Ancestor Artifact - 29 The Star - Part 8

 

Ancestor Artifact - 29 The Star - Part 8

The Busy Builder boys and their projects

“Busy Builders

Officers

President…. Lester Brown

Vice President ….Clarence Fick

Secretary … LeVerne Smith

MOTTO

What is worth doing at all is worth doing well.

[NOTE: This is a saying my Dad, Pete, repeated to me as I went off to college!!]

Flower
Lilac

Colors

Lilac and White”

On the right side of the image:

“Members

Le Verne Smith
Arley Brown
Clarence Fick
Lester Brown
Jerald Johnston
Junior Grim
Wesley Thomas
Howard Fick
Arnold Dobson
Marion Johnston
Wilbur Thomas
Merle Brown
William Johnston”

“Social
Since 1925

In the fall of 1925 we gave a “Jack Carnival” which was a very successful event. The school room and the basement were crowed with people who were enjoying themselves at the various booths and games. The proceeds of this carnival were used to purchase the necessary equipment to standardize.
The next February we gave a Valentine Party to which we invited our parents. Most of them came and pronounced it a success. After the play we gave out valentines.
The following May, graduation exercises were held at the schoolhouse. We had a picnic at the end of the year.
At Christmas time in 1926 we gave a program in spite of the fact that most of us had the Whooping Cough. Santa Claus came down the chimney that we had over a window. He brought with him a huge bag of presents which he distributed. We closed the year with a picnic.
The next year on Valentine’s Day we had a party for the pupils. After dinner we played a number of delightful games.”

Continued on the right side of the image:

“In the fall of 1927 we had a party given by the children who had birthdays in the first three months of the year. The next party was given in the winter by the ones who had birthdays in Dec., Jan. and Feb. Then the ones who had birthdays in the last three months gave their party in the spring. We had a picnic at the end of the year at Burgan’s Grove.
In the fall of 1928 we had a party again the same as the year before only the ones who had birthdays in the summer helped too.
On Halloween night we gave a program. Despite the rain we had a fairly large crowd.
In December the school as usual was invited to the community dinner.
At Christmas time the pupils exchanges names and gave presents. We had a tree for the presents.
Our winter birthday party was held on Lincoln’s Birthday.
March 29 we had an Easter egg hunt.
We expect to close this year with our spring birthday party on May 17.
 - - Maxine Smith”

See you down the road… ;-)

 

Ancestor Artifact - 29 The Star - Part 7

 

Ancestor Artifact - 29 The Star - Part 7

“Football

Back row, left to right - Fick, Pete, Squeak (Capt.)
Front row, left to right - Bub, Ginger, Hoddy, Tuffy, Sonny, Les, Bro., Billy”

Boys Sports pages

“Baseball

Left to right - Tuffy, Billy, Sonny, Fick, Pete (Capt.)
Squeak, Les, Hoddy, Ginger”

Girls around Table

“Little Citizen’s League

Officers

President……………………Ethel Johnson

Vice President………………..Dorthy Fick

Secretary…………………….Ruth Thomas

Librarian……………………… Beth Thomas

Committees

Health

LaVerne Smith

Irene Lucht

Fair Play

Wesley Thomas

Marian Thomas

Good English

Jerald Johnston

Maxine Smith

Program

Arlen Brown

Helen Thomas

Dorothy Thomas”

On the right side of the image:

“MOTTO

Let me be a little kinder, To the faults of those around me;
let me praise a little more, Let me be, when I am weary, just a little bit more cheery;
Let me serve a little better those whom I am striving for,
Let me be a little braver, when temptation bids me waver;
Let me try a little harder to be all that I should be.
Let me be a little meeker with the brother that is weaker;
Let me think more of my neighbor and a little less of me.

Waterman.”

“Meetings

Second and Fourth Friday at 2:30 P.M.

Procedure

Getting opened by President

Minutes read by  Secretary

Reports from various committees

Business

Program

Closing by President"

On the right side of the image:

"Members

Le Verne Smith
Ethel Johnston
Ruth Thomas
Arley Brown
Maxine Smith
Helen Thomas
Clarence Fick
Dorthy Fick
Irene Lucht
Dorothy Thomas
Beth Thomas
Lester Brown
Jerald Johnston
William Johnston
Junior Grim
Wesley Thomas
Esther Fick
Bethene Smith
Fern Brown
Marian Thomas
Howard Fick
Arnold Dobson
Marion Johnston
Mildred Fick
Wilbur Thomas
Merle Brown
Maxine Dobson
Marjorie Thomas”


Families are Forever! ;-)
 

Ancestor Artifact - 29 The Star - Part 6

 

Ancestor Artifact - 29 The Star - Part 6

First Graders on a pony

“MOTTO

Play

COLORS

Green and Yellow

FLOWER

Dandelion”

On right side of the image:

“Class Roll

Wilbur Thomas …….. “Billy”

Merle Brown ………… “Shorty”

Maxine Dobson …….. “Sister”

Marjorie Thomas ……. “Mugs”

“First Grade Class History

We started to school last fall.
Miss Christy is our teacher.
Sometimes we have good lessons and sometimes we don’t.
We like to swing, slide and play croquet.”


Right side says: “ALUMNI”

“Class of ’09

Katherine Doran (Salmon) - Bayard, Iowa

Alice Doran (Clarke) - Des Moines, Iowa

Class of ’12

Nellie Wilson (Parsons) - Seattle, Wash.

Class of ’13

Hellen Doran (Leighty) - Guthrie Center, Iowa

Class of ’14

Grant Ballard - Coon Rapids, Iowa

Bois McLaughlin - Coon Rapids, Iowa

Joyce Wheeler (Pierce) - Hinsdale, Ill.

Class of ’15

S.P. Bugler - Des Moines, Iowa

Class of ’16

Duane Wheeler - Coon Rapids, Iowa

Class of ’19

Wayne Smith - Coon Rapids, Iowa

Harold Hartwigsen - Austin, Minn.

Ruth Wheeler - Coon Rapids, Iowa”

On the right side of the image:’

“Class of ’21

Clyde Grimm - Coon Rapids, Iowa

Ralph Wheeler - Perry, Iowa

Volva Rabuck - Ann Arvor, Mich.

Class of ’24

Orel Thomas - Coon Rapids, Iowa

LVene Thomas - Coon Rapids, Iowa

Catherine Grimm - Coon Rapids, Iowa

Class of ’26

Clifford Grimm - Coon Rapids, Iowa

Verse Thomas - Coon Rapids, Iowa

Foster Slocum - Scranton, Iowa

Irene Fick - Coon Rapids, Iowa

Pauline Smith - Coon Rapids, Iowa

Class of ’27

Ralph Johnston - Coon Rapids, Iowa

Charles Grimm - Coon Rapids, Iowa

Harold Grim - Coon Rapids, Iowa

Arnold Thomas - Coon Rapids, Iowa”

I personally doubt that this is a comprehensive list, but rather those who were known at the time. If anyone has better information, I’d be happy to hear it. Thank you.
Great list, in any event. Great to have available for future reference.

This listing is similar to one I have seen from Coon Rapids High School in, I believe, 1919... ;-)


Families are Forever! ;-)


 

Hall-Bowman-Thomas Connection - Carrie Thomas

 

Hall-Bowman-Thomas Connection

Carrie Thomas

I have written extensively (both fiction and non-fiction) about life in small-town and rural mid-American, based on life-long experience and observations. The Carrie Bowman Thomas family relationships provide an excellent example of typical relationships in this environment, traced back to first Euro-American settlement in the region. In this case we are looking at The Star Community located a few miles north of Coon Rapids located in western Iowa.

Obit of Claude Thomas, husband of Carrie Thomas

I recently wrote about the first settlers in this area being the Thomas H. Hall family in 1868.
Hattie Hall was a five-year-old in that family. In 1883, she married George Bowman listed in that story as another of the first settlers. Their first child born later that year was Caroline, per the 1900 census. She was always known as Carrie in the community. As noted in the clipping, above, she married Claude Thomas in 1908. They lived their long lives together on their farm on the western half of the same section of land where The Star Church was located in the southeast corner. My memory is that they lived in a big, boxy farm house located on a hill in that section of land at the end of very long driveway coming in from the west.

Claude and Carrie, along with the four of their five children that lived to adulthood, were very active in The Star Church and the Star Community in general. The children attended The Star School and Coon Rapids High School over the years. Their children were:
Orel Elwin Thomas (1909-1993)
Beryl Wilbur Thomas (1911-1911)
Verle W Thomas (1911-1958)
Arnold H. Thomas (1913-1988)
Edith J Thomas Kreger (1922-1987)

Speaking generally, this family well represents the typical rural-small town distribution of relationships.

First, Orel married Margaret Pingery. Margaret was a town girl in Coon Rapids (like my mother). She was one of a large family, mostly females, that married a variety of spouses in town, in the country and out-of-town (I will likely write more about this family at a later time). My Mom, daughter of a bank clerk, always considered herself a “town-girl” but married a farmer and did well at it… as did Margaret. Orel and Margaret lived just a mile west of the farm where I grew up. They lived on the county line between Carroll and Greene counties, on the Greene county side, like us. Their children, Pat and Wilson, attended Willow #3 one-room school, with me. (See Wilson Obit, yesterday)

Beryl and Verle were obviously twins, Beryl died as an infant, Verle married my aunt, LVene Smith, my Dad’s sister, who lived on a farm within two miles. They would have gone to school together. Verle and LVene made their home just to the north of Claude and Carrie in a farmhouse along the road. They had two sons, David and John. Verle died far too young at 47 - though not uncommon. Not only were they active in The Star Church, LVene was also the teacher at The Star School for a number of years.

Arnold married a girl from out-of-town (another common practice), Julia Hicks.
They lived on a farm less than a mile to the west of Claude and Carrie. They had three daughters: Rebecca, Sharon and Claudia. They were all active in The Star Church as well.

Edith married Floyd Kreger, from Fort Dodge, and moved there after their marriage. Again, a common occurrence with small town and rural folks… marrying someone from away, and moving away.

Even with solid roots in one location, people may choose to stay there or they may choose to move off to another location. Such in life. It makes very fascinating observing, and makes the study of family history and genealogy such an enjoyable activity. Thanks for coming along on this little journey with me.


Families are Forever! ;-)

 

Ancestor Artifact - 29 The Star - Part 4

 

Ancestor Artifact - 29 The Star - Part 4

Arley Brown, Maxine Smith, Helen Thomas

“MOTTO

Climb

COLORS

Blue and White

FLOWER

Bluebell”

The right side of the image says:

“Class Roll

Arley Brown…. “Squeak”

Maxine Smith … “Max”

Helen Thomas … “Tim””

Note that Arley Brown made appearances in several classes over the years. Same person, working on his father’s farm.
Max, of course, is younger sister of Pete, daughter of William Smith.
Helen Thomas, daughter of Charles Thomas, was a 1st cousin of Ruth Thomas (Bolger). They lived a half mile to the east of The Star School, on the south side of the road.

Sixth Grade Class History

Bethene Smith, Lester Brown, Mary Raygor and Helen Thomas started to school in September 1923. Mary Raygor moved away the following spring. Maxine Smith came into our class the next year. Since then, Clarence and Dorthy Fick were members of the class but dropped out. Arlen Brown joined us in the fifth grade.
- Helen Thomas

FIFTH GRADE

“MOTTO

“Be Swift to Hear; Slow to Speak”

COLORS

Pink and White

FLOWER

Apple Blossom”


On the right side of the image:

“Class Roll

Clarence Fick………”Pick”

Dorthy Fick…………”Dort”

Irene Lucht,,,,,,,,,,,,,, “Lunch”

Dorothy Thomas …. “Dotty”

Beth Thomas ……… “Jeff””

Dorothy Thomas was younger sister of Ruth.
Beth Thomas was younger sister of Helen.
They were also 1st cousins, of course.

“Fifth Grade Class History

Our class started in 1924. There were two originals - Dorothy and Beth Thomas. The others who have been in our class and dropped out are - Jeannette Doran, Lester Brown, Bethene Smith, Evelyn Hilgenberg, Esther Fick and Jerald Johnston. Dorthy and Clarence Fick entered our class in 1928. There were five  of us now Clarence Fick, Dorthy Fick, Irene Lucht, Dorothy Thomas and Beth Thomas.
 - Beth Thomas

On the right side, it says: FOURTH GRADE

Continued next time, in Part 5


See you down the road… ;-)

Ancestor Artifact - 29 The Star - Part 2

 

Ancestor Artifact - 29 The Star - Part 2

Part 2 begins with “A History of the School” and two neat photos. The top photo is the school, of course.

Click to see larger version

The bottom photo has all 28 students lined up at the rear of the school (the school faced to the east, toward the road.) (A road also ran along the north side of the school, the Star Church being right across that road from the school.)

I can identify my Dad, Pete Smith, sitting right in the middle of the class. I believe Ruth Thomas is just to the right of him, as we look at the photo. We’ll get a better look at most of the students in later photos.

“A History of Our School

The first schoolhouse which was built in 1882 burned in March 1924. The following summer a new building was erected. It was much more modern, with a basement, furnace and separate cloakrooms.
In 1925 through the cooperation of the patrons and under the supervision of Clara Christy our school became standardized. With our state money we have purchased a great many things for the school, such as - shades, oil stove, pictures, Kindergarten table, chairs, playground slide, as well as numberous (sic) other equipment and supplies.
The schoolroom, size 24 ft. x 24 ft. has a window space of 126 sq. ft. on the south, 88 sq. ft. of blackboard, bulletin board 8 ft. x 4 ft., storage cupboard, library and lunch cupboard.
The basement has a furnace room, kitchenette, manual training shop and play room.
- Ruth Thomas”

The next pages simply say “DIRECTOR William Smith” with his photo.

This photo was taken on the south side of his farmhouse. My grandfather, William Smith.

The left side of the next image features the Editors of The Star, with a photo of them:

“STAR
Edited and published by
the teacher, sixth, seventh and eight grades.
First S.S. Annual”

NOTE: It does say "First Star School Annual" - wonder if there are more out there for 1930 and later?

In the photo, back row, from left: Ruth Thomas, Clara Christy, Pete Smith, Arley Brown;
front row, from left, Maxine Smith, Ethel Johnson, Helen Thomas ( we’ll see them in grade photos)

Below the photo is the list of Editor names:

“Editors
Clara Christy
LeVerne Smith
Ethel Johnston
Ruth Thomas
Arlen Brown
Maxine Smith
Helen Thomas”

The right side of the image says, “EIGHTH GRADE” - but we need to turn the page to see him!

Next time, in Part 3


Families are Forever! ;-)

Ancestor Artifact - 29 The Star - Part 1

 

Ancestor Artifact

29 The Star - Part 1

This is a powerful Ancestor Artifact for me and my family as well as for many others in the Star Community a few miles north of Coon Rapids, Iowa, where I grew up… on several levels.

This 33 interior page booklet was prepared under the director of the teacher, Miss Clara Christy, by the members of the upper grades at the one-room Star School. My Dad, Pete (Leverne) Smith, was the only member of the eighth grade class that year. Ruth Thomas (Bolger), Nancy's Mom, was a year behind him and wrote much of the best material in the booklet. Both of their siblings are featured throughout the booklet along with the many other community student members. Pete’s father, William Smith (whom I was named after), was the Director of the School that year. Among many other things we will discover as we share these pages is that there is an extensive ‘alumni’ section, mentioning the others who had ‘graduated’ from the Star School in years past. And, of course, this is the same school where my wife and her siblings attended in later years as well. There are many contemporary photos…

The first page with writing is: “Our Slogan - We Are the Twinkle of the Star”

The next page has a “Dedication:
In appreciation of faithful and sincere cooperation, we dedicate this “Star” to the patrons of the Star district. The Editors”

These next two pages are devoted to “Clara Christy - Instructor” and a ‘Twenty-third Psalm’ focused on their feelings for her:

“Miss Christy is our teacher, We shall not want another.
She leadeth us through the pages of our books, She bringeth us knowledge, for our diploma’s sake.
Yea, though we walk into our classes We shall fear no E’s for she is with us.
Her questions discomfort us.
She prepareth an examination for us in the presence of our ignorance.
She annoiteth our papers with red marks; Our grades runneth low.
Surely, ignorance and failure shall follow us all the days of our life.
And we shall dwell in this old schoolhouse forever. - Arley Brown"

Arley Brown was the oldest son of Roy and Agnes (Rabuck) Brown. Arley was the grandson of Anna (Wilson) Brown. The Roy Brown farmstead was diagonally across the corner northeast of the Star School.

Closer view:

Clara Christy also had an older sister Josephine who taught in local area schools for many years. They were daughters of John and Maggie Christy of Coon Rapids, Iowa.

Families are Forever! ;-)
 

 

Ancestor Artifacts - Your Local Newspaper Archives - Part 3 of 3

 

Ancestor Artifacts

Your Local Newspaper Archives

Part 3 of 3

This is the story I was working on... the early story of Star Church and Star School. This has a little more detail than earlier sources I have worked with, so I'm anxious to capture it here. 

I hope this is readable with the little chunks at a time. It works for me. 

The church located where it did because the Star School was available when it was. This sort of completes one missing link in the story for me. Much more on the Star School to come, in a bit.

Comments? I love to see all the names mentioned. 

Also on Page 3, I noticed this Hall Reunion notice:

 

I want to check the Thomas Hall family in the census... see what descendants I can identify... I expect to be surprised. Will I find these folks in my search? Would love to hear from anybody mentioned here!!

P.S. Yes, they are there... there were about 13 Hall children who survived to adulthood. They intermarried with the Tuels and Bowmans, among others. I've just gotten started, but one Great-Granddaughter, is Ida Marie Bell Kinnick, my aunt...wife of my mother's brother, Leo Kinnick. Small world. I'm especially anxious to trace Carrie Thomas. I'm sure she is a Bowman line. Will be fun to find her. Yes, she was daughter of George Bowman and Hattie Hall... granddaughter of Thomas Hall.

More to come, for sure! ;-)

Families are Forever! ;-)

Star Community Ladies in 1934

 

Star Community Ladies in 1934 

 

I've mentioned the Star Community a number of times recently, specifically Star School and Star Methodist Church, located a few miles north of Coon Rapids, Iowa, where I grew up. 

It is no secret that women are the heart of any community, rural, suburban, or urban. In the rural Star Community, we were no exception. Some of these ladies were, in fact, central to Star Community for literally decades. While many came and went, some of these ladies were there their entire lives. 

I note three in particular, the Wilson sisters: Hazel (Wilson) Bolger, Rhoda Wilson, and Laura (Wilson) Anderson. Another of the Wilson sisters is also pictured, Lulu (Wilson) Snyder, who lived in the community for many years. The fifth Wilson sister, Anna (Wilson) Brown, also lived in the community her entire adult life. Carrie Thomas was there for many years as were Agnes Grim, Eunice Williams, Etta Johnson and Minnie Rippey. These ladies are only representative of the community, but there were many others, not pictures. Over the years, they had garden clubs, literary society, social societies, etc. regardless of being directly affiliated with the Church or the School. 

I'd live to hear your memories of any of these ladies, pictured or not, in the comments section here or on Facebook when it is posted. Relatives, friends and neighbors are many. Hope to hear from a lot of you!!

Families are Forever! ;-)

 

In particular, I will note the three Wilson sisters: Hazel (Wilson) Bolger, Rhoda Wilson, and Laura (Wilson) Anderson.

My Hometown on Monday - Computer usage in 1962

My Hometown on Monday

Computer usage in 1962

I am always interested in news articles from past years to be reminded of how computers came into our lives, and how they were used in different years. This showed up in my hometown The Coon Rapids (Iowa) Enterprise in the 50 Years Ago column of November 22, 1962 [29 Nov 2012 issue]:

"The Star Charolais Farms of Coon Rapids are keeping records on their Charolais herd the modern way. They recently enrolled their cow herd on IBM machines through Performance Registry International which is headquartered at Denver. PRI is an international association of cattlemen
representing all beef breeds. The Star Charolais Farms will have the weights of their cattle calculated and analyzed through IBM and this information will serve as a management guide to them in their breeding program. They are one of the first farms in this area to use IBM computing machines to improve their beef herd."

What early computer use stories do you like to share?  ;-)


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Treasure Chest Thursday - Paul meets Santa

Treasure Chest Thursday - Paul meets Santa

This scan of an old 35 mm slide contains much more meaning than just my brother, Paul, at 3 1/2 years old meeting Santa, sitting on Dad's knee - as if that were not enough!

The setting is 'new wing' to our rural Star Methodist Church (the school building from across the road was brought over and set on a new foundation beside the church) - the new fellowship hall! What an improvement!

The real bonus is the family sitting behind - my in-laws and brother-in-law 'Judge Joel' - all decked out in white jacket and black bow tie. If you peek right behind my Dad's ear, you can also see my sister-in-law Janice Bolger, along with her parents, Glenn and Ruth [Nancy and I had just gotten married the August before this Christmas gathering]. One of my favorite all-time photos on slide.  ;-)

Families are Forever!  ;-)

Hometown on Monday - Rural School Teachers, 1933

My Hometown on Monday

Rural School Teachers, 1933

From time to time, we get into discussions of which of our family and friends, in the old days, were teachers at which rural school around Coon Rapids (IA) where we grew up. Cleaning out some old Coon Rapids Enterprise copies of the Years Ago page, I came across one from 25 Dec 2008, in the 75 Years Ago column for 22 Dec 1933, the following entry:

To hasten the activities of the holiday season and to close the old year of school, many rural schools are entertaining at socials and presenting programs this afternoon and evening. Union No. 2, under the direction of Mildred Middleton, will be hosts at a social at the school house this evening. A program in which all the students will participate, will be given preceding the social and refreshments.

Pupils of the Star school will present a Christmas program at the school at the same time. They will be  under the direction of L'Vene Smith, teacher of the school.

Elma Johnston, teacher at the Jack Jergens school, will direct a program to be given by the pupils of the school this afternoon.

A Christmas program will be presented at the Oak Hill school tonight under the direction of Inez Grohe, teacher.

*************

Comments and observations:
1) Mildred Middleton was a life-long teacher and school administrator. Union #2 would have been the school two miles west of the Star school, which was Union #1.
2) L'Vene Smith, later L'Vene Thomas,  was my Dad's older sister. She continued to teach, earned her degree, and taught in Coon Rapids schools though out her lifetime, as well.
3) I'm not familiar with either Elma Johnston nor the Jack Jergens school. Comments welcomed.
4) The Oak Hill cemetery was northwest of town… should not have been a school there, so it was somewhere else. Anyone know where? Inez Grohe, later Shirbroun (Speedy, the radio/later tv repairman), was my teacher for a couple of years later, around 1950 or so, at Willow #3, in Greene County, northeast of Coon Rapids.

Mrs. Inez Shirbroun, approx 1950

Families are Forever!  ;-)