William Walter Copenhaver

COPENHAVER BETZER

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 4/12/2010 at 22:07:36

Woodbury County History 1984

Walter and Mabel (Betzer) Copenhaver
By Jeanette Stevenson

William Walter ‘Walt’ Copenhaver was born 28 February 1885 in Woodbury County, Grange Township. He had polio when still an infant. He wore a homemade brace for several years but hated it as it was so heavy; it hindered him from horseback riding and all activities. He accidentally or purposely broke several braces, which his pa mended, saying the next time it broke, Walt would do without. Wakt threw the last brace into the well when he was about 10 and learned to do without. He had a definite limp so was rejected from all military services. He loved to dance and was a very good dancer in spite of his bad leg. He helped on his folks’ farm and worked out on other farms until they moved to Bronson. He then started apprenticeship barbering. He bought the barber shop in Bronson, Iowa, in 1906 from P G Riedesel, where he barbered until his death. The barber shop had two barber chairs and was combined with a pool hall where he also sold candy, tobaccos and soda pop.

He married Mabel Clair Betzer, who was born 5 October 1890, on a farm near Highmore, South Dakota. She was the sixth child of John William Betzer and Nettie Viola (Hatch) Betzer. After seven disastrous years there, here family moved to Sioux City, Iowa, living in Sioux City for about one year. They then moved to a farm about ten miles east of Sioux City and five or six miles southwest of Moville, Iowa, in Woodbury County, Floyd Township. Her parents bought their won farm in 1895, which was in the same vicinity. Mabel lived there until she married. She was one of twelve children.

Oma Izetta was born in 1883 in Bristowe, Iowa, and died there when one month old. Ethel Gladys was born in 1884 in Highmore, South Dakota, and died in 1929. Otto Everall was born in 1886 in Highmore, and died when six weeks old. Leila Blossom was born in 1887 in Highmore, and died in 1951. Gordon Harrison was born in 1889 in Highmore, and died in 1976. Mabel Clair was born in 1890 in Highmore. The last six children were all born on the Betzer farm near what is now Bronson, Iowa; Hazel Irene, born 1892; Florence Viola, born 1895, died 1967; Ora Marjette ‘Odie’, born 1897; Ernest Rolland, born 1889; Lovy Lucille, born 1902, died 1908; Cecil Clayton, born 1904, died 1973.

Mabel went to the Floyd Township one room county school; when she was ready for high school the closest high school was in Sioux City, too far away. She joined the Ursinus Reformed Church shen eleven years old. This church was located a mile or so north of the Floyd Township school. Later, the church was sold to the Lutherans and moved to Lawton, Iowa. The congregation split but the record and the majority joined the Lawton Presbyterian Church. Mabel worked out in homes as well as at home. She worked outside with animals and field work until her older sisters were married. In 1908, she was an active member of the P.I.G. club ‘Progressive Independent Girls’.

Walt and Mbel were married in her parents’ home by Rev Stewart Copenhaver from Luton, Iowa, with forty guests attending.

They lived in rented houses for two years, building their first home acrss the street from the barber shop in 1912. Mabel was an exceptionally good seamstress, doing lots of sewing for others; also, a very good cook, helping out at the hotel. She won many prizes at the Woodbury County Fair and the Tri-State Fair in baking, canning, sewing, quilting, fancy work, house plants, garden vegetables, and flower arranging. She also liked to pain with oils, charcoal, and water colors, and on china.

During the depression years no one would deliver milk to Bronson, so Walk bought four or five Guernsey cows, kept them at his folks’ acreage and hired a man to take care of them. Mabel, Walt and daughter, Jeanette, bottled the milk and separated the leftover, then sold milk, cream and butter at the pool hall, keeping it cool in the old water cooler along with the soda pop. Also, during the depression, he gave hair cuts for 15 cents, or shave and a hair cut for 25 cents. On Thursdays children’s hair cuts were 5 cents. During World War II Walt barbered two days a week in Lawton, Iowa, while Mable and Neta ran the pool hall in Bronson.

Walt always had his love and interest in horses. He owned many at different times. He kept them at his folks’. He especially loved to ride the five-gaited and drive his sulky which he drove for many years.
Walt and Mabel had two daughters: Jeanette Ilene, born 14 December 1916; and Neta Irene, born 8 January 1928. Both girls went to Bronson Consolidated School, graduating from High School there. Both were members of the Bronson Elliot Creek Presbyterian Church and both were married in their parents’ home. Jeanette married James ‘Jay’ Boyd Stevenson, 23 August 1939; Neta married Cecil Leo Selby, 16 June 1946. Their stories are given separately.
Walt died 3 September 1948, of cerebral hemorrhage after suffering from a lighter stroke in June. He had high blood pressure for years; he thought the medicine did’t help and he wouldn’t diet.

Mabel is 93 and alive at this writing. After Walt’s death she sold her home, the barber shop, and horses, moving to an apartment in Sioux City, Iowa. She worked as cashier in the Badgerow Coffee Shop for about seven years. She then retired to enjoy her gardens, flowers, quilting, fancy work, etc. She lived by herself unti 91 ½ years young, when she moved to Holy Spirit Retirement home in Sioux City. She is still piecing and quilting quilts, playing cards, and loves to go to all the family activities.