West Branch Times, West Branch, Iowa, Thursday, January 17, 1929
Transcribed by Sharon Elijah, January 19, 2019

PRESIDENT-ELECT HOOVER THANKS NEWT BUTLER FOR GIFT OF CORN

     Iowa corn to grace the dining room of the next first lady of the land was the gift of Newt Butler to Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Hoover in response to Mrs. Hoover’s expressed desire during their visit to West Branch last August 21.

     During that memorable day the Hoover party drove to the old Allen Hoover farm, where Herbert spent some time after the death of his parents, and to other places of interest about the country.

     Iowa corn never looked finer than it did at that time. The visitors passed field after field of shining tasseled green in tall, tall swaying rows. Mrs. Hoover remarked that she would like some Iowa corn for a winter centerpiece in her dining room, adding that she has a special dish which she uses for such purposes.

     It is well known that Mrs. Hoover had a decided preference for the vari-colored vegetables as decorations for her dining room and window boxes, on occasion, instead of the customary fruit and flowers.

     Newt assured Mr. and Mrs. Hoover that he would see that some of the choicest corn from this year’s crops would reach them at Washington, and he carefully selected ten ears of Iowa’s finest. Two were harvested from the Allen Hoover farm, now occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Bert Rummells; two ears were gathered from the old Grandfather Eli Hoover farm where the president-elect’s father spent his boyhood, and which has for a half century been known as the Joe Albin farm; four ears of corn came from Glenn Speight’s farm at Oasis; and two ears came from Jens Jacobsen’s farm, the old Gamble farm near Centerdale. All ten ears were carefully selected to represent the best corn produced in the community. Two ears were white, the kind the older generation saved for the family grist of corn meal; two ears were of Indian red; the red ears which mean good luck when you find them as you husk in a field of yellow corn; and six were golden yellow.

     This week Newt received the following letter of appreciation from his boyhood friend, the president-elect:

Washington, D.C., Jan. 10, 1929

My Dear Newt Butler:

    On our return from South America we find awaiting us the ten ears of corn. We are delighted to find West Branch producing such excellent drops and are particularly glad that you sent us such fine specimens.

    Thanking you so much for your remembering that we wanted some, and with appreciation for your trouble in sending the ears, I am

    Yours Sincerely,
         Herbert Hoover.