A Brief Family History, by Cleo (ADAMS) FOUSER

ADAMS, FOUSER, MCMULLEN, MCCLAIN, ROBERTS, BLACKMORE, LAY, MCBEE, PEDERSEN, PADGITT, FEEBACK

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 4/9/2010 at 09:46:37

TALES from the FRONT PORCH

Ringgold County's Oral Legend & Memories Project

A BRIEF FAMILY HISTORY

by Cleo (ADAMS) FOUSER
written sometime prior to the death of her husband
Thomas Allison FOUSER in 1966

My great grandfather, Archibald McMullen, and my great grandmother, Susan McClain, were both born in Coshocton county, Ohio, and came to Iowa sometime in the early 1880's in a covered wagon drawn by oxen. They settled some place north of where Kellerton (Iowa) is now located, and they had to go to Ottumwa for most of their supplies. It took several days to make the trip. They also took their grain to the Ottumwa mills to be ground. They had a family of nine children.

My Grandfather (Abraham) Roberts' parents died when he was a small boy, and he lived with a half sister until the age of nine years. At that age, he went to work for a neighbor and made his own way. He never had the opportunity to attend school after that.

He came to Iowa (Ringgold co.) in the 1850's, and Sam Blackmore and he lived a few years on what was later known as the William Reasoner farm now owned by Wilbur Lay. Later, he bought sixty acres, on which Asa Roberts now lives, where he built a one room house. He was married to Louisa Jane McMullen in 1871, and they lived in the one room house for a short time. Then they built the two room, two story house where six of their children were born. They were; Effie (Roberts) McBee (now living in Kellerton); Arthur (Roberts); Luther (deceased); Asa Roberts; and Bertha (Roberts) Adams, who is my mother. Then in 1887, my grandparents built a six room, two story house where Elizabeth (Roberts) Pedersen (now living in Osceola) was born. My grandfather was known as "Honest Abe" among his friends and neighbors.

My mother and the rest of the children of the family attended country school at what was known as Sunnyside. Later, my mother attended high school in Kellerton for one year.

My mother, Bertha Roberts, was married to Chester S. Adams in 1904, and lived on a farm near Mt. Ayr, where Raymond, the oldest child, was born in 1905. I came along when they lived just south of the Oak Grove Schoolhouse. When I was small, they lived for two years on the farm now owned by the Claiborn Padgitts. Then they moved to the Roberts' place where Asa now lives. Here, my brothers, Vernon and Clarence were born. We, like our mother, attended the Sunny Side school.

In 1926, my parents and family moved to Kearny county, Kansas, where my father passed away in 1937. My mother still lives in the county seat town of Lakin, Kansas, where she has been Clerk of the District court for six terms, and has now started on her seventh term. Brother Raymond lives on a farm near Lakin, and they have two children. My brother, Clarence, works for a gas company located just outside of Lakin, and he has two children. The drought and dust storms got the best of brother Vernon. He, his wife and two children moved to Torrance, California.

When the folks moved to Kansas, I remained in Iowa and made my home with Uncle Asa Roberts. I finished my high school education and graduated from Ellston High with the Class of 1927.

In 1927, I was married to Thomas A. Fouser, and we lived on various farms around Ellston all our married life, except for the five years spent near Lakin, Kansas. In 1929, our son, John Paul, was born at the Roberts' home. He passed away in June, 1931, having been with us only a little over two years. In 1934, our daughter, Bertha Jane was born on what was known as the Wilhelm farm now owned by the Clyde Feebacks. She acquired her entire education in the Ellston School, graduating with the class of 1953. She was married in June, 1953, to Donald Allen, and they live on the place known as the Sol Bear Farm south of Ellston.

-Cleo Fouser, RFD
Note: This must have been written prior to my birth.- -- William Brent Adams, son of Clarence Albert and Doris I. Adams

NOTE: Thomas and Cleo (Adams) Fouser, along with their son, John Paul, and daughter, Bertha Jane are all buried in Ellston cemetery, about 1 mile south and west of Ellston, Iowa. They are located along the center road that runs north to south, about 200 ft. south of the north entrance.

Submission and note by Bill Adams, January of 2010