Leonard Orlando & Jennie (SMITH) IMUS Anniversaries

SMITH, IMUS, MIDDLETON, CUNNINGHAM, HOUSE, DULING, REED, STEPHENS

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 5/22/2010 at 21:12:58

Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, April 7, 1927

MR. & MRS. L. O. IMUS OBSERVE 55th ANNIVERSARY

Among the pioneer settlers of Ringgold county there are none who are held in higher esteem tand none who have contributed more to the up-building of the county than have Mr. and Mrs. L. O. IMUS, of Liberty township, who on Sunday, April 3, quietly observed the fifty-fifth anniversary of their marriage in their beautiful country home on Primary No. 16, six miles north of Mount Ayr.

The occasion was observed in a manner befitting the Sabbath day, without demonstration, but friends were mindful of the occasion and grateful for the influence of the home, which for more than a half century has blessed the community.

L. O. IMUS was born October 3, 1847, in Ingham County, Michigan. Soon after his birth, the family moved to Stark County, Illinois, and in the spring of 1854, started for Ringgold County, where the father had previously entered land. While on the way the father was drowned in Marion County, Iowa, while trying to ford a river. The family continued the journey and settled on the land previously entered in what is now Washington township.

Mrs. IMUS, whose maiden name was Sarah Jane SMITH, was born March 4, 1848, near Kokoma, Indiana. Her family came to this county in 1855. Seven years later, on April 3, 1872, Mr. and Mrs IMUS were married at the home of J. T. WILLIAMS in Mount Ayr, the ceremony being performed by Rev. W. T. SMITH, pastor of the Methodist church.

Mr. IMUS commenced the building of a house on his land six miles north of Mount Ayr. He hauled most of the material from the saw mill on Grand RIver, Decatur County. Shingles and finish lumber were hauled from Afton. Two Mount Ayr carpenters were employed on the building and when the house was enclosed, Mr. and Mrs. IMUS moved in and commenced housekeeping. Mr. IMUS fenced fourty acres of land with post and rail fence; broke the land and planted it to sod corn. He raised a good crop of corn and a good garden the first year. Here Mr. and Mrs. IMUS have sinced lived.

Seven children have blessed the home. One son, Smith, died in childhood. The living children are Mrs. Elsie MIDDLETON of Los Angeles, California; Day IMUS of Ritzville, Washington; Mrs. Agnes CUNNINGHAM of Bedford, Iowa; Qyay IMUS of Los Angeles, California; mrs. Eighme DULING and Mrs. Tama HOUSE of LeRoy, Iowa.

As the settlement of the community increased, the need of a church closer than Mount Ayr or Eugene was felt and Mr. IMUS and his special friend, E. P. REED, took the initiative in planning for the building of Wishard Chapel, which for more than forty years has served and continues to serve as the religious center of the community. Mr. IMUS served as Sunday school superintendant for a great many years.

Before the church was buit, Sunday School was held in the schoolhouse that the young folks of the community might have the advantage of religious training.

During all the years that he had lived in the township, Mr. IMUS has held office of trust. he has served as justice of the peace most of the time for forty-five years. Mr. IMUS probably holds the record for long term of service as rural correspondent to a county newspapter. Soon after the new home was established he subscribed for the home paper, the Ringgold Record, then published by George R. STEPHENS, and the paper has been a constant visitor to the home since. Then, as now, readers of the paper were interested in community affairs and Mr. IMUS was asked to send in news items from his community. He consented and became the Liberty township correspondent for the Record, which position he has held constantly for fifty-five years. Prompted by the desire to have the community represented in the home paper, he has been faithful and constant and his efforts are appreciated not only by the publisher, but by readers of the paper generally.

Mr. and Mrs. IMUS are in their 80th year and bot enjoy fairly good health. Mr. IMUS keeps a team, two cows and about 250 hens and still finds plenty to do on the farm. He has ever kept pace with progress, drives an automobile and is alert and energetic.

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Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, April 7, 1932

OBSERVE 60th ANNIVERSARY

Mr. and Mrs. L. O. IMUS Married in Mount Ayr Sixty Years Ago.

Sarah Jane SMITH and L. O. IMUS were united in marriage on April 3, 1872, at the home of J. T. WILLIAMS in Mount Ayr, the ceremony being performed by Rev. W. T. SMITH, pastor of the Methodist church.

It gives pleasure to know that these two highly respected citizens of Ringgold County have made their home life a success for sixty years.

Still residing in their beautiful country home in Liberty towship, located on Primary Road No. 169, six miles north of Mount yr, which was established 60 years ago on its present site, it still remains as one of the few early homes in Ringgold County still occupied by its owners. In their respected home were molded the lives of seven children -- Mrs. Tama HOUSE, who makes her home with her parents; Mrs. Eighme DULING, of LeRoy; Mrs. Agnes CUNNINGHAM of Yorktown; Mrs. Elsie MIDDLETON of Los Angeles, California; Day IMUS of Ritzville, Washington; Quay IMUS of Fallow, Nevada. One son, Smith, died in childhood. Two children are always ready with words of praise for the parents who so carefully taught them the right things in life.

On Sunday, April 3, 1932, Mr. and Mrs. IMUS celebrated their sixtieth wedding anniversary, and it was an occasion which not only brought joy and happiness to those of the community, but afforded an opportunity for the people of the community to show the high esteem in which the worthy couple is held. Mr. and Mrs. IMUS were the recipients of many tokens of remembrance and friendship, among them a beautiful anniversary cake baked by Mrs. Cecil JACKSON, and an attractively arranged basket of flowers, presented by the Ladies Aid Society of Wishard Chapel.

Although they are in in their 85th years, Mr. and Mrs. IMUS are still enjoying fairly good health . They lead busy, useful lives and are still the royal host and hostess of former years.

Among those who called at the home to extend their congratulations were Mrs. Cecil JACKSON, Mrs. Lena BASTOW, Mrs. Arthur RAIRN, Mrs. Eva THOMPSON, Mr. and Mrs. J. A. BLISS and family, Mrs. Mary TRULLINGER, Mattie and Willard KIRKPATRICK, Isaac DULING and daughter, Mrs. Eighme DULING, Beulah DULING, Mrs. Albert BIRD, Cora PRICE, Frank McCREARY and son Bobbie, Helen and Mayme RICHARDS, Albert BIRD, Velmar BIRD, Mr. and Mrs. Willis HOOD, Mr. and Mrs. Carson RHOADES, Mrs. A. C. TRULLINGER, and Rev. John CUNNINGHAM of Yorktown.

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Leonard Orlando IMUS died January 27, 1934. Sarah Jane "Jennie" (SMITH) IMUS was born March 3, 1848, Tipton, Tipton County, Indiana, and died April 27, 1935. Leonard and Jennie were interred at Rose Hill Cemetery, Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa.

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Transcriptions by Sharon R. Becker, May of 2010