Foland, William Henry "Bill" & Rachel (Ramsey) Family

FOLAND, SOWERWINE, RAMSEY

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 7/19/2019 at 10:05:00

William Henry "Bill" & Rachel (Ramsey) Foland Family

William Henry "Bill" was the second child of Michael and Elizabeth (SOWERWINE) FOLAND.

William Henry "Bill" FOLAND was born in 1845, Delaware County, Indiana, the second child of Michael and Elizabeth (SOWERWINE) FOLAND. He married Rachel RAMSEY (1845 - 1933) on September 14, 1868, Richland Township, Decatur County, Iowa.

Rachel RAMSEY, the daughter of Thomas (1799 - 1872) and Anna (HOPKINS) (1807 - ) RAMSEY, was born in Clairborne (now Hancock) County, Tennessee on August 14, 1845.

Bill arrived in Decatur County, Iowa with his family when he was fourteen-years-old. Rachel arrived in Decatur County with her family when she was six-years-old. The RAMSEY family left Tennessee in 1850, taking a flatboat down the Tennessee River to Paducah, Kentucky. There, the flatboat was sold to secure passage on a steamer up the Mississippi to Alexandria, Missouri. They traveled overland with horses sixty miles to Drakesville in Davis County, Iowa, where they stayed the winter. The following spring, the family completed their journey, settling in Richland Township, Decatur County, Iowa.

After their marriage, Bill and Rachel resided for a few months on the farm adjoining Michael and Elizabeth (SOWERWINE) FOLAND’S homestead. Here Bill and Rachel’s first child Anna Elizabeth was born. Bill traded his team, wagon and harness as a down payment on forty acres and worked for Anderson EDWARDS at his brick kiln located northwest of Van Wert for 50-cents a day. Bill and Rachel’s home was a log cabin where the rest of their children were born. Several years later, Bill built a large nice home. This house burned down around the year 1956.

At the time of his death from mastoids on June 22, 1919, Bill had acquired 381 acres of land. After Bill’s death, Rachel purchased a home in Grand River where she resided until her death on June 12, 1933. Bill and Rachel were interred at the Wheelis (Tennessee) Cemetery, Richland Township, Decatur County, Iowa.

William and Rachel were the parents of nine children:

1) Anna Elizabeth FOLAND, born June 22, 1869, Richland Twp. Decatur Co. IA, died Jan 1, 1923, Wamego KS., interment at Covert KS. Married 1907 to James Victor McKEE (1868 - 1938).

Anna and James farmed in Iowa and Missouri before moving to Osborne Co., Kansas around the year 1903. They later moved to Wamego, Kansas, where After Anna's death in 1923, James moved back to Missouri where he remarried and lived the remainder of his life.

Anna and James were the parents of three children:

1) Juanita McKEE, born Oct. 26, 1892, Decatur Co. IA, died March 26, 1907, Wamego KS.

2) Dollie McKEE, born Oct. 13, 1894, Decatur Co. IA., died in Los Angeles CA.
Married July, 1918 to Albert KNITTER (1894 - 1958).

Dollie & Albert moved to California in 1942. Albert worked for Southern Pacific Railroad and later did construction work. After Albert’s death, Dollie resided in Los Angeles, California. Dollie and Albert were the parents of two children:

1) Winifred KNITTER, born 1919, KS. Married 1st Jan. 1937, KS, to Leroy PEETS, parents of one child:
1) Larry PEETS married Imogene LANEY.

Winifred married 2nd Jan., 1941 to Clyde HALEY. Clyde was born on December 15, 1916, and died October 7, 1961.
He was interred at Woodville Cemetery, Woodville CA. Winifred and Clyde were the parents of two children:

1) Pamela Ann HALEY
2) Michael HALEY married Yvonne J. ROMERO, parents of James Timothy.

2) Galen KNITTER married Josephine THOMPSON. Parents of Mark KNITTER, born April 9, 1955.

3) Hazel McKEE, born May 10, 1898, Decatur Co. IA, died Nov. 1985, Orange CA.
Married 1st 1917, KS, to Frank KNITTER, died Aug. 1918, KS. Parents of one child:
1) Carroll Eugene KNITTER NEWLAND, born April 25, 1918, KS. Carroll was adopted by his step-father.
Married Frony BOWMAN, parents of two children:
1) Danny Eugene NEWLAND married Karen ARMSTRONG, parents of Jody Daniel.
2) Judith Elaine NEWLAND married Jerry DAWSON, parents of Ronald Wayne.

Hazel married 2nd Jan. 3, 1920 to Homer Lee NEWLAND (1898 - 1972), World War I Veteran. Parents of two children:
1) Rex Dwayne NEWLAND, World War II Veteran. Married Marie BRYANT, parents of Patricia Ann and Donna Lee.
2) Melborne Lee NEWLAND, Korean War Veteran. Married Peggy HALL.
Parents of three children, Michael, Sandra Kay and Steven Wayne.

2) Ellsworth FOLAND, born July 17, 1872, Richland Twp., Decatur Co. IA
died aged 1 year, Sept. 5, 1872, interred Wheelis Cemetery, Richland Twp., Decatur Co. IA.

3) Elsie FOLAND, born June 23, 1873, Richland Twp., Decatur Co., IA
died Feb. 7, 1961, Alton KS after breaking her hip.
Married March 3, 1901 Frederick Allen "Fred" BOYD (1878 - 1953).

Elsie attended the Brick School and Fred attended the Foland School in the “Tennessee” community of Richland Township, Decatur County, Iowa. Elsie went to Kansas to teach school. There she married Fred BOYD who had moved to the IXL community near Natoma, Osborne County, Kansas. Elsie and Fred established their farmstead near Natoma where they raised their children. In 1938, they returned to Richland Township, Decatur County, Iowa, residing there until moving to Alton, Kansas in 1943. Fred was interred at IXL Cemetery, Osborne County, Kansas, where his parents were buried.

Elsie and Fred were the parents of six children:

1) Henry "William" BOYD, born May 27, 1903, Osborne Co. KS
died Nov. 11, 1917. Interment IXL Cemetery, Osborne Co. KS

2) Ruby V. BOYD, born March 28, 1905, Osborne Co. KS
died Sept. 21, 1988, Natoma KS.
Married Feb. 3, 1927 to Frank P. MRAVINEC (1897 - 1967)
Parents of two children:
1) Mamie R. MRAVINEC, born June 3, 1929, Osborne Co. KS
died Oct. 23, 2001, Forest Heights CA.
Married 1959 to Joe HUXMAN, World War II Veteran.
2) Larry E. MRAVINEC married Patsy Jean WARE
Larry and Patsy were parents of three children:
1) Larry J. MRAVINEC, born May 31, 1957, KS
died Jan. 27, 1962, aged 4.
2) Brett Ware MRAVINEC, born Feb. 13, 1959, KS
died Jan. 26, 1962, aged 3.
Larry and Brett died after ingesting aspirin.
The boys were interred at Russell, Russell Co. KS.
3) Bart Robert MRAVENIC married 1981 to Denise LIBEL.

3) Russell C. BOYD, born Sept. 20, 1906, Osborne Co. KS, died Sept. 14, 1992, Russell KS.
Married June 23, 1926 Grace FINCH (1909 - 1961). Interments at Natoma, Osborne Co. KS. Parents of three children:
1) Freddie BOYD married Janice Joan ARNOLD, parents of five children:
1) Arnold BOYD, U.S. Air Force Veteran, married Mary Christine WERTZ
Arnold and Mary were parents of Angel Christine, Rebekah Joan, Adam Lawrence.
2) Sandra BOYD married 1st Richard John BANCROFT, parents of Aaron John and Katherine Sullivan
Married 2nd Anotonio DeCARLO, no children.
3) Deborah Michele BOYD married 1st Rex Alan JOHNSTON, parents of Anthony Alan and Miranda Michele
Married 2nd Jack Garwood SILVER, parents of Jackie Carmen.
4) Stacy Leon BOYD
5) Troy Lynn BOYD

2) Rex Leory BOYD, U.S. Army Veteran. Married Phyllis June THOMPSON, parents of two children:
1) Lance Alan BOYD married Cherry DRAVO, parents of Alex John
2) Wesley Scott BOYD married Brenda BITTER.

3) Lola M. BOYD married Blaine Ellsworth WINDER, parents of four children:
1) Teresa WINDER married Rodney MEYERS, parents of Rebecca Mae, Heather Marie and Blaine Joseph.
2) Stephanie Laine WINDER married Dale STRUTT, parents of Sarah Grace.
3) Wade Ellsworth WINDER
4) Stephen Duane WINDER

4) LaVena R. "Vena" BOYD, born March 29, 1907, KS, died Sept. 2, 1992, McPherson KS.
Married Sept. 1928 Lawrence SHAFER (1907 - 1992). Parents of two children:
1) Barbara A. SHAFER married Jim SPIZY.
2) Kent L. SHAFER

5) Emmett C. BOYD, born Jan. 15/17, 1914, Osborne Co. KS, died May 12, 2006, Sun City West AZ.
Married Aug. 1937, Stockton KS to Ernestine MELLOR.

Emmett and his family moved to Los Angeles, California in April of 1939, where he retired after 29 years of service as an employee of North American Aviation. Emmett and Ernestine were the parents of two daughters:
1) Sharon L. BOYD married Bob TADLOCK, parents of Jennifer, Cathy and Patricia.
2) Christina K. BOYD married Steven GLAESER, parents of Erica Lee, Justin Curtis and Jessica Marie.

6) Katherine BOYD, died in infancy ca. 1915. Interment IXL Cemetery, Osborne Co. KS.

4) Emmett FOLAND, born Feb. 10, 1875, Richland Twp., Decatur Co. IA
died Apr 4, 1961 at his home, Richland Twp., Decatur Co. IA
Married Jan. 28, 1903 to Anna Elizabeth BRADSHAW (1878 - 1940).

Emmett attended the Brick School with the exception of one winter when he stayed with his grandparents, Michael & Elizabeth (SOWERWINE) FOLAND, Jr., and attended the Foland School. Anna attended both the Brick and the Foland Schools.

Bill FOLAND built a house on 80 acres of his land which Emmett and Anna moved into and where they raised their family. Later Emmett bought 40 adjoining acres to the west where he moved the farmhouse in 1920. (NOTE: The house was still standing but abandoned in the 1980’s. It is now gone. – SRB) Anna fought a long battle with cancer which she lost on August 24, 1940. She is remembered for her kind disposition. Emmett remained on the farm with the couple’s son, Raymond. He raised broom corn and made brooms. He died at home in 1961 and was interred beside Anna at Wheelis Cemetery, Richland Township, Decatur County, Iowa.

Emmett and Ann were the parents of four children:

1) Lillian "Opal" FOLAND, born Feb. 24, 1904, Richland Twp., Decatur Co. IA
died Dec. 17, 1986, Grand River IA
Married Feb. 24, 1928, Maryville MO, Mason Milford SNETHEN.

Opal attended the Foland School and later summer schools at Cedar Falls, Osceola, Leon, and Indianola, obtaining her teaching certificate. She taught for five years prior to her marriage to Mason in 1928. They farmed near Grand River until a serious illness forced Mason to retire from farming. Opal and Mason moved to Grand River where they purchased and operated the elevator until the railroad was disbanded in 1945. Opal resumed her teaching career for nine years before retiring. Mason worked as a wood and hog buyer and later was an area manager for seed corn and was a feed and fencing material dealer. Mason was a long-time bus driver for Grand Valley Community Schools.

Opal died at their home on December 17, 1986 from cancer. Mason died at the Decatur County Hospital in Leon, Iowa on July 19, 1989. They were interred at Grand River Cemetery, Iowa.

Opal and Mason were the parents of one daughter:

1) Donna Virgene SNETHEN, born Oct. 11, 1929, Decatur Co. IA, died April 22, 2009, Decatur County Hospital, Leon IA.
Married Dec. 21, 1951, CA. to Joe Wilton VANN, Jr.

Donna attended American Institute of Business School (AIB) in Des Moines after graduating from Grand River High School. She worked for the State of Iowa for three years prior to entering the service with the WAVES. Upon completion of her training at the Great Lakes, Donna was attending teletype school in San Diego, California, where she met and later married Joe in the Navel Chapel in 1951. Joe was serving with the United States Navy, from April of 1948 until January of 1957. Upon completion of his service, Joe remained in the Naval Reserve. Having been trained as a customer engineer for the IBM (International Business Machine Company) in New York, Joe was employed by IBM, Dallas, Texas. The VANN family resided in Mesquite, Texas. Donna and Joe divorced June 16th of 1976. Donna later returned to reside in Grand River, Decatur County, Iowa.

Donna tirelessly devoted a lot of time working at the Grand River Schoolhouse Museum where she amassed a large collection of historical photographs, obituary clippings and genealogical materials. Her legacy lives on as a valuable resource for those seeking genealogical information and in the preservation of Grand River's history.

Donna and Joe were the parents of three children:
1) Joe Wilton VANN III, Veteran U.S. Army
2) Cheryl Lee VANN married ack Van LAAR, parents of Victor Stephen and Austin Lee
Jack is a descendant of the John Valentine FOLAND family
3) Christopher Leon VANN (pictured at right), born July 23, 1957, Leon IA,
died Dec. 21, 1975, Linden TX from injuries received in a pick-up truck accident

2) Pearl "Gladys" FOLAND, born Oct. 13, 1906, Grand River IA, died July 17, 1982, Marshalltown
Married Feb. 23, 1926, Decatur Co. IA to Peter Lee "Pete" McDOWELL (1904 - 1967).
Gladys and Pete were interred at Grand River Cemetery, Decatur Co. IA.

Gladys and Pete were the parents of two children:
1) Norman McDOWELL, born April 16, 1927, Decatur Co. IA, died Feb. 1984, Marshalltown IA, interred Marshalltown IA.
World War II Veteran. Married 1st Oct. 25, 1945 Helen Marie WETHERBY (1926 - 1969). Parents of one daughter:
1) Tamara Ann McDOWELL married Robert NICHOLS, parents of Robert Jeffery and Nicole Marie.
Norman married 2nd Dec. 27, 1969 to Margaret COCH, no children.

2) Nadena Joyce McDOWELL married William T. ZUERCHER, US Army Veteran

Nadena was employed by Fisher Governor Manufacturing prior to going to Phoenix, Arizona in 1957. William graduated from Marshalltown High School in 1951 and attended Iowa State University at Ames prior to entering the Army in 1956. He served with the Medic Corps in Japan during 1956 and 1957. Upon leaving the service, William resumed his studies at ISU, receiving his degree in mechanical engineering August of 1959. While William attended college, Nadena was employed by the Highway Commission. In 1959, William was employed by the Cooper Manufacturing Company and the family resided in Marshalltown, Iowa. Nadena and William were the parents of two sons:
1) William Dirk ZUERCHER
2) Dane Michael ZUERCHER

3) Ruby "Hazel" FOLAND, born March 17, 1910, Grand River IA, died Aug. 28, 1993.
Married Dec. 25, 1929 Lyle HEMBRY (1905 - 1975). Interments at Maple Hill Cemetery, Osceola IA.

Hazel and Lyle farmed near Grand River and later near Chariton before moving on to the Dr. HARKEN farm located NW of Osceola, Clarke County, Iowa.

Hazel and Lyle were the parents of four children:
1) Joyce Louise HEMBRY
Married 1st Daniel "Bud" MARTLEY (1934 - 1965), interred Humeston IA. Parents of two children:
1) Daniel Lee MARTLEY married Louisa RUSHING, parents of Jessica Ann, Katie Jean and Nikki.
2) Debra Lynn MARTLEY married Kirk DUBBERKE, parents of Dustin.
Joyce married 2nd Feb. 20, 1971 Robert "Bob" MASON, no children.
2) Linda Lee HEMBRY, born June 7, 1942, Decatur Co. IA, died of cancer Feb. 15, 1955, Osceola IA.
Interred Maple Hill Cemetery, Osceola IA.
3) Betty Ann HEMBRY married Robert PALMER, parents of three children:
1) Tracy Day PALMER married Doug GOFORTH, parents of Jared
2) Robert Wayne PALMER
3) Kevin Lyle PALMER
4) Frederick Lyle HEMBRY married Cheryl Rae PETERSON, parents of Carly Shauna, Che Martin and Ian Frederick.

4) Raymond LeRoy FOLAND, born June 3, 1913, Grand River IA, died Oct. 2, 1971, Iowa Methodist Hospital, Des Moines IA.
Interred Decatur Cemetery, Decatur IA. Married June 22, 1969, Decatur Co. IA Marilyn Mae WILSON (1935 - 1982).

5) Michael FOLAND III, born April 8, 1878, Richland Twp., Decatur Co. IA
died March 21, 1961, Denver CO
Married 1911, Indianola IA, Anna "Huldah" SMITH (1885 - 1968).

Michael FOLAND attended the Brick School in the “Tennessee” community of Richland Township, Decatur County, Iowa. Hulda taught school in Warren, Clarke, and Lucas Counties in Iowa. After their marriage, the couple farmed in Decatur County, Iowa, for several years before moving to Denver, Colorado, where they resided until their deaths. Michael and Hulda were interred at Liberty Center Cemetery, Warren County, Iowa.

Michael and Hulda were the parents of three children:

1) Basil Lamar FOLAND, born Oct. 6, 1911, Grand River IA
died June 19, 1977, World War II Veteran.
Married ca. 1946 Serena Elizabeth "Betty" MICHAELSON (1909 - 2000)
Basil and Serena were interred at Glendale Cemetery, Des Moines IA

After his graduation from Grand River High School in 1928, Basil worked at a garage in Leon before moving to Des Moines in 1938 where he took over a garage on a share basis. By 1940, Basil moved to Burlington, Iowa, servicing a fleet of bakery trucks. With the outbreak of World War II, Basil worked at the United States Arsenal, Bettendorf, Iowa, until his induction into the Army in 1942. Basil was discharged from the military in 1943 due to a stomach ailment and assigned as a welder in an airplane plant, working there until the war ended. Basil was transferred by the government to a position of handling mail for the Rock Island Railroad. Basil and Betty resided in Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa.

2) Hartzel Duane FOLAND, born March 18, 1916, Grand River IA
died Oct. 29, 1994. World War II Veteran.
Married Sept. 2, 1937 Sarah "Geraldine" BAKER
Geraldine was born Oct. 23, 1917, and died Jan. 29, 2003.

Hartzel served from May of 1944 until January 1946 in Germany & Belgium during World War II. After the War Hartzel owned a restaurant until October of 1959 when he went to work at the John Deere Plant in Des Moines. Hartzel and Geraldine were interred at Glendale Cemetery, Des Moines IA
Hartzel and Geraldine were the parents of two daughters:
1) Carol Jean FOLAND
2) Sandra Lou FOLAND married John DAVIS, parents of Sarah Shannon.

3) Harold Dewitt/Dwight FOLAND, born Oct. 4, 1918, Grand River IA, died June 8, 2005, Kansas City Mo.
Married 1939 Melba PERRY.

Harold graduated in 1937 from Leon, Iowa, High School where he was the captain of the football team. Harold worked as a night guard at the Ordinance Plant in Ankeny, Iowa before moving to Denver, Colorado, where he served as courtesy patrol for two years. The family moved to Kansas City, where Harold worked as a district manager for Ford Grain Door Company. By 1959, the family moved to Sedgwick County, Kansas where Melba worked as a bookkeeper.
Harold and Melba were the parents of six children:
1) Myra Mavis FOLAND married James Edgar HEAGY, parents of six children:
1) Christina Lynne HEAGY
2) James Stephen HEAGY
3) Tamara Anne HEAGY
4) Dorothea Elizabeth HEAGY
5) Christopher Herald HEAGY
6) Matthew Michael HEAGY
2) Michael Dwight FOLAND
3) Betsy Michelle (FOLAND) PARRISH, mother of Jason Lee
4) Melissa Anne FOLAND

6) Alzie FOLAND, born Feb. 3, 1880, Richland Twp., Decatur Co. IA
died Feb. 4, 1881, Richland Twp., Decatur Co. IA, interred Wheelis Cemetery.

7) Luster "Lus" FOLAND, born June 8, 1882, Richland Twp., Decatur Co. IA
died June 3, 1973, Osceola IA
Married Oct. 13, 1909 to Nettie Margaret BURCHETT (1889 - 1971).

Lus attended the Brick School in the “Tennessee” community of Richland Township, Decatur County, Iowa. Upon his marriage to Maggie, the couple farmed near Van Wert and later near Grand River before moving to a farm six miles southwest of Osceola, Clarke County, Iowa in 1932. Upon their retirement from the farm in December of 1957, Lus and Maggie moved to Osceola.

Lus died June 3, 1973 from complications after breaking his hip. Maggie died August 5, 1971 from cancer. They were interred at Maple Hill Cemetery, Osceola, Clarke County, Iowa.

Luster “Lus” and Nettie “Maggie” FOLAND were the parents of eleven children:

1) Arben Cecil FOLAND, born July 26, 1910 near Van Wert IA
died Sep. 8, 1991, Des Moines IA.
Married June 26, 1940 to Dorthea Willene NEFF.

Arben and Dorthea were the parents of two children:
1) Ardith "Lendell" FOLAND
Married 1st Marvel HOUGARD,
parents of Michael Lendell and Michele Rae.
Married 2nd Sheena (SMITH) NORMAN, no children.
2) Dwayne Cecil FOLAND married Cathi I. HILTERBRAND,
parents of two children:
1) Nicolle Rhenae FOLAND married Rod BROWN, parents of Davis.
Nicholle FOLAND, opera soprano
2) Raquel Annette FOLAND married Aaron LOREE

2) Phyllis "Ivene" FOLAND, born July 17, 1912, near Grand River IA, died Dec. 18, 2006, Afton IA.
Married Jan 5, 1951, Indianola IA, to Frank Merrill JOHNSON (1907 - 1992), no children.

3) Ica Elizabeth FOLAND, born Jan. 28, 1914, near Grand River IA.
Married Dec. 30, 1939 to George Asher INGRAHAM (1914 - 1996), no children.

Ica and George resided in Iowa and Chicago, Illinois, prior to moving to California in 1941, settling near Sacramento where he was a production engineer for Aerojet General Corporation and she was a secretary.

4) Ruth Naomi FOLAND, born Sept. 22, 1915, near Grand River IA, died June 2006, Elgin IL.
Married Sept. 14, 1940 to Elmer Howard "Bill" TUCKER (1915 - 1976). Parents of two children:
1) Patsy Kay TUCKER married Michael Patrick McWHIRTER, parents of Cindy Ann, Cheryl Lynn and Jeffery Michael
2) Terry Lee TUCKER married Susan May CAPRANICA, parents of Michael Andrew, Kari Leigh and Kelly Suzanne.

5) Ava Mae FOLAND, born May 13, 1917, near Grand River IA, died May 27, 2007, Osceola IA.
Married Dec. 23, 1942, Bethany MO to Pearl "Ralph" BOWLSBY (1914 - 1987)

Ralph served as a TEC 5 with the U.S. Army during World War II. He served 28 months in the E.T.O. in northern France. After the War, Pearl ran a repair shop in Osceola. Ava was employed first as a visual inspector for U. S. Rubber Company in Ankeny, Iowa, then at Snowden’s in Osceola, Iowa. Ava and Ralph were interred at Maple Hill Cemetery, Osceola IA.

Ava and Ralph were the parents of one son:
1) Keith Edward BOWLSBY married Dorothy GARNER

6) Calvin C. FOLAND, Oct. 24, 1919, near Grand River IA, died October 25, 1919, interred Wheelis Cemetery.

7) Infant FOLAND, born March, 1922, died March, 1922, interred Wheelis Cemetery

8) Infant FOLAND, born March 1923, died March 1923, interred Wheelis Cemetery

9) Infant FOLAND, born May 1924, died May 1924, interred Wheelis Cemetery

10) Infant FOLAND

11) Infant FOLAND

8) Armina "Minnie" FOLAND
born Jan. 8, 1884, Richland Twp., Decatur Co. IA
died Sept. 2, 1978, Osceola IA
Married Feb. 24, 1907 James Alvice "Jim" COLE (1886 - 1969)
son of "Doc" COLE (1856-1937) and
Candace Rebecca (ADAMS) COLE (1859-1932)

Both Minnie and James attended the Brick School in the “Tennessee” community of Richland Township, Decatur County, Iowa. Minnie attended the Van Wert School during her last term. James attended his last term at the Westerville School. After their marriage, the couple resided for seven years on the farm where James had been born. They bought a farm one and a half miles west of Van Wert where they farmed until 1926. They lived near Grand River before moving to a farm located six miles east of Osceola, Iowa, in 1929 where they resided until retiring in 1949. The couple moved into Osceola and their son Donald moved to their farm. Minnie’s hobby was quilting.
James was born on January 23, 1886, and died July 5, 1969.
Minnie and James were interred Maple Hill Cemetery, Osceola, Iowa.

Minnie and Jim were the parents of seven children:

1) Mendall Clifton "Ty" COLE, born Nov. 23, 1907, Grand River IA
died July 1, 2002, Iowa Lutheran Medical Center, Des Moines IA
World War II Veteran, US Army
Married June 30 1935 Crystal Shafer GLENDENNING (1914 - 1997)

2) Elmer Elsworth "Ben" COLE, Oct. 5, 1909, Grand River, IA
died Sept. 14, 1981, IA
Married July 27, 1935 Zerilla FREEMAN (1911 - 1997), no children.

Due to her mother’s health, Zerilla’s family moved to Fort Cobb, OK. Zerilla returned to Clarke County, IA. Ben & Zerilla operated a restaurant in Osceola before moving to Shelbyille, IN. They returned to Clarke County and farmed before trading the farm for the Oldsmobile Garage in Osceola. Ben was the salesman and Zerilla was the bookkeeper. In 1960, Ben closed the car dealership and converted the front half into a coin-operated Laundromat. The COLE Laundromat was later owned by Don COLE and later still by his son Dennis COLE. When the laundromat closed, Dennis converted the front part of the building into an amusement business "The Next Generation" and the back half into apartments.
Ben and Zerilla were interred at Maple Hill Cemetery, Osceola IA

3) Sylvian COLE, born May 1, 1912, Grand River IA, died 1999, Kavanagh House, Des Moines IA.

Sylvian enlisted in the U. S. Navy in 1934, serving aboard the USS Houston, USS Salt Lake City, and the USS Oglala in all western ports (Alaska, Victoria, Hawaii) and eastern port of Cuba, and Panama. He was discharged from service in 1938 and was employed by the Great Lakes Pipe Line at Ridgeway, Missouri until 1942 when Sylvian became an engineer for the Plantation Pipe Line, and later at Mississippi. The family came back to Iowa in 1946 to farm south of Weldon in Decatur County, Iowa.

Sylvian married 1st Aug. 22, 1939 Florence Marie CROSBY (1911 - 1983), parents of two children:
1) Ronald William COLE Ronald suffered from cerebral palsy since birth. He farmed with his father.
2) Judith Ann COLE married Raymond G. WOLVER, parents of Barbara Jean and Robert Eugene.
Sylvian married 2nd Oct. 22, 1984 Lucie BROWN (1912 - 2011)

4) Ardetta Maurine COLE, born April 23, 1916, Van Wert IA, died June 29, 1969, IA.
Married Nov. 7, 1937 Carl Richard GEORGE (1916 - 1989). Ardetta and Carl were interred at Maple Hill Cemetery, Osceola.
Adretta and Carl were the parents of three children:
1) Suzanne Marie GEORGE married Robert E. LEGGE, parents of Scott Andrew and Jill Marie.
2) Betty Jo GEORGE married 1963 Fred William HEMBRY, parents of Debra Jo, Duane William, Dale Lee, Dena Maurine.

Duane was born July 8, 1969, Des Moines IA, and died Nov. 16 1972, Clarke Co. IA, from injuries received in a tractor accident. Interred Maple Hill Cemetery, Osceola IA.

3) Leland "Richard" GEORGE married Margaret Ellen WHITE, parents of Sheri Lynn, Vicki Marie and Rebecca Ann.

5) Kenneth COLE, born April 26, 1918, Van Wert IA, died Dec. 31, 1939, St. Francis Hospital, Waterloo IA.

Kenneth farmed with his father until the fall of 1939 when he moved to Waterloo, Black Hawk County, Iowa, where he lived with his sister Ardetta and worked at the Rath Packing Plant. Kenneth died as a result of a skull fracture he received in an automobile accident. He was interred at Maple Hill Cemetery, Osceola, Clarke County, Iowa. Kenneth was 21-years-old.

6) Donald Eugene "Don" COLE, born Dec. 29, 1922, Van Wert IA, died Sept. 27, 2007, Iowa Methodist Medical Center,
Des Moines IA. Married Sept 11, 1943 Virginia Rose McCLONEY.

Donald and Virginia retired from the farm in 1973 & opened 2 coin-operated laundromats in Osceola, Clarke County, Iowa. They were interred at Maple Hill Cemetery, Osceola IA.

Don and Virginia were the parents of three children:
1) Dennis Steven COLE married Verla Kae GEORGE, parents of Douglas Steven, Deanna Kae, Cody Lynn and Holli Rayann.

Doulgas Steven COLE was born Aug. 14, 1965, Clarke Co. IA, and died March 21, 1972, Clarke Co. IA after he was struck by a car. Interment at Maple Hill Cemetery, Osceola IA.

2) Donna Leann COLE married Gale D. KINDRED (1948 - 2002), parents of Gregory Alan, Lorelei Lynne and Jennifer LeAnn.
3) Daniel Ray COLE married Debra Kay PATRICK, parents of Shelley Ann and Jamie Douglas.

7) Burdena COLE married 1st April 3, 1943 TSgt. Max P. BRIM.

T-Sgt. BRIM served with the 349th Bomber Squadron, 100th Bomber Group, Heavy of the U.S. Army Air Force. He came home to Osceola, Clarke County, Iowa, and married Burdena COLE. When his leave was up, T-Sgt. BRIM left for England and was the first to fly in combat. His plane never came back to base [June 25, 1943]. He was was awarded the Purple Heart and Air Medal and was memorialized at Cambridge American Cemetery, Cambridge, England.

Burdena married 2nd Lowell E. MUNGER.

Lowell served with the U. S. Army during World War II from April of 1944 to May of 1946 in Europe. After obtaining his B.S. degree and working for Texas Oil Company in Sioux City, Lowell purchased the Conoco Bulk Oil Agency in Marshalltown, Iowa, where the family moved in 1958. Burdena and Lowell were the parents of two sons, Timothy Alan and Thomas Lowell.

9) Oda Grover "Odie" FOLAND, born Sept. 13, 1886, Richland Twp., Decatur Co. IA
died April 21, 1896, Richland Twp., Decatur Co. IA, interred Wheelis Cemetery.

Genealogical Sources:
Reflections of Grand River 1881 - 1981, Leon Journal-Reporter articles and obituaries; Down 100 Years; family documents & records; photograph albums, scrapbooks and genealogical clippings of Pearle V. (BRAMON) FOLAND and Norma G. (FOLAND) BECKER

FOLAND, Wilma G. (RAMSEY). The Foland Family Record 1960; The Foland Family Record, Supplement One July 1960 to July 1965; The Foland Family Record, Supplement Two 1965 to 1971; The Foland Family Record, Supplement Three 1971 to 1982

Written, compiled and submitted by Sharon R. Becker, September & October of 2013