Mills County, Iowa
The Silver City Community History
Biographies 1879-1979
Silver City Community History Book Committee

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PARKER, JOHN “CORWYN”
     John “Corwyn” Parker, a Silver City graduate in 1932, married Doris Gawatz (formerly of Easton, Missouri) in 1940 in California, where they still reside. They have one son, Richard also of California. Richard and Rose, his wife, have two sons: Richard C. and Randy.
    Corwyn retired after 34 years at Douglas Air Craft of California. His father, J. “Guy” Parker is deceased; his mother, Bessie Parker lives in Searcy, Arkansas; she is ninety years of age. Betty Parker Hawkins, (Corwyn's sister) and family live at Beebe, Arkansas, a short distance from her mother.

PARKER, THOMAS
     Thomas Parker was born September 27, 1877 at Baraby, England, son of Richard and Ann Parker. His sisters were: Mary, Eliza Ann, Ada and Blanche, all deceased.
     When Thomas was five years old the family came to Larne, Ohio, where their mother passed away. When he was 16 years of age the family came to Mills County. Thomas stayed with the J.T. Skerritt family until he was 21. Then he and his father farmed the Frizzell farm in southwestern corner of Ingraham Township. Later he moved to the Skerritt farm two miles east of Silver City. His sister, Mary kept house for him until her death in 1935. Tom loved good horses and cattle and took great pride in raising them and his farming. He lived alone then until his death in 1965. Neither he or Mary had ever married.
 

 

PARMAN, WALT
     Joseph Walter Parman, son of Peter Henderson Parman and Mary Ellen Merlatte Parman, was born February 28, 1887, in Worth County, Missouri. He was of English and French descent. He married Erma Frances Wilson, daughter of William Wilson and Fannie Stevens Wilson on February 22, 1912. She was born January 4, 1892, and was of Scotch and Irish descent. Following their marriage they moved to a farm near Malvern, Iowa where their eldest daughter, Mary Helen was born April 19, 1913.
     They returned to a farm near Denver, Missouri, where two more daughters were born: Fannie Irene, born December 31, 1914, and Velma Berniece, born May 28, 1917.
     The family then returned to a farm near Malvern, Iowa, in 1925 and moved to a farm north of Silver City in 1926. They farmed in the Silver City area until 1932, when they purchased the restaurant in Silver City, which they operated until 1945 as Parman’s Cafe.
     They were active in community affairs and were active members of the Silver City Methodist Church. He died April 9, 1961, and she died August 1, 1965.
     Helen graduated from Silver City High School in 1930. She married Frank Pepmeier July 6, 1945, and lived near Shannon City, Iowa. He died December 26, 1957. She married Albert Marshall August 8, 1964 and they lived in Silver City. He died December 13, 1976.
     Irene graduated from Silver City High School in 1933 and married A.F. “Bob” Childs March 15, 1934. They had two daughters, Karen and Gwendolyn. A.F. “Bob” Childs was born October 25, 1905 near McClelland, Iowa. He moved to Silver City in 1930 and worked for Frank Goldapp Trucking Co. He purchased the trucking firm from Goldapp in 1936 and operated as Child’s Transfer. In 1945 he opened a Feed Store in conjunction with the trucking firm. He died March 13, 1959.
     Karen, born December 23, 1936, graduated from Silver City High School in 1954 and received a B.S. degree in Nursing from Jennie Edmundson Hospital in 1958. She married Robert Moore “Todd” Collins August 16, 1958. They have three children: Alise, born July 15, 1959, Robert Marshall, born March 8, 1961, and Rebecca, born October 23, 1963. Todd is a Major in the U.S. Army and at present they live in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
     Gwendolyn, born April 30, 1938, graduated from Silver City High School in 1955 and from Nebraska School of Cosmetology in 1959. She married Sherman L. Pallatt May 28, 1966. They have two adopted daughters: Teri born April 23, 1974, and Dawn, born March 10, 1978. They live on an acreage near Council Bluffs, Iowa.
     Berniece graduated from Silver City High School in 1935 and from Boyle’s Business College in Council Bluffs, Iowa. She was married to Clayton H. Fries on August 18, 1942. She was a licensed Insurance Agent with E.R. McDonnell Co. in Council Bluffs, Iowa for 28 years. Clayton is a retired steel-worker. They have one daughter Cynthia, born May 27, 1947. She graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in June 1966 and worked as a Dental Assistant in Council Bluffs. She was married to Richard L. Ryba on April 1, 1967, who is a Yard Master for the Union Pacific Railroad in Council Bluffs, Iowa. They have three children: Brent Richard, born on December 21, 1968, Matthew Lee, born March 15, 1973, and Jill Dianne, born May 9, 1975.
 

PETTIT, FRANK
    Frank Pettit born 9-1-1849 at Muscatine, Iowa. He married 8-29-1872 to Olive Gordon; they lived in Council Bluffs for a time then moved to Silver City in 1891. He was a carpenter, a member of the Baptist Church and the I. O.O.F. Lodge. They had four children: Emma, Guy D., Stella and Beryl. He died 11-18-1928 and she died 3-19-1929. Emma was a dressmaker and also operated a millinery dept. in Silver City General Store for several years; she died 4-13-1935.
    Guy D. Pettit born 11-9-1874 at Muscatine, Iowa and passed away 5-9-1941 at Silver City. He married 3-6- 1900 Alta Rains who was born 1-1-1883 and died 7-23-1966. Guy was an interior decorator and barber; during the Spanish-American War he served in the Philippines. Mr. and Mrs. Pettit had four children: Lloyd, Don, Wallace and Ruth. Lloyd 1901-1953; he had two boys Gerald born 1921 and Robert born 1922. Don born 1903 and died 1952. Wallace 1918-1966, he had one boy, Cary born 1943. Ruth B. born October 25, 1913; she married Joe Miller May 23, 1931. They have three children 1) Allan Miller born March 19, 1932, he married Micaela Cloonan in 1957; they have three children:
Cathy born April 30, 1963, Mike born April 29, 1967 and Chris born May 26, 1969. 2) Dinah Miller (Kittel) born November 10, 1939, she married Harvey Kittel in 1957; they have two daughters: Toni Kittel born September 5, 1960 and Valery Kittel born October 21, 1967.3) Dennis Miller born July 15, 1952. Toni Kittel (Dinah’s daughter) married Ray Woodruff in January 1978, they have one child, Tommy Woodruff born October 8, 1978.
 

PIATT, GEORGE A.
      George A. Piatt was born February 7, 1864 at Shellyville, Indiana. He lived in Kansas and several towns in Mills County before he came to Silver City in 1901. He was a barber, a farmer, Mayor, member of I.O.O.F. and Rebekah Lodges and was also the director of Piatt’s Orchestra. He married Louise Pickenpaugh in February of 1885. They had four children: Clyde, Albert, Hudson and Georgia. Clyde was born June 19, 1886. He worked with his father in Silver City for several years and traveled with musical groups on the Chautauqua Circuits, edited a newspaper and was a merchant and band director in Nebraska. He returned to Silver City in 1933 and married Mrs. Pearl Pike February 27, 1937. He operated Silver City’s barber shop for a number of years. Pearl died June 4, 1972 and Clyde resides at Oakland Manor in Oakland, Iowa. Albert worked with his father and later had a barber shop in Malvern where he died. He was married and had several children. Hudson worked with his father, married and lives in California. Georgia married Harry Pace who is deceased and has several children. She currently lives in California.
 

PICKENPAUGH, GEORGE WASHINGTON
      George Washington Pickenpaugh lived and married in Kansas and later moved his family to Silver City. Louise married George Piatt and Erie married Frank Moore (see John Moore). Another daughter was Mrs. Carrie McClure (see Harry McCoy).
      George H. Pickenpaugh was born March 6, 1889 in Alton, Kansas. He came to Silver City with his parents and married Carrie Hunt on December 29, 1908. He was a farmer and a businessman and died in Silver City April 6, 1933. They had seven children: Lloyd, Wayne, Marvel, Joy, Fern, George and Albert.
     Lloyd married, moved to California and is deceased. Wayne married Patty Hopkinson, lives in Lincoln and has two sons, Harold and Eddie. Marvel married Albert Wilkins and has five children: Yvonne, Gary, Terry, Sharon and Ben. After Albert’s death she married Herschel Simmering. Joy married Victor Hopkinson and has four children: Marsha, Galen, Valerie and Vance. Since Victor’s death she has remarried and lives near Des Moines. Fern married Dick Wetter, lives in Chico. California and has two daughters: Carrie and Ann. George married Alice Anderson, farms near Coleridge, Nebraska and has two girls, Carol and Elaine. Albert married Thelma Holden, lives in Lincoln and has four children: Larry, Roger, Karen and Ricky.
 

PLUMB
     There were three brothers, Rev. Frances, Robert and John Plumb who were pioneers of this community. They married sisters of Hon. John Parker also a pioneer and all were natives of England.
     Rev. Frances Plumb was a circuit rider for the Methodist Episcopal Church in western Iowa coming from Indiana. He is listed as an early minister of the Malvern Methodist Church which was organized as a circuit 4-24-1870. Rev. Plumb served other churches in S.W. Iowa. He owned a farm in Ingraham Township where he and his wife both died. He died 12-6-1896.
     Thomas F. Plumb, son of Rev, and Mrs. Plumb, was born 11-28-1854 Crawfordsville, Ohio. He came to Mills County as a child with his parents, and married 1-19-1876 Mary Elizabeth Robertson. They farmed east of Silver City for a number of years, later moving into Silver City where he was postmaster for several years. He was a member of I.O.O.F. and a supporting and sustaining member of the Methodist Church. He d. 11-11-1918 during a street celebration of the allied victory in World War I. Mrs. Plumb d. 10-10-1939. They had 7 children: Roy, Carl, Bertha, Clara, Anna, Alice and Harry.
     Roy and Carl died in childhood.
     Bertha, taught in Silver City Public School, married Wm. Agan, lived in Glenwood many years where she died Dec. 1953. They had 2 children: Lucille married Amos Meeks (see Meeks History), Ralph Stewart Agan, born 10-14-1913, and Wilma Elaine Gilbert, born 7-24- 1915, were married 10-14-1935. Live in Glenwood. They have 4 children: William Edward b. 5-6-1937; Dorothy Lorraine b. 4-28-1942; Judith Lynn b. 10-15-1947; Kathy Helen b. 8-29-1953. Wm. E. married on 8-21-1960 to Tamara N. Travis b. 10-30-1940. They have 4 children: Kellie Lynn b. 7-2-1961; Kyle Edward b. 10-3-1963: Raylinn Elaine b. 8-9-1965; William Edward II 2-7- 1976.
     Dorothy Lorraine married on 9-3-1961 to John Edwin Flack 7-4-1929. They have 3 children: Julie Lynn b. 11-3-1963; Michelle Renee 3-3-1966; Michael Edwin b.1-18- 1969.
     Judith Lynn married 7-2-1971 Donald Everett Hockabout 4-30-1937. They have 2 children: Darren Paul b. 5-5-1969; Dustin Ryan b. 3-15-1972.
     Kathy Helen married 4-28-1972 James Howard Schoening 4-30-1949. They have 2 children: Robert Edward b. 12-30-1975; and Todd Stewart b. 5-9-1978.
     Clara had a millinery store in Silver City for a number of years; married Parker Plumb who d. 1938, she was then Mrs. Barnes who d. in 1959.
     Anna taught in Silver City Public Schools several years married Phil Towers lives in Texas where he is connected with the J.C. Penney Co.
     Alice graduated from Silver City High School married Earl Bryant and lives in Bryon, Texas where he is connected with the J.C. Penney Co.
     Harry W. born 2-7-1894 Silver City, graduated from S.C.H.S.and Omaha Business College, employed by Morris Packing Co. in Michigan, later went to Abilene, Texas with the J.C. Penney Co. lived also in Bryan and Kingsville where he died 6-7-1934. He married 11-4-1919 Mary Nooman who lives in Texas. They had 1 daughter Mary Alice. He was a member of Methodist Church and a World War I Veteran.
     Robert one of the pioneer brothers, married in Ohio, 4 Mrs. Jane (Parker) Skerritt. They came to Mills County in the year 1860, where he was a prominent stock farmer in Ingraham Township. They later moved to Malvern where he died 9-16-1896. She d. 11-14-1911. They had 4 daughters: Alice, Mrs. Beebe; Iva, Mrs. Axe11: May, Mrs. Stevenson and Rose is Mrs. Austin, also John Skerritt a son of Mrs. Plumb by a former marriage.
     John, the last of the 3 pioneer brothers married Millicent Parker and lived in upper Sandusky, Ohio later coming to Ingraham Township 1862. Their son Parker Valentine b. 2-9-1857 at Upper Sandusky, Ohio, came with his parents to Ingraham Township where he was a successful farmer for many years. Later moving into Silver City, served as its Mayor and was always an energetic and supporting member of the Methodist Church and I.O.O.F. Lodge. He married 12-31-1878 Minnie Robertson who d. March 1925. They had no children, but had an adopted daughter Ada Parker who married Harry Alexander. He later married his niece Clara Plumb 1-2-1927 and lived at Colorado Springs where he died 6—21-l938.
 

PLUMER-BURGOIN HOMESTEAD
      The beautiful two story house was used as a Stage Coach Inn for passengers on the Western State Co’s. Line. It was built in the very early day by Mr. Ward who hauled the lumber by teams and wagons from Des Moines and is located 2 miles N.E. of the present site of Silver City.
     He later sold it to a Mr. Beck, who operated the Inn for a few years selling it to Mr. and Mrs. Hurlbutt Benton. They sold it to Frank H. Plumer about 1884 when he and Margaret Pullman were married; and here they lived for many years before moving into their beautiful Silver City. It was later the lovely farm home of their daughter Maude and her husband, James Arthur Burgoin, and still is in their possession.
     An elaborate system of call bells have been kept in excellent condition and the room numbers on the door, have been carefully painted back on whenever the house has been redecorated. Either Mr. Ward of one or one of the other early owners planted an avenue of cedars from the house to the road, which along with many large elms and other trees, make a beautiful setting for this well preserved and lovely home.
     Frank Henry Plumer, b. 3-23-1859 in the Plumer Settlement of Mills Co.; son of Wm. and Margaret Plumer, was educated at Council Bluffs schools and law school at Davenport College. He was a large landowner, farmer and stockman. He was a member of the Board of Supervisors of Mills Co. for 2 terms; the 1st. Pres. of the Farmers State Bank and a member of the Lutheran Church. He m. 1884 Margaret Pullman a member of another pioneer family. He d. 3-29-1941 and she d. 5-18- 1953 at the age of 93. They were parents of 4 daughters: Lucille Ernestine, Maude, Frances and Dorothy.
     Lucille Ernestine b. 10-11-1886 was educated in the public school, Tabor College and received a Music Degree from Grinnell College. She m. 1-11-1922 Paul Flammant both deceased. They had 1 daughter Lucille who d. 10-19-1946.
     Maude Elizabeth b. 6-3-1889, graduated from Silver City High School, Grinnell College and Cedar Falls, taught at Silver City and Essex and married James Arthur Burgoin. They have 1 daughter Jean who married Donald Goos. They have 3 children Lynn, Carol and Margaret.
     Frances Mary b. 4-15-1893, graduated from Silver City High School and St. Mary’s Council Bluffs. She is now Mrs. O.C. Bunton of Caldwell, Idaho and has 2 daughters Donna and Dorothy.
     Dorothy Lisle b. 2-8-1899, graduated from Silver City High School, later attended Brownell Hall, Omaha m. Clifford Williams and lives near Council Bluffs. They have 2 children: Margaret and James.

POLLITT, W. A.
      W. A. Pollitt was born July 20, 1886 in Bryant, Illinois and came to Silver City on June 1910. He was in the garage business for many years and worked for the county road for 15 years and in California for 4 years in the ship yards as an electrician. He married Hilda Gustafson on June 7, 1911. They had eight children: Roland (deceased), Wayve, Dorothy, twins Esther and Ethel (deceased), Wilma, Helen and Billy (died 1979). Mrs. Pollitt died February 26, 1949, He later married Marie Cady on January 27, 1951. She died on March 14,1953. He was a member of the Masonic, Eastern Star and
I.O.O.F. Lodges.
      W.A. Pollitt passed away in 1961.

PRIEN, DETLEF
     Detlef Prien was born May 27, 1910 in Mineola, Iowa. He married Irene Kruse on February 22, 1940 and they have one son, Richard. Detlef passed away in 1968 and Irene is presently employed at the Glenwood State School.
     On April 3, 1971, Richard married Nancy Pigue of Council Bluffs, Iowa. They moved to Silver City on April 29, 1975, Richard works for Jacobson Transfer
Company as a long haul truck driver. They have two children, John, born September 19, 1969 and Bobbi, born April 29, 1974. Both children attend Glenwood Community School.
 

PULLMAN FAMILY
     George Pullman born 11/24/1834, Darmstadt, Germany. He came to America in 1852 and located at Philadelphia with his two sisters. He worked as a wagon and carriage maker there until 1856, when he moved to Chicago and later to Muscatine, Iowa. There he married 1/4/1856 Elizabeth Hettinger also a native of Darmstadt, Germany, and the daughter of George and Margaret (Buch) Hettinger. They lived as tenant farmers at Muscatine until 9/1/1870 when they came to Ingraham Twp., Mills Co. They made the trip in a covered wagon; it took 13 days. He became a large land owner and successful farmer and stock man. They were the parents of 14 children: George, William, Margaret, Sophia, Mary, Phillip, John, Henry, Charles, Edward, Elizabeth, Frank, Albert and James. Mr. Pullman was a school director and twp. trustee for a number of years. He was a member of the Lutheran Church, and died 9/6/1898 and Mrs. Pullman died 10/19/1928.
     George b. 4/5/1857 in Muscatine, Ia. married 1/5/ 1882, Mary Plumer. He was an early business man in Silver City; later moving to Sidney, Ia. where he farmed. He was a member of Masonic and I.O.O.F. Lodges and died 1/21/1927 and Mrs. Pullman died 7/ 27/1924. Five children: Thomas married and lived in Omaha; Coll married and lived in Sidney; Joseph m. Inez Spitler lived in Sidney and had 4 children; James m. Mildred DeFreese, he was asst. cashier of Silver City State Bank, then cashier of Anderson Bank and President of Sidney Bank, four children; Marian m. Hubert Hansen, one son, they lived in Colorado.
     William Pullman b. 11/8/1858 at Muscatine. He farmed in Nebraska on the Pullman Ranch for several years; later returning to Silver City and m. 10/9/1907 Mrs. Susie (Howser) McDermott and became an enterprising farmer. She d. 2/16/1936 and he d. 8/12/1936. They had 2 children died young and Willa. After graduating from S.C.H.S. and Iowa State Teachers College Willa was a successful teacher in Ingraham Twp. and the Silver City Public Schools for several years. During W.W. II she was Mailman 1st Class in San Francisco Fleet Post Office. Deceased 8/8/1962.
      John b. 1/12/1866, Muscatine, was one of Silver City’s early successful businessmen, was educated at Gem City Business College, Quincy, Illinois, a member of the school board, city council, Treas. of both school board and city; assessor; member of I.O.O.F. and Encampment. He married 9/18/1891 Ezza Spencer, a member of another pioneer family. They had one daughter Wayve, who d. 4/18/1914 after several years of invalidism. He d. 7/25/1911 after suffering an accident. Mrs. Pullman was House Mother for a Sorority at Drake and Univ. of Nebr. for many years. After retirement she lived in Silver City where she was active in church and community activities.
     Henry b. 1/12/1868 Muscatine, m. 8/29/1900, Minnie Lewis. He was a businessman in Silver City and successful farmer, dying 3/18/1936. Mrs. Pullman d. 3/4/1909. They had 3 children: Elizabeth, Marvin, and Margaret; all three graduates of S.C.H.S. Elizabeth married Herman Schoening, a successful farmer southeast of town, no children. After Margaret completed high school she graduated from the Edmundson Hospita1 School of Nursing and was a Captain in Army Nurses Corps during W.W.II. Later she served as Supervisor of University Hospital of Omaha. Marvin “Bud” married Celia Childs; they have three children: Mariann, Betty Lou and Marvin “Dick” Jr. All three of Bud and Celia's children completed high school here. Mariann married Merle Simmons, their home is in Farragut, Iowa: two children: Mark and Marcia who married Kevin Livingston (they live in Maryville, Missouri). Betty Lou married Marvin Fulton; they have two daughters: LuAnn and Wendy. The Fultons live in Hastings, Minnesota, Marvin “Dick” lives in Elma, Iowa and is married to Lorri Enloe; they have three children: Gina, Tonya and Brady Lee.
      Frank b. 1876 in Ingraham Twp. was a business man in Silver City for many years. He m. Stella Petitt, three sons: Claire, Clive and Ward. The family moved to Omaha where she died 1953. He was a member of I.O.O.F. and Masonic Lodges; both of which Frank was a member for more than fifty years. Frank died in 1964. Entire family deceased.
     Albert b. 1878 in Ingraham Twp. was a successful farmer, farming the old homestead. He married Anna Kay; one daughter, Georgia, Mrs. Ed Rath of Council Bluffs; she was a S.C.H.S. graduate. The Raths had one son. Albert and Anna had one son Donald who married Grace Guttau, he was also a graduate of Silver City. They live in California and had two children.
      James b. 6/30/1881 Silver City, was a successful farmer; m. 4/2/1908 to Alta J. Lewis. They had one daughter, Harriett, a Silver City graduate and active in community affairs. Harriett married Shirley Hendrix several years after his death she married Lawrence Schoening, who is a progressive farmer of our community. James Pullman died 1919 and Mrs. Pullman in 1964.
       Sophia married Wm. Mosely, had four children: James and George both married and lived at Sidney: Neva married Arthur Hafer, their children listed under his history. Mrs. Mosely lived with her daughter several years. She died at the age of 97.
      Mary lived with and cared for her mother, also had the care of three children of her brother Henry after their mother’s death. Mary died in 1945.
      Margaret was the wife of Frank Plumer; her family listed under Frank Plumer.
      Elizabeth married Davis Greenwood.
      Phillip Pullman lived in Fowler, Kansas.
      Charles (1871-1947) and his wife Rita lived in Omaha, both deceased.
      Edward Pullman and wife lived in Bassett, Nebraska.

Transcribed and contributed by Roseanna Zehner and Darlene Jacoby, 2010