HOUDYSHELL, Carl (1890-1950)

HOUDYSHELL

Posted By: Mike Amidon (email)
Date: 2/28/2016 at 15:32:45

Toledo Newspaper - July, 1950

Carl Houdyshell, Tama Farmer, Dies at Age 59

Carl Houdyshell, life-long resident of south Tama county, died at 2:45 p.m. Sunday of a heart attack at his farmhouse, 1 mile east of Tama on highway 30. Death came as he was resting in his bedroom. He had been up and about the house earlier in the day and had come to Tama for medicine. Mr. Houdyshell had been ill for several years and unable to do much farm work. His nephew, James Norton, has been assisting him this year. Carl Wesly Houdyshell, son of John Henry and Mary Ellen Bear Houdyshell was born Dec. 24, 1890, on a farm 5 miles southwest of Tama in Columbia township, Tama county, Iowa, and died July 23, 1950, while a resident of the east Tama farming community having reached the age of 59 years, 7 months and 29 days.

At age 4, he moved with his parents to the farm east of Tama which he later inherited, and where his death occurred. He attended the old brick rural school house near his farm home. After his parents died, Mr. Houdyshell lived with his brother, Willard, and family, until 11 years ago when he married Violet Hofer of Toledo on Aug. 3, 1939, at the Christian church parsonage in Marshalltown. At the time of his marriage, Mr. Houdyshell built a new home on his farm. Altho Carl and his brother Willard owned separate farms which each had inherited from his parents, they always farmed in partnership. They farmed a total of 346 acres together. The two farms were divided by highway 30. Carl's farm is on the south side of the highway, and Willard's on the north side. Mr. Houdyshell was a past grand of the Tame IOOF lodge. He held all offices in the lodge. At one time he was a member of the Tama Legion post. During World War I, he enlisted July 4, 1917, at Grinnell, but was discharged next day due to his heart condition. He was a member of the Tama Methodist church. Surviving are his wife; a daughter, Eleanor Jean, age 9 years; and two brothers, Willard L. and Roy A. Houdyshell of Tama. Preceding him in death were two brothers and a sister, Aaron at age 14, and Alfred and Ethel as infants; also his father in 1928, and his mother in 1932. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 25, 1950, at Harrisons Funeral Home with Rev. C.D. Boggie in charge. Burial was in Oak Hill cemetery.