Allie Winterringer Smith Beaver

BEAVER WINTERRINGER ZERFING SMITH

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 4/2/2010 at 17:07:02

Woodbury County History 1982

Allie Winterringer Smith Beaver
By Muriel C Winterringer Meyer

Alminda ‘Allie’ Velira Winterringer was born January 10, 1858, the first child of Henry Clay Winterringer and Cathering Zerfing. Alie was born near Tipton in Cedar County. She came to Woodbury County in a covered wagon with her parents and one younger brother, John Natthan, in 1860. They made their home in the Smithland settlement.

Allie’s first marriage was to Jay W Smith on May 23, 1878, at Sloan. They had two children: Jessie June born at Oto on October 26, 1881, and Artie born April 14, 1884. Artie died May 2, 1884, and burial was in Bethel Cemetery in Grant Township. John W Smith had been born August 23, 1852, in Ohio. He died October 28, 1885, and he too is was buried in Bethel Cemetery, Grant Township.

Jessie Smith was married March 5, 1902 to Albert Ralph Grow. (See Jessie Smith Grow.)

Allie taught at the school located on one acre of land which was in the original homestead her parents had purchased in 1881. The school was called the Winterringer school and later Grant Township # 9 School.

Allie’s second marriage was to Aaron Beaver at Sioux City on February 22, 1888. Mr Beaver was born April 7, 1862, at Scranton, Pennsylvania. He moved to Iowa, at the age of one year, with his parents, Jacob and Elizabeth (Landis) Beaver, to Maquoketa in Jackson County. He was the tenth and last child in the family. He, with his parents, made the moved to Woodbury County in 1880 when he was eighteen. They settled on a farm near Peiro in Grant Township. After his marriage to Allie they lived on the farm her parents had originally homesteaded. They lived there for over fifty years, during which time they had seven children, one dying in infancy. Not only did Aaron and Allie live to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary, but five of their children also reached that goal. Aaron died October 3, 1938 at the age of seventy-six years, five months and twenty-seven days. Burial was in the Climbing Hill Cemetery.

Their children were: Catharine ‘Katie’ Elizabeth Beaver born May 20, 1889. She married Jess Ellis on February 24, 1909. They had three daughters. (See Katie and Jess Ellis.) (2) Edna Brown Beaver was born March 18, 1893. She was married November 18, 1893. She was married November 8, 1911 to Elias Stratton. They had seven children: Marvin, Cecil, Ivan, Kenneth, Murel, Lurena and Maureta. Elias died in 1957 and Edna died October 16, 1961. Burial was in the Smithland Cemetery. (3) Daniel Aaron Beaver was born February 17, 1895. He married Claribel Linsner on December 6, 1917. They had two sons. (See Daniel Aaron Beaver.) (4) Benjamin Henry ‘Bennie’ Beaver was born August 19, 1897, on the farm south of Piero. He attended school and helped out on the farm as most boys did in those days. He was in the ‘Home Guard’ during World War II. He met Grace Smith at a picnic at Oto. She was born June 24, 1902, near Persia, Iowa. Her parents were George Smith and Sarah Bell Dawdy. Grace and Bennie were married Sept 8, 1920, at Logan, Iowa. They had no children. They lived on the home farm for years, then in 1944 they moved to Sioux City. Bennie worked at Murray’s Chic Store and Michael Leonard Wholesale Seeds; later he worked as custodian of Lewis Hall at Morningside College. Grace too was employed at Morningside College making desserts and breads. She later worked at Michael Leonard’s and still later helped Bennie with the custodial duties at Morningside. They both retired in 1968 after Bennie had a heart attack. Bennie tries to walk every day. Grace enjoys reading and is thankful her eyes are good so it is possible to do so. They are still in their own home and thankful to be. (5) Velira Beaver was born March 20, 1900. She married Lloyd Dawdy on September 14, 1919. He was born February 28, 1897. They had four children: Eugene, Bethene, Edward and Virginia. Lloyd died April 17, 1973; burial was at the Climbing Hill Cemetery. Velira is living in LeMars, Iowa, at this time. (6) Clarence Abraham Beaver was born October 16, 1903. He married Lola Custer on September 1, 1926. They had two children: Norma Jean and Leonard. (See Clarence Abraham Beaver.)

After Aaron’s death Bennie and Grace moved in to the big house with Allie and continued doing the farm work. Allie broke her arm and Grace was unable to care for her; she then went to live with her daughter, Edna Stratton. She died there Mary 31, 1942. Burial was in the Climbing Hill Cemetery. Mrs. Beaver was a member of Methodist Church and derived much pleasure from her Bible which she kept within reach during the two years she was confined to her bed. Her age at death was 84 years, 4 months and 21 days.

Ater Allie’s death Edna and Eliza Stratton purchased the farm.

At the present time Paul Paulsen, Jr is the owner of the property.