoon were Mr. and Mrs. Earl Day and children, Mrs. Vada Martin and daughters, Fill Petticord and carl Martin. Mrs. Carrie Koger and sons were Decatur callers Saturday. Miss Maxine Phipps returned home Thursday after spending a few days with aunt, Mrs. Opal Ellars. Miss Clara Massey spent the week end with her parents north of Leon. Dewey Martin was a Decatur caller Saturday. The roads in these parts are drifted full of snow. It was reported that 17 men were scooping snow Sunday between Decatur and Delray. Earl Day was trading in Decatur Friday. Charles Martin has been on the sick list the past few days.

from grandmother West's scrapbook Barry West Harrison Orfield called at the Joe Deemer Home Monday. Charley Gibbens called at the Dell Wiley home Sunday. Harve Newton called at the home of his brother to get feed Thursday. Joe Deemer called at the Gharley Bivvens home Saturday night to help care for his daughter, Marie, who was badly frozen when she made an effort to come home from the Doolittle Home and couldn't get any farther until the next day. Mrs. Joe Deemer and the children visited with Mrs. Doolittle Friday afternoon. Fred Cash called at the Morris Millard home Friday. Hazel and Goldie Deemer visited with Mrs. Geo. Cox Wednesday. Our mail carrier hasn't been through here for three weeks on account of the blocked roads. We are hoping they will be open by March first, as that is moving time.

from grandmother West's scrapbook Barry West Patients admitted to the hospital during the past two weeks: Richard Smith, Garden Grove Dorothy Smith, Garden Groove Bert Stiles, Garden Grove: Elsie Hanthorn, Leon Baby Girl Hanthorn, gorn Saturdsy evening Harlan Houk, ClarindsaAlice Tallman, Leon Wayne Newberry, Lamoni Harry Wickham, Weldon Essie McBroom, Garden Grove Lowell Bradshaw, Van Wert Vaeniece Pyfer, Leon Baby girl Pyfer, born Friday afternoon May Akers, Decatur Out Patients: R. W. Craig, Leon Wayne Webster, Garden Grove. Mrs. Sant Burchett of Grand River Dies at Osceola Mrs. Sant Burchett, 45, of Grand River died at a hospital in Osceola Friday. Due to the snowblocked roads at Grand River, funeral arrangements have not been made.

from grandmother West's scrapbook Barry WEST Jennings Bros. & NOrman I.G.A. Stores IGA Corn Flakes 3 packages 25 cents Jello 4 packages 19 cents IGA Cocoa can 9 cents Oxydol 2 large packages 37 cents Flour every bag guaranteed 49-lb. $1.39 Cocoanut, Long thread 8 oz pkg. 15 cents chili con carne can 10 cents navy beans 5 pounds 19 cents Climalene 3 10 cent pkgs. 21 cents Coupon on Durkee's margaring 2 lbs. 45 cents Peas 5 no. 2 cans 25 cents Sugar 10 pounds 47 cents Oranges, smal sunkist, 2 doz. 25 cents lettuce 2 heads 15 cents Meats Steak, round or sirloin, lb 19 cents Been roasts pound 17 cents to 13 cents Pork backbones pound 7 centss Bacon squares sliced, pound 19 cents Pure lard 2 pounds 27 cents

from grandmother West's scrapbook Barry West WPA Workers Clearing the Pleasanton Road A crew of nearly a hundred men, WPA workers and Grissom Grimes, member of the board of supervisors, shoveled snow all day Tuesday in an effort to open the road from Davis City to Pleasanton that fuel might reach that snow-bound town. In addition to a fuel shortage there, a number of residents are ill and need medical attention. a Crew of residents and farmers from Pleasanton were shoveling from Pleasanton and expected to meet the other crew late yesterday. The road was drifted so badly a snow plow could not be used. The nearly hundred men shoveling all day Monday cleared three miles of Road. Marooned on Way From Garden Grove Wilber Miller and Fred Udd drove to Garden Grove Saturday morning but on the return their car stalled in the deep snow about midway between the Grove and High Point. In trying to work their way out of the snow they ran out of gas. They went to a farm house and telephoned High Point to bring them out some gas. Ray Hill and Dan Bumgarner, driving the truck from the Surbaugh store, reached the Miller car with gasoline. However, the car would not start because snow had drifted in on the wiring. Wilber and Fdred decided to abandon the car and they started to High Point with the Surbaugh truck. The truck on the return was caught in a drift about a mile north of High Point and was unable to get through. The four men in the party walked the balance of the way to High Point and they were just about exhausted when they reached the Surbaugh store. Wilber had his face frosted and the others suffered frost bites as well. At High Point the two Leon men caught a ride into Leon with Harvey Northrup. The Miller car remained in the snowdrift until Monday when it was finally brought into Leon.