Aldrich, Edwin W. (1852-1915)

ALDRICH

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 12/16/2017 at 23:52:25

Edwin Wright Aldrich
(April 5, 1852 - December 6, 1915)

In March 1899, Edwin W. Aldrich [1852-1915] and his wife Nancy Victoria [Myer] [1856-1932] gathered their household goods, farm equipment, and livestock, which they herded on the road, moved to Griswold community. The family of 11 children ranging in age from 20 to a small baby lived there for a few years then moved to a farm in Center Township, where the family grew up.
The oldest daughter married a Griswold man, The sons began to scatter as they grew up, several going to the west coast. Son, Gus, went to South Dakota, where he settled at Pierre; Roy settled in Broken Bow, Nebraska. both married local girls and lived out their lives in those communities.
When World War I broke out, four of the sons enlisted in the service. Ralph was a Marine, receiving a wound in Germany. Gus, Walter and Carl joined the Navy.
Hugh, Walter and Carl lived out their lives in the Oakland Community. Walter died in 1930. High [1883-1973] married Elisabeth [Lizzie] Inman [1883-1934] in 1905. Their family consisted of: Mrs. Frank [Edna] Peck, Mrs. Robert [Lila] Green and Mrs. Everett [Evelyn] McMaster. Lila and Evelyn reside in California, Edna in Avoca, Iowa. Carl [1899-1970] married Artie Neighbors. They have two daughters: Marjorie, New Jersey and Cathy, Sioux City, Iowa.
Hugh served as a rural mail carrier for 25 years beginning in 1920. He served Route 4, southeast of Oakland. When the dirt roads were impassable, he drove the 35 miles with a team and buggy. When some farms were isolated by drifted snow, he often borrowed a riding horse from the farm which he was able to reach, then rode to the patrons who were snowed in. He kept a sleigh in the earlier years which he often put to use. He retired at age 65, lived to be 90, the last of his family of 11.
Sources:
Transcribed by Gail Meyer Kilgore from Pottawattamie County, Iowa "Makers of Fire" by Pottawattamie County History Book Committee, 1978
Gravestone photo for E. W. Aldrich in Rose Hill Cemetery, Shenandoah, Page County, Iowa listed in Find A Grave