Mills County, Iowa
The Silver City Community History
Biographies 1879-1979
Silver City Community History Book Committee
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BADA, RICHARD FREDERICK
Richard Frederick Bada was born at Scherlanka,
Prussia on January 5, 1849, the son of Michael
August and Johanna Wilhelmina Ehm Bada. When
Richard was two years old, his father passed away.
His mother then married Adolph C. Schultz, a
Prussian. After the death of Mr. Schultz, she
married August Warnke who was a blacksmith by
trade. In 1856 the family came to America and
settled in Anderson and Silver Creek townships in
Mills County, Iowa.
Richard grew up having no formal education and
could scarcely read or write. He was raised doing
all types of farm labor and left home when he was
about seventeen. He returned home for a short time
prior to becoming of legal age at which time he
went out on his own for good. Farm hands were
always in good demand at that time and he had
little trouble finding work. At the age of
twenty-three he purchased his first eighty acres of
land in Anderson Township. He paid five dollars an
acre with a down payment of one hundred dollars.
After working the land for two years and fencing
part of it, he sold it to his brother for thirty
dollars an acre. Richard then reinvested in more
farm land, accumulating twelve farms totaling 2260
acres, around the Silver City area. He continued to
amass a vast amount of land which at one time
consisted of twenty-seven farms in Iowa, a cattle
ranch in Cherry County, Nebraska, a 3,040 acre
ranch in Kansas and an orange grove in Dade County,
Florida.
On October 2, 1878, Mr. Bada was married to Emma
Catherine Ehlers who was born October 1, 1859 in
Schwarzbork, Germany and came to America in 1867.
To this union was born seven children: Artemus
Richard. Albert William, George Henry (See George
Henry Bada). Clara Amelia, Anna Adelia (See Robert
Emery Long), Mary Jane who died two weeks before
her seventh birthday, and Lena May.
In 1916 Mr. Bada built one of the finest houses in
Silver City at a cost of $25,000. The house which
stands in the southwest corner of the town has a
tile roof that weighs six tons. Some of the land
from the farm adjoining the house was sold to the
town for the present cemetery.
Mr. Bada had one brother, Julius, who moved to
Illinois and two sisters, Amelia and Paulina, and
also two half brothers and two half sisters. On
February 14, 1929 he passed away and was laid to
rest in the Silver City Cemetery. Mrs. Bada died
September 6, 1935.
Artemus Richard was born June 29, 1879 and died
November 24, 1968. He graduated from Silver City
High School and married Cecelia Sophia Ott on March
5, 1902. They farmed successfullly and had two
children. Cecil Ott and Marjorie Lena. Cecil was
born January 4, 1903 and married Lavora Talboy.
They had a daughter, Monte. Marjorie Lena was born
March 16, 1905 and married Rudolph Hopp, Jr. They
lived near Glenwood, Iowa and had two daughters,
Rogene Ferne and Rose Mary.
Albert William was born September 3, 1880 and died
in Eugene, Oregon on September 21, 1960. He
graduated from Silver City High School and married
Carrie Miller. They were divorced and he later
married Beulah Johnson. Albert farmed a number of
years southeast of Silver City before moving to
Oregon and was preceded in death by his wife,
Beulah.
Clara Amelia was born October 16, 1884 and died May
2, 1965. She graduated from Silver City High School
and lived at home, never marrying.
Lena May was born November 11, 1893 and died
September 8, 1977 at Silver City. She graduated
from Silver City High School in 1912 and worked for
Farmers Bank in Silver City. On October 22, 1919,
she married Vardaman Wilkins (See William Wilkins
history) and they had one son, Verne Alda, who was
born August 1, 1920. Verne married Elma Hansen and
lives in Tabor, Iowa. They have two sons, Duane and
Darrell, of Des Moines, Iowa. Vardaman was killed
in an auto accident December 28, 1977.
BADA,
GEORGE HENRY
George Henry Bada was born October 25, 1881 and
died in San Diego, California on September 24,
1967. He graduated from Silver City High School in
1899 and married Sophia A. Spetman on February 16,
1910. She was the daughter of August and Lizzie
Spetman and was born July 1, 1891. The couple made
their home on a farm southwest of Silver City. In
1921 the family moved to Silver City where they
resided until 1937. For eight years, George Bada
was Mayor of Silver City. In 1937 the family moved
to Council Bluffs and later moved to a farm near
Creston. In 1949 Mr. and Mrs. Bada moved to San
Diego where they both lived until their deaths.
Mrs. Bada died August 15, 1976 in a nursing home in
San Diego. They had one son, Richard August.
Richard A. Bada was born in Silver City on March
16, 1917. He attended school in Silver City and
graduated in 1934. In 1941 he was married to Hazel
M. 0’Riley and moved to San Diego. They have two
children: Jeffrey and Beverly. Richard retired June
1, 1979 after 38 years with General Dynamics
Corporation, and he and his wife reside in
Idyllwild, California.
Dr. Jeffrey L. Bada is a Professor at Scripps
Institution of Oceanography in LaJolla, California.
Beverly Kelly is an officer in the Bank of America,
Arcadia, California.
BAILEY,
JAMES FAMILY
James Bailey was born near Pacific Junction
November 21, 1885 and married Maude Swanburg,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Swanburg the 17th
of February 1917. For many years they lived on a
farm north of Silver City. They had three children:
Merle, Edward and Jean. Merle married Herman
Sanders; they had two children: Valerie and Dallas.
In 1955 Valerie graduated from Silver City High
School; the same year she married Eldon Harman and
they have three children:
David and Diane (both are married) and Derek is in
high school. Valerie and Eldon also have two
grandchildren. Dallas Sanders graduated from Avoca
High School in 1962; he married JoLeen Floen in
October 1964 and they have two daughters: Jill and
Jodi. Edward Bailey, son of Maude and Jim, lost his
life in a truck accident in Colorado in 1952; he
left one son, Timothy Paul who was adopted by his
aunt, Merle Bailey Sanders. On June 2, 1971 Timothy
Paul Bailey drowned; he was survived by his wife
and a son, James Edward. Jean Bailey, (youngest of
Maude and Jim’s family) married Bud Cloyd of
Thurman in 1955; they had two daughters, Judy and
Karen. Bud passed away in May 1957. Jean married
Lyle Boone in 1959 and they have one son, Bret and
one daughter, Arlene. Judy Cloyd married Richard
Welch and Karen Cloyd married Jerry Berry. Bret
Boone is working and Arlene Boone graduated from
high school in 1979. Maude Bailey passed away
December 22, 1967 and James Bailey on 7th of
February 1968. Merle married Melvin Lamp of Minden
in February 1958; they farmed near Minden for
several years, now they reside in Minden.
BANISTER-WILLARD
Erastus F., born 8-27-1840 in Ohio, came to Mills
County in 1877 with the family. He married
8-16-1865 Mary J. Rowe. He was a successful farmer
east of Silver City for many years and later moved
into town where he died 8-11-19 14. He was a member
of the G.A.R. and the I.O.O.F. Mrs. Banister died
10-5-1918. Of their 5 children: Etta married George
Weir, Edward lived here a number of years, Delbert
and Dora married Cook and lived in Nebraska for
many years. His daughter Lena married J. S. Willard
who was born 4-6-1860 at Naperville, Illinois son
of Judson and Jeanette Willard. They were married
9-20-1893 and had 2 children; Georgia now Mrs.
Wilkinson and Lena now Mrs. Ward Burgoin of Omaha.
Her children are found with her husband’s life
sketch. Mr. Willard was a businessman, operating a
cafe in Silver City for several years, and later
went to California where he died 5-18-1933.
Henry, a brother of Erastus was born 5-27-1851 at
New London, Iowa, He married Mrs. Mary (Cone) Burge
3-29-1878. He came to a farm east of Silver City
1879 where he successfully operated it and died
there 4-1-1943. He was a highly respected and
esteemed man and had been a mason for 67 years.
Mrs. Banister died 2-19-1935. They had no children,
but a foster daughter Edna Weller who is in the
Malvern Rest Home. Mrs. Banister had a son Dr.
Burge who died leaving a daughter Eva now Mrs.
Smith now deceased. Eva had a daughter Esther now
Mrs. Van Solen and lives in Clovis, New Mexico.
BARNES, F.G. FAMILY
The Rev. and Mrs. F.G. Barnes, Methodist Minister
and wife served the Silver City and East Liberty
communities from 1930-34; he was the second pastor
to serve the new Silver City Church which was built
in 1928. Many pastorates were served by Rev. and
Mrs. Barnes in the Iowa Conference, among them were
several in southwest Iowa; his last charge was
Pacific Junction. A ceremony was held there at the
time of his 50th year in the Ministry; the Bishop
and the District Superintendent were in attendance.
Their children were Ruth, Mrs. John Swarts, Paul
deceased, and Lois, Mrs. J. E. Grisamore of West Des
Moines.
The Rev. and Mrs. Barnes chose Silver City as their
retirement home. They enjoyed renewing old
acquaintances and making new friends at that time.
They were privileged to live in their home for
eleven years. During this time, they celebrated
their 50th Wedding Anniversary in Silver City
Methodist Church.
They now reside at the Oakland Manor, Oakland,
Iowa; they are 86 years of age.
BATES,
ROBERT A.
Robert A., born 12-14-1869 Marion, Illinois, was
editor of Pacific Junction, Iowa Times and of
Silver City Times from May 6, 1897 to April 26,
1902 when he sold the paper to Mr. Ford of
Woodbine. He went to Plattsmouth, Nebraska where he
published the Plattsmouth Journal until his death
6-15-1934. Mrs. Bates is deceased.
BAYS FAMILY IN SILVER CITY
My father edited and published the Silver City
Times, 1916-1928. He was Charles Waldo Bays,
1870-1932; my mother was Stella Wynona Thompson
Bays, 1872-1931. We moved to Silver City in
December, 1916, from Woodbine, where my father had
for eight years published the Twiner. The move was
the result of a swap of businesses, home properties
and mortgages thereon between my father and E. A.
Stevens, formerly of the Times. Happily, each man
felt himself the gainer.
In 1916, “we” were my father, mother and I, aged
eleven. I had three older sisters, all grown and
away. They were Effie, Leona and Ethel, who
sometimes came home, with their children, for
visits. Ours was an early- day “extended family,”
before the term became popular! Effie, 1892-1958,
married (1) Ray Kent of Council Bluffs; (2) Raymond
Fouts of San Diego. There were three Kent children:
Royce, 1914- , living in Omaha; “Bob,” 1919-1960;
and Bonnie 1922-1976. Both Royce and Bonnie went to
school in Silver City for a time.
Leona, 1894-1940, married Roy Gater of Council
Bluffs. Their two children were: Ferne 1923- , now
Ferne Bonomi of Des Moines; and David, 1933- , of
Anaheim. Through a quirk of fate both Leona and
Ferne later ran the Times.
Ethel, 1896-1971, married Arthur Bayless of San Diego. They had no children. Ethel was the magnet
drawing other Bayses to California. I married Paul
Locker of Newton. Our only child, Bays, born 1931,
was killed in a mountain-climbing accident in 1952.
Paul, from whom I was divorced, died in 1967.
Back to Silver City, The Times was housed in a
twostory building on the west side of Main Street,
nearest to the Wabash R.R. tracks. Stevens had set
type by hand. My father bought a Linotype, and my
mother learned to run it. The first year was
grueling; neither of them had ever operated a
Linotype. But after they got the bugs out, the two
worked side by side for many years in that shop.
I finished eighth grade and two years of high
school in Silver City, then went to Council Bluffs
where more courses were available. I graduated from
C.B.H.S. (later A.L.’) in 1921. After that came
Drake University, teaching in Newton, and marriage.
Ethel, in San Diego, continued to dangle the
California bait before us Iowans. In 1928 my father
had an unexpected offer to sell, the Times to
Bertha Peterson (later Merrill) of Neola. He did.
In June, 1928, after my Newton wedding, my parents
and Effie’s family left for San Diego. There,
semi-retired, my folks ran a “mom-andpop" grocery.
Mamma died in 1931; Paul and I and and baby Bays,
left Iowa to help my father, who himself died in
1932. Both are buried in Silver City, as is also
Leona, who died later.
The Depression had ripple effects across the land.
One was that the Times bounced back into the Bays
family. The only nearby Bays to operate it was
Leona who, with her family, moved to Silver City.
She published until her death in 1940, when her
daughter Ferne, barely seventeen and just graduated
from Silver City High, took over. Ferne published
for several years, until the Times was sold to, and
merged with, the Glenwood Opinion. Thus ended its
masthead.
Ferne entered University of Iowa, graduating with
degrees in history and journalism. I, in
California, took further education, and changed
careers, into public library work.
FOOTNOTE TO HISTORY: My paternal grandfather, Davis
H. Bays, who until mid-life was a traveling Morman
preacher, passed through Silver City. His diary
notes: "Monday, April 27, 1885 We resumed our
journey and reached Silver City, Mills County,
Iowa. A heavy rain at night.” Full circle!
BENDT,
HERMAN
Herman Bendt, son of Julius and Lena Caroline
(Rosburg) Bendt, was born on November 23, 1886 in
Mills County, Iowa. He was united in marriage on
March 31, 1915 to Magdalena Johanna Hansen,
daughter of Friedrick and Magdalena (Stumpf) Hansen
who was born on June 25, 1889. To this union were
born five children: One died in infancy; Vera, born
January 20, 1916 and married to Herman Schroeder
(See Herman Schroeder history); Mildred, born March
17, 1917 and married to Ersal Powles; Anita, born
August 23, 1918 and married to George T. Marshall
(See George T. Marshall history); and Earl, born
March 23, 1928 and married to Phyllis McCoy (See
Roger and Ronnie Bendt histories). Herman passed
away on June 25, 1978, and Magdalena (known as
Helen) passed away on February 25, 1972.
BENDT,
ROGER
Roger Earl Bendt was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa
on February 27, 1949. He is the son of Earl and
Phyllis Bendt and has two brothers, Ronnie and
LeRoy. Roger has lived in Silver City all of his
life. He went to Silver City School to the 8th
grade then he went to Glenwood Community and
graduated in 1967. From 1966 to 1968, he worked for
Harold Skerritt as a farm hand.
On October 4, 1968 Roger married Marjorie Lynn
Williams from Glenwood, the daughter of Aaron and
Emma Williams. Marjorie was born on October 19,
1950 in Louisville, Nebraska. In 1953, her family
moved to Glenwood and she attended the Glenwood
Community School.
Roger went into the army on October 7, 1968 and
served until October 6, 1970. He was in Hamburg
Germany serving with A Battery, 1st Bn., 75th
Artillery when their son Tim was born. Timothy Earl
was born May 31, 1969 at Ehrling Bergquist U.S.A.F.
hospital in Bellevue, Nebraska. A second child,
Tina Lynn was born on November 15, 1974 at Grape
Community Hospital in Hamburg, Iowa.
Roger went back to work for Harold Skerritt after
his stay in the service. They moved into a home at
414 Second Street in Silver City where they now
reside. In 1975 Roger went to work for Standard
Chemical Company of Omaha, Nebraska, at their mill
at Malvern, Iowa where he is presently working.
BENDT,
RONNIE
Ronnie Phillip Bendt was born in Council Bluffs,
Iowa on April 11, 1950. He is the son of Earl and
Phyllis Bendt and has two brothers Roger and LeRoy.
Ronnie has lived around Silver City all his life
and graduated from Glenwood Community School in May
1968.
Ronnie went into the service July 26, 1968 until
March 23, 1970. He served in Viet Nam with the 1st
Cav, and 21st Artillery. He earned the Viet Nam
Medal, Bronze Star, Sir Medal, Viet Namese Service
Medal, Good Conduct and National Defense Medal. When
he returned from the service he gave Silver City
his State of Iowa Flag that he received from Bill
Scherle.
On July 11, 1970, Ronnie married Joan Elizabeth
from Glenwood, Iowa, the daughter of Aaron and Emma
Williams. Joan attended the Glenwood Community
School.
Ronnie and Joan have a son, Brian Phillip, born on
November 1, 1971 at Grape Community Hospital in
Hamburg, Iowa. A second child, Renae Elizabeth was
born November 4, 1972 at Grape Community Hospital.
Ronnie went back into the service in 1979 after
working 6 years for Farm Aid in Silver City. He had
A.I.T. at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and was transferred
to El Paso, Texas. Ronnie, Joan and the kids were
transferred to Giessen, Germany for three years
where they are now living.
BLACK,
L. PAUL
Paul and Ida (Hardisty) Black was married 10-16-1935. They purchased the Clara Bada home in 1959.
They are the parents of Paul W., Philip, Patricia
(McMullen), Patrick and a foster son David Sigler.
They have fifteen grandchildren.
BOLTE,
CLARENCE
Clarence Frederick Bolte (commonly called Kelly),
the third of seven sons born to Otto and Lulu Rohr
Bolte, was born July 31, 1915, on a farm two miles
south and one mile east of Treynor, Iowa. He
attended the Treynor area schools until 1932 when
the family moved to the Silver City farming areas.
He graduated from the Silver City High School in
1934 and went on to attend Omaha University, where
he played on their basketball team. In 1942 he was
called for military service and spent 4 years with
the Headquarters Company, 96th Division of the
Army. Two years were spent in the Pacific Island
area. He was discharged as 1st Sgt. and returned
home in 1946 to farm near Silver City. On January
14, 1950 he was married to Bonnie Louise Custer,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Guy Custer. Bonnie
graduated from the Silver City High School in 1939
and from Jennie Edmundson Memorial Hospital School
of Nursing in 1944. Prior to her marriage she was
employed at Jennie Edmundson Hospital as a surgical
nurse and supervisor and later as a surgical
assistant to Dr. E. M. Limbert. Since 1969 Bonnie
has been employed as a school nurse at the Iowa
School for the Deaf near Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Three children were born to Kelly and Bonnie Bolte;
Ann Louise, Marshall Frederick and Owen Custer.
Ann Louise, born November 8, 1950, attended grades
K-8 at Silver City and graduated from the Glenwood
Community School in 1968. She attended the
University of Iowa 1968-69 and in September 26,
1969 was married to William Richard Vorthmann of
Treynor. She was graduated from the School of
Radiology Technology at Jennie Edmundson in 1971. A
premature son and a premature daughter, Audra Ann
born to this couple died at birth. A daughter,
Rachel Lynn, was born August 26, 1975. Bill and Ann
Vorthmann are progressive farmers and livestock
producers and Ann also continues her work at the
hospital. They are active in St. Paul’s Lutheran
Church of Treynor, as well as many community and
agri-related organizations.
Marshall Frederick was born August 23, 1953. He attended K-6 grades at Silver City school center and
graduated from Glenwood Community School in 1971.
He graduated from Iowa State University with a
Bachelor of Science Degree in Forestry in 1975.
Since then he has been employed by the United
States Department of Interior, Bureau of Land
Management, Department of Cadastral Survey. His
work has allowed him to cover much of the
geographical area of United States and he is now
located at Russellville, Arkansas.
Owen Custer was born August 28, 1956. He attended
K-6 grades at Silver City attendance center and
graduated from Glenwood Community Schools in 1974.
He then graduated from Iowa State University in
1978 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in
Agricultural Business. Since then he has been
employed by Agricultural Waste Control Inc. of
Clear Lake, Iowa.
The Bolte family has been active in the Silver City
United Methodist Church and all levels of 4-H.
Kelly and Bonnie have worked with Extension, Mills
County Fair Association, Mills County Pork
Producers and Porkettes, American Legion and other
agri-related organizations. Kelly served 12 years
as a member of the Board of Education of Glenwood
Community Schools 1966-78). Bonnie has served as a
member and secretary of the Mills County Board of
Health since it was reorganized in 1966. Kelly is
presently serving as a member of the board of
Directors for Iowa Western Community College. Both
are active in service clubs, Kelly is a member of
the Optimist Club of Glenwood and Bonnie is a
member of Zonta International Club of Council
Bluffs.
BOLTE, HARVEY
Harvey C., son of Otto and Lulu Bolte, was born
November 1, 1911, near Treynor, Iowa. He moved with
his family in 1931 to a farm southeast of Silver
City. On August 17, 1932, he married Edna Decker,
daughter of Frank and Addie Decker.
Harvey and Edna made their home for 16 years on a
farm north of Silver City. During these years of
farming, he built a purebred Chester white hog
business and a cow beef herd. In 1950 they moved to
a farm west of town. They have one daughter,
Waunita, born June 29, 1941 (see Dwayne Reinert).
Harvey’s younger brother Richard made his home with
them.
They are members of the Silver City United
Methodist Church, where Harvey served as chairman of the Church Board for nine years and also various
other church committees. He devoted considerable
time and effort to the Financial Committee of the
church and parsonage. He was a ten year leader for
Ingraham Straight Shooters 4-H club and also served
as Chairman of the Glenwood Community School
Reorganization Committee. In 1971 Harvey was
selected for the Iowa Master Farmer award.
Edna is a member of U.M.W., Woman’s Club and
various other community activities. In 1972, she
moved into Silver City.
Richard L. married Patricia Larson on April 26,
1958. They had two children, Debbie and Lee.
Richard graduated from Iowa State and works for
Farmer’s Home Administration in Storm Lake, Iowa.
BOND,
JAMES
James Bond was born in Ohio on October 25, 1848. He
married Isabelle Stevens there in 1876. On a trip
to Iowa before he was married, James shot a wild
turkey while hunting one day. The family moved to
Mills County, Iowa in 1881. They had seven
children: Mattie, Alena, William, Ellen, Laura,
Grace and Ruth. His wife Isabelle died on May 23,
1897, while the family was living near Silver City.
He farmed east of Silver City, southwest of Malvern
and northeast of Oakland. James had a sale in the
spring of 1910 and moved to Oakland with his
daughter Ruth. For many years he spent the winters
in Long Beach, California and the rest of the year
with his family in Iowa. He passed away on February
2, 1927.
BOND,
WILBERT
Wilbert W. Bond, son of William and Millie Bond,
was born May 1, 1910, on a farm near Hancock, Iowa.
The family moved to a farm three miles southeast of
Silver City in February of 1913 and has lived there
since. He and his sister, Isabelle attended Osborne
Valley country school through the eighth grade. In
1921, the family lived in Long Beach, California
for almost a year. Wilbert and Isabelle attended
school there until February 1922 when they returned
to Iowa. After graduating from Silver City high
school in 1928, Wilbert attended Nebraska
University and Iowa State University.
Wilbert served as Secretary of Osborne Valley
School District for seventeen years, is a member of
the Silver City Masonic Lodge and O.E.S., Omaha
Scottish Rite and Shrine, Mills County Farm Bureau
and has served as president of Farm Bureau in 1974,
75, and 76, and was County Supervisor for four
years from 1969 through 1972.
On December 18, 1932 he married Inez Landis,
daughter of Harry and Bertha Landis of Malvern.
Inez attended Tabor College and Peru State Teachers
College in Nebraska, taught Centerline rural school
north of Malvern one year and was working in the
family hardware store in Malvern at the time of her
marriage. She belonged to the Silver City O.E.S.,
and the Glenwood Rebekahs, played piano for both.
In the spring of 1933, they moved into a house on
the Bond farm and started farming. In 1959 they
purchased the adjoining farm from Fred Peterson and
moved there in 1960 and have lived there ever
since.
They have seven children, three boys and four
girls, Robert, Arthur, Clyde, Charlene, Judy, Mary
and Dorothy. Robert married Betty Ostrom and lives
at Waldport, Oregon. They have three children,
Pamela, William and Sandra. Arthur married Jean
Allison and lives in Wahiawa, Hawaii. They have
three children, Arthur, Carl and James. They have
since divorced and Arthur has remarried. Clyde
married Denys Dyer and they live in his parents
first farm home. They have two boys, Dustyn and
Christopher. Charlene married George Van Cleave and
lives in Shelton, Washington. They have five
children, Jeffrey, Paul, Phillip, Kevin and Angela.
Judy lives at home with her father. Mary married
Ronald Tustison and lives in St. Louis, Missouri.
They have two children, Gregory and Jeannine.
Dorothy lives near Sydney, Australia. She teaches
Home Economics.
Inez Bond passed away suddenly on April 22, 1979,
after suffering a severe stroke the evening before.
She was born in Malvern, Iowa on January 28, 1907.
Inez was a long time Sunday School teacher at the
Methodist Church in Malvern before her marriage and
at the Silver City Methodist Church afterwards.
BOND, WILLIAM
William Arthur Bond was born on May 18, 1882, to James and Isabelle
Stevens Bond in a log cabin three miles northwest of Malvern on a farm now
owned by Otha Mass. They lived on several farms east of Silver City,
southwest of Malvern and near Oakland while he was growing up.
He married Millie Breeding of Malvern in 1907, moved on a farm near Lewis,
Iowa and started farming. In 1908 they moved to a farm north of Hancock.
They lived there five years. They had two children, William Wilbert and
Isabelle. They purchased a farm southeast of Silver City and moved there
in the spring of 1913.
William purchased his first car in the spring of 1913, a Model-T Ford from
a dealer in Silver City. He took the year of 1921 off from farming and
traveled to California returning to Iowa in February of 1922.
They lived on their farm east of Silver City the rest of their lives.
Millie passed away in 1950 and William in 1952.
BORENE-RYBERG
Fred Borene was born in the central part of Sweden
on November 26. 1858. He came to America in 1882
and located at Galeshurg. Illinois. He then went to
Colorado where he worked for the Andrew Cattle
Company in that state and also in Kansas. In 1885
he went to Essex Iowa where he operated a butcher
shop for six ‘bears for Nelson and Preston. In 1891
he owned his own meat market but lived in several
places before locating in Silver City around 1898.
In 1899 he built a brick structure on the west side
of Main Street which housed the meat market and is
now the home of the Silver City Library. Mr. Borene
married Lucy Carlson in 1894. They had a daughter.
Nellie, and their daughters, Edna and Isa, were
born in Silver City. Uncle Fred made and cooked his
own wieners and kept them in a box at the end of
the counter. One of the joys of visiting them was
being allowed to eat all the wieners we wanted.
Fred’s family lived in a square house about two
blocks east of the south side of Main Street and
two houses south of the Spelbrings. They attended
the Methodist Church on the hill west of town. Fred
was band director, and the band gave concerts at
the bandstand just south of Main Street.
Also on a hill west of Main Street was a big house
occupied by a Huffaker who had a deer park just
north of his house. South of Uncle Fred’s lived the
Bryants and the Reeves with several red-haired
boys. Many years later my son met a girl at the
University of Oregon who said she was from Iowa as
he was, from a little town he had never heard of —
but of course he had. I asked if the girl had red
hair and she did.
I remember programs held in the hall over the store
on the north end of Main Street with a wide stair
leading up to it. One Christmas there was a tall
community tree in this hall. Parents brought
presents to be put on the tree and handed out after
the program. The stage was lighted by kerosene
lights in front with tin reflectors. In the midst
of the program, the tree toppled over and fell in a
clear space in the front of the room. I don’t
remember if they could get it back up or simply
took the presents off.
Fred later sold his business to D.C. Jackson and
moved the family to Shenandoah.
Another uncle, John Ryberg, and his wife, Clara,
lived in the section house south of the Depot as he
was the Section Boss at Silver City. They had four
children--Signa (Sena), Edith, Elbe and Frances.
(Memories are from Dora Borene Boles and the
additional information on the family is provided by
Edna Van Steenbergen, daughter of Fred Borene.)
After the Fred Borene family left Silver City in
1908, they lived in Shenandoah, Imogene and
Malvern. Mrs. Borene died in January of 1927 and
Mr. Borene died in August of 1949.
Nelle graduated from Malvern High School, attended
Des Moines College and taught country schools at
Imogene and Hillsdale and in the Silver City public
school. She married Vernon Smith of Hillsdale and
both are deceased. They had three children —
Chester and his wife live at Redwood City,
California: Kenneth is deceased: and Bruce and his wife live in Clovis, New Mexico.
Edna graduated from Malvern High School, attended
Morningside College and taught in Mineola. Sioux
Center and Glenwood. She married John Van
Steenhergen of Sioux Center, an attorney and
banker. He is deceased and she lives in their home
in Prairie City. Iowa. Their children are Marilyn
and Mona. Marilyn graduated from Prairie City High
School and Drake University. She taught at Woodward
and Belmond and married Dr. Waldo Frankenstein of
Detroit, Michigan. They are living in Bellevue,
Michigan and their children are John, a graduate of
Michigan College of Technology: Bridgett. a senior
at Ferris State College: and Holly, a sophomore of
Ferris State College at Big Rapids, Michigan. Mona
graduated from Prairie City High School and
Northern Iowa University. She married Robert L.
Campbell of Chicago, and they are living at Waukon,
Iowa where he is high school principal and she
teaches at Postville, Iowa. Their children are
Margaret, in nurses training at Morningside College
and Robert. a senior in high school.
Isa graduated from Malvern High School and attended
the University of Nebraska and taught several years
in Malvern. She married Byron H. Cloud of Red Oak,
a construction engineer. They have no family and
are now retired, living in Mesa, Arizona.
BOYER,
JAMES M. SR.
James Maxlon Boyer, Sr., son of Cora and Loran
Boyer, was born May 11, 1932 in Glenwood, Iowa. He
graduated from the Silver City High School in 1950
and served in the Army from 1954-56.
Jim has been a member of the Silver City town
council, the Mills County Extension Services and
served fourteen years on the Mills County Selective
Service Board. He is a member of the Silver City
Methodist Church, E.M.T. on the Silver City
Ambulance, Silver City Fire Department and Mills
County Pork Producers.
Jim married Phyllis Lee Adair, daughter of Harold
and Laura Adair, on September 8, 1963. Phyllis was
born September 2, 1944 at Hastings, Iowa. She
graduated from the Glenwood High School in 1962.
After graduation, she was an IBM operator for
Mutual of Omaha. Phyllis is a member of the Silver
City Methodist Church, Eastern Star, Mills County
Porkettes and project leader for the Loyal Lassies
4-H club.
Jim and Phyllis farm the Fern Burgoin Farm north of
Silver City. Along with farming, Jim proudly raises
purebred spotted Poland China hogs.
The Boyers have three children; Teresa Kay, Laura
Ann and James Jr., Teresa Kay, born October 18,
1964, is a freshman at Glenwood. She is a member of
the Methodist Church and Loyal Lassies 4-H club.
Laura Ann, born February 11, 1968, is a sixth
grader. She is a member of the Loyal Lassies 4-H
club.
James Jr., born February 5. 1970. is a fourth
grader and a member of the Ingraham Straight
Shooters 4-H club.
BOYER,
LORAN
Loran Boyer, born 1908 at Glenwood, Iowa, married
Cora Filbert and came to Silver City in 1938. Mr.
Boyer, past President of the school board and
member of Masonic Lodge and Eastern Star, is now
retired from farming. Mrs. Boyer is Secretary of
Eastern Star Chapter, Silver City. They have four
children: Loran, Jr., Betty, James and Clifford.
Loran, Jr., and wife Ellenor live at Bentley. He
works for the W.R. Grace.
Betty is a nurse and
daughter Anita live at Battle Creek, Michigan.
James and wife Phyllis and three children live on
farm north of town. (See History)
Clifford and wife
Marlene and four children live on a farm east of
Silver City.
BRYANT FAMILY
Lyman Bryant born 6/25/1841 in Henry County,
Illinois. He was a Civil War veteran and married
8/26/1860 Sarah C. Blair. They came to Silver City
in 1882 where he farmed, also owned and operated a
threshing machine. Six of the ten children reached
maturity (I) Cora married Mr. Potter and lived in
Omaha. (2) James William (1867-1923) born in
Oxford, Illinois. He came to Silver City with his
parents, married 3/18/1891 to Minnie Blair. He was
an interior decorator and was respected by all.
They had five children: Earl was employed by Joe Maurath and C.A. Moore in their general stores,
later he moved to Texas where he was connected with
J.C. Penney Co. He married Alice Plumb. (Both are
deceased). Faye Bryant married Mr. Keller. Paul
Bryant married and they had two sons. Glenn Bryant
was interested in athletics during his high school
days; later became a licensed pilot; owned Bryant
Motor Co. in Treynor; married Edna Schmidt; three
children. Glenn deceased in 1938. Max, the youngest
son, left Silver City years ago. Faye, Paul and
Glenn were all graduates of Silver City. (3) Alpha
Bryant (see Swanburg) (4) Ida Bryant married O. E.
Farrington and lived in Henderson and Carson
communities for many years. (5) Clarence
(1881-1941) never married. (6) John L. lived at
Morton Mills, Iowa and Colorado. Mr. Bryant, the
father, spent his last three years with his
daughter, Mrs. Ida Farrington of Carson; he passed
away July 3, 1925 at the age of 84 years.
BURGOIN,
BILL JOE
Bill and Suzanne Burgoin were married Dec. 10, 1966
at St. John Lutheran Church in Mineola and have
been members of the church ever since.
Bill was b. Aug. 13, 1946. He is the son of Donald
and Betty Burgoin of Silver City. He is the
grandson of Gail and Flo. Burgoin and Lester and
Mildred Henderson.
Suzanne was born June 5, 1947. She is the daughter
of Gordon and Pat Schoening. She is the
granddaughter of Arthur and Grace Schoening and
Clifford and Mabel Morgan.
Born to this marriage were 3 lovely children: Kelli
Sue b. Nov. 2, 1968; Ami Jo. b. Feb. 3, 1972 and
Brent Lee b. May 4, 1976.
Bill and Suzanne have been married 13 years and
have engaged in farming the whole time. They live
on the farm known to many as Pleasant Valley Farm.
Bill enjoys tractor pulls, motorcycles and water
skiing. He is a member of the Silver City Legion
Post and a director of the Mills County Pork
Producers.
Suzanne enjoys sewing, crafts and her very busy
family. She is a member of the O.T.O. club in her
community. She is a member of the Mills County
Porkettes, a project leader for the local 4-H, and
teaches Sunday School.
The children attend Malvern Community School. Kelli
is in fifth grade, Ami in the second and Brent goes
to preschool. Kelli belongs to the band, Peppy Pals
4-H club and takes piano lessons. Ami enjoys
dancing and piano also. This busy family enjoys
being a part of the community.
BURGOIN,
CLARENCE W.
Clarence W. Burgoin, the youngest son of Earnest
and Nell Burgoin and the only one of their five
children born in America, was raised in the Silver
City area and attended Prairie Creek and Silver
City schools. He married Nellie Godfrey, daughter
of Walter and Elsie Godfrey, who attended Valley
No. 5 school in Pottawattamie County and graduated
from Silver City High School. She lived with the
James Burgoin family in Silver City while in high
school; Clarence was working for Mr. Burgoin. They
were married April 4, 1942, in the first marriage
ceremony celebrated in the new Silver City
Methodist Church. They took an apartment in Omaha
until Clarence joined the Army in June 1942. He
served in the European theater through World War
II, landing with the troops at Omaha Beach on D-Day
and returning home in December 1945, a 1st
Lieutenant. He worked on a farm near Minden, Iowa,
until 1948 when he took up farming for himself near
Avoca. He and Nellie and their two children, Robert
(b.1946) and Catherine (b.1949), moved back to the
Silver City area in 1952. to a farm northeast of
town. They lived there, active as a family in
Silver City Methodist Church, community, school and
4-H, until 1969.
Robert and Catherine both attended Box Elder
Elementary School, one of the last one-room
“country” schools in Iowa. Both graduated from
Malvern Community School.
Robert “Bob” married Linda Stacy, daughter of
Archie and Ruby Stacy of Glenwood in 1965. He
worked for Ben Breeding — John Deere, Malvern, for
several years; then moved his family to the home
farm when Clarence moved to Glenwood in 1969. Linda
and Bob have two daughters: Stacy Sue (b. 1947) and
Jennifer Lynn (b. 1971). They attend Malvern
Elementary School and continue the family tradition
of 4-H and school activity.
Catherine (Cathy) was accepted at the Kansas City
Art Institute, where she received the Bachelor of
Fine Arts degree in 1970. She has made her home in
Kansas City with a career in graphic
communications. She currently is Director of
Creative and Production Services for The Lowell
Press, a Kansas City based publishing house.
Clarence is Transportation Coordinator for the
Glenwood State School. He has been with the School
since moving to Glenwood in 1969. Nellie has been
Manager of the Malvern Community Schools Hot Lunch
program since 1966.
BURGOIN,
DONALD
Donald Gail and Betty Lou Burgoin have been
lifelong residents of the Silver City area. Donald
was born 1-30-1922 to Florence Helen and Gail Getus
Burgoin now deceased and grandson of the late Nell
and Ernest Burgoin and Mae and William Burgoin also
deceased. The Burgoin family has always been
engaged in farming. Donald attended the Silver
Creek Country School and Silver City Schools.
Betty Lou whose parents are Mildred Irene and
Lester Henderson was born Nov. 14, 1924, near the
East Liberty Community. She has one brother Robert
Keith born Oct. 21, 1930, who is married to the
former Carol Jean Voss of Treynor, Ia. community.
Both Betty’s father and brother farmed in the East
Liberty and Silver City areas before moving to
Glenwood, Ia. where both families now reside.
Robert is employed by the Iowa Power and Light Co.
and Lester has retired and now serves as a foster
grandparent at the Glenwood State School. The
Henderson’s were members of the East Liberty
Community Church.
Donald and Betty were married Feb. 20, 1942 in
Omaha, Nebr. Donald served in the United States
Army during World War II, after discharge, they
moved to Don’s fathers farm north east of Silver
City where they resided until this year when they
moved into Silver City.
Donald and Betty have 2 children: Bill Joe Aug. 13,
1946 in Council Bluffs. (See Bill Joe History)
Gayle Ann b. Oct. 12, 1952 in Council Bluffs. (See
Hoyt Hayden History)
Don has been active in 4-H serving as a leader of
the Ingraham Straight Shooters, has always been
active in the Silver City Gordon May Post of the
American Legion and has served as Mills County
Commander in the Post. He is a member of the Silver
Light Lodge of the Masonic Order. Betty is active
in the Order of the Eastern Star, O.E.S.
Kennsington and belongs to the neighborhood country
club. Both are members of the Silver City United
Methodist Church.
BURGOIN,
EARNEST
Earnest Burgoin and Ellen “Nell” Cave were married
at Exster, England near the turn of the century. In
1910 they left Sidmouth, England, where Earnest had
his meat market and moved to Toronto, Canada with
their four children. He resumed business there with
a new meat market until 1912 when they moved to
Silver City where his brothers, William and James
had settled. Earnest began farming here, assisting
with butchering in the community during the winter
months. Their fifth child, Clarence was born here.
Nell passed away at the farm home in 1934; in 1936
Earnest had a closing out sale and moved to Canoga
Park, California, where he died in 1949.
The four children who came to America with their
parents were William, Florence, Edith, and Arthur.
William “Bill” was the Standard Oil Tank Wagon man
for Silver City until he moved to Colorado, then to
California, where he died in 1955. Flo married Gail
Burgoin and they had one son, Donald (married Betty
Henderson; two children: Billy Joe and Gayle Ann).
Flo died at their home here in 1925. Edith worked for the George Krasne family in Council Bluffs for
42 years before retiring to the Glen Haven Home in
Glenwood. Arthur “Shorty” married Gladys Speer and
farmed in this area for a time before moving to
Canoga Park, California, where he passed away in
1970 leaving Gladys, who still lives in Canoga Park
and their daughter Shirley (married Bob Newton; one
son, Brian). Clarence married Nellie Godfrey and
farmed northeast of Silver City until 1969 when
they moved to Glenwood. They have two children,
Robert (married Linda Stacy; two children, Stacy
and Jennifer) and Catherine.
BURGOIN,
GEORGE
George Silas Burgoin was born 9 April 1900 near
Silver City to William Burgoin and Mae Morse.
George was one of seven children. On 9 September
1923 he married Eldon Mae Dovenspike, daughter of
John B. Dovenspike and Grace Kidd. George farmed
for most of his life. He passed away on 8 January
1971. George was a member of the United Methodist
Church and was a Mason and member of the Eastern
Star. Eldon is also a member of the Methodist
Church and an Eastern Star Member. Eldon still
lives in the old family home in Silver City. George
and Eldon had two children: Jack Eugene and
Patricia Anne.
Jack was born 24 March 1925 near Silver City and
still lives on the farms the land homesteaded by
his great grandfather, Silas Morse. On 7 October
1944 Jack married Margaret Dean Riggins of Silver
City, daughter of E. D. Riggins and Anna Charles
Waugh. Jack is a member of the American Legion,
Masons and they are both members of the Eastern
Star and the United Methodist Church. Jack and
Margaret have 2 children: Rex Eugene and Peggy
Marie.
Rex was born on 25 December 1946 in Council Bluffs,
Iowa. On 2 September 1967 he married Gloria Norene
Larsen, daughter of Harold Larsen and Valborg Irene
Jensen of Council Bluffs. Rex and Gloria belong to
the United Methodist Church and Eastern Star. Rex
is also a member of the American Legion and Masons
and other local groups. They live in Silver City
where Rex runs a local grain elevator. Rex and
Gloria have 2 children, Valerie Lynn, born 23
November 1970 and Megan Dean, born 15 January 1977.
Peggy Marie was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa on 5
May 1950. On 14 August 1970 she married Dick Rupe
of Pacific Junction, son of Hobe Rupe and Marion
Nelson. Dick and Peg are members of the United
Methodist Church and she is a member of the Eastern
Star. They have 3 children: Samuel Franklin, born
14 December 1971, Jacquelin Marie, born 9 January
1975, and Jill Marie, born 11 February 1977. Dick
and Peg live in Pacific Junction where they run the
local tavern and Peg works for a bank in Glenwood.
Patricia Ann was born 27 March 1930 near Silver
City. On 18 December 1949 she married William
Albert Hunt, son of Richard Hunt and Evelyn
Williams. Bill and Pat are members of the United
Methodist Church and Eastern Star. Bill is also a
Mason. They farm on the south edge of Silver City
and Bill also works for the local co-op. Bill and
Pat had one child Pamela Elaine.
Patricia Elaine was born 19 March 1952. On 2 April
1977 she married David Godfroy, son of Glenn and
Lois Godfroy of Omaha. Pam and Dave live in Glenwood. Pam works for a bank in Omaha and Dave works
for an irrigation company in Valley, Nebraska.
BURGOIN,
WILLIAM
William b. 26-1868, Dovenshire, England, came to
America and Silver City 1887 to the home of his
Uncle George Rew where he stayed until his marriage
2-3-1892 to Mae Morse a member of a pioneer family.
He was an extensive farmer and stock man, a large
landowner, member of Masonic and Eastern Star
lodges and Church of England. He was President of
the Farmer’s State Bank for many years and
identified with all community life. Mr. and Mrs.
Burgoin had 7 children: James Arthur, Gail G.,
Ward, George, Gladys, Ethel and Frances. He d.
12-21-1952. She is deceased.
James Arthur better known as Art b. 2-7-1893 Silver
City, was educated in the public school and college
at Pella. Ia, and Ames. He m. 6-13-1914 to Maude Plumer. Her history under Plumer) He is a
successful farmer, a member of the Farm Bureau,
Mills Co. and since moving to Silver City he had
been a member of the town council. Their daughter
Jean married Donald Goos. History under Nicholas
Goos)
Gail G. b. 12-16-1895 Silver City, m. 2-17-1921,
Florence. He was a successful farmer, member of
Masonic Lodge. City Council and American Legion.
She d. a few years later and he d. 4-17-1950. They
had a son Donald (See Donald Burgoin History)
Ward b. 5-2-1897 Silver City, successful farmer and
stockman. A member of the Masonic and Eastern Star
and the Shriner Lodge. He m. 8-1-1917 Lena Willard.
They have 2 daughters: Betty and Hope. He is
deceased.
George b. 4-9-1900 (See George Burgoin History)
Gladys now deceased (See George Carison History)
Ethel graduated from Silver City High School received higher education at
Drake University taught in Silver City, Council Bluffs and at the
Philippine Islands married Douglas Tyson in Manila. They with their son
Jim Bill were Japanese prisoners on the Island during World War II. Ethel
d. in 1979. They also had a son Michael who died
young.
Frances graduated from Silver City High School and
Drake Uni. taught at Silver City School and Council
Bluffs. She m. Beymer Lehman lived at Carroll, Iowa
where he owns and operates a drug store. He is
deceased. They have a daughter Catherine Ann another died
young. She married Charles Birch and lives in
Calif.
BURROWS,
WILLIAM HENRY
William Henry b. 9-15-1865 Cullompton, Devonshire,
England, came to Silver City at age of 17. He
operated a meat market and confectionery store for
many years, later was a stone mason and brick layer
and for many years operated a nursery business
here. He was a member of the I.O.O.F. lodge for
over 50 years and had been Treas. of this lodge for
18 years, he was a member of Parish Church of
England, and was city assessor for 26 years. He was
a highly respected man, he m. 11-28-1891 Della
Phifer. They had 3 children:
Frances m. W. D.
Kirkham; Pearl m. Lee Wells, after his death she m.
Mr. Stout; Eugene d. young. Mr. Burrows d. 8-11-1937 and Mrs. Burrows d. 1948.
Transcribed and contributed by Roseanna Zehner and Darlene Jacoby, 2010