Mills County, Iowa
The Silver City Community History
Biographies 1879-1979
Silver City Community History Book Committee
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H I
J
K
L
M N
O
P Q
R
S
T U
V
W
X Y Z
WALTRIP, GEORGE
George Waltrip and his wife, Clara Moore, were born and raised in the same
community and attended the same rural school in Albany, Missouri. They
were married there on November 26, 1891. They farmed in Missouri for
several years and their two children, Edgar and Ethel, were born there. In
1905 they came to Silver City where they owned and operated a restaurant
until 1912 when they moved to Council Bluffs. In 1918 they came to a farm
north of Silver City and they farmed until early 1950 when they moved into
town. George died May 15, 1954 and Mrs. Waltrip died December 26. 1956.
Edgar Waltrip married Dessie Stork on July 16, 1919. They lived in Council
Bluffs and Arkansas and returned to Council Bluffs a few years before his
death on February 17, 1977. They had two daughters, Wanda and Norma Jean.
Dessie now lives at Indian Hills Nursing Home in Council Bluffs. Wanda
married Charles L. Sweetman and lives in Council Bluffs. They have two
daughters: Carol Jean Bahnsen (Mrs. Jerry) who has three children and Ann
Christine Janes (Mrs. Robert E.) who has two children. Norma Jean married
Gilbert Ellerbeck and lives in Council Bluffs. They have a son. Ronald,
who is married and has two daughters.
Ethel married Robert Harrington on May 26, 1919. They are both deceased.
They had two daughters, Dorothy and Phyllis. Dorothy married Lowell
Sprinkle and has two children, Brian and Lizabeth. Phyllis married Glen
Stemple and they have three children: Craig, Lance and Jan. Both girls and
their families live in Council Bluffs.
WHITEHEAD, GEORGE
George Whitehead was born near Manchester, England on August 20, 1833. In
1861 he came to America on a sailing vessel; he went directly to Neponset,
Illinois. There he met and married Sarah Jane Neeley on January 21, 1865.
In February 1870 he moved to Clarke County, Iowa by rail, settling near
Murray. At the same time Mrs. Neeley and her father, Mr. Atkins left for
Iowa in a covered wagon. Mr. Atkins gave George and family forty acres of
land. George bought forty acres for ten dollars per acre. There were
eleven children in their family. He died March 11, 1899 and was buried in
the Murray Cemetery. He was affiliated with the Methodist Church; his wife
died October 30, 1898.
John William (known as Bill) was the third child of George and Sarah. He
was born April 23, 1870, grew to manhood at Murray. He met and married
Nellie Wright on February 23, 1898. Nellie was born April 12, 1879 near
Thayer, Iowa.
March 1, 1905 Bill decided to try irrigation in western Nebraska, near
Scottsbluffs. They lived in a sod house with a leaky roof. A snake was
seen crawling into the outside wall; one day a snake came inside and was
in the doorway. Ant hills were in the yard and cacti in the pasture.
Coyotes came near the yard seeking a hen for their meal. Bill did not like
that type of land, so after eight months he moved back to Clarke County.
On March 1, 1911 he moved his family to Mills County, where his sister,
Mrs. Robert Webber and family lived. He started farming for himself on Bo
Wearin’s farm four miles east of Silver City. In 1923 Bill moved on Bill
Burgoin’s farm. By this time he had a family of nine children: Mae, John,
Dora, Leonard, Clare, Edna, Annie, Frances and Donald. Mae had graduated
from Silver City High School and was teaching. Dora, Leonard, Clare, Edna,
and Annie also were graduates of Silver City High School. Bill stayed on
the Burgoin farm fourteen years, he then farmed for four years west of
Henderson where Frances and Donald finished high school.
After living in Mills County for thirty years, Bill decided to return to
Clarke County, where land would be a little cheaper. This was in 1941.
Leonard and Clare joined the armed forces. Leonard, gave his life in the
DDay Battle in France July 10, 1944. Clare went to Wyoming and worked in
the oil fields; he made that his life’s work. He married Gloria Heisner, a
teacher and now live north of Casper, Wyoming. Edna went to Wyoming too:
she married Bill Lohrenz. They both work in Cody, Wyoming. John married
Hazel Havener Walters of Council Bluffs; he is still a farmer. Annie
married Vernon Files. Both families moved to Clarke County also. Dora
married Kenneth Alley; she has retired and still lives in Glenwood.
Frances married Isaac Barr August 19, 1945 in Clarke County where they
continue to live. Donald and Mae took care of their parents and still live
on the home farm.
Bill died August 23, 1949 and his wife Nellie passed away January 7, 1965.
WHIGHTMAN,
CHARLES
Shortie, born March 29, 1915, as he was known among the people of Silver
City came to town from Braymer, Missouri the year of 1958 and married
Ellen Fender. Ellen has nine children. Shortie and Ellen carries the World
Herald and the Nonpariel and often times walks to get the paper to the
people. They are very dedicated couple and have been for eight years.
WILHELM, GILBERT
“BUCK”
Gilbert “Buck”, b. 11-6-1894, in Liberal, Missouri is the son of Noah and
Belle Wilhelm. He moved to Iowa when he was a small child. On 1-20-1917 he
married Ethel Decker, the daughter of Frank and Addie Decker. They made
their home in this community, farming until he retired and later moving to
Glenwood. They have 2 children, Russell and Clifford.
Russell m. Eleanor McCracken on 2/15/1939. They farmed in this community
for a few years and later moved to Council Bluffs. They both work in
Omaha.
Clifford m. Doris Jane Roberts on 5/12/1940. They farmed a few years and
later Cliff worked for the Wabash and Doris ran the cafe in Silver City.
They have 3 children, Clifford, Scarlett and Rick. Clifford “Skeater” m.
Georgia Ann Correll. They had 5 children, Suzanne, Jeffery, Melissa, John
and Hiede. Scarlett Lee m. Richard Prien (divorced) — 1 child, Kathy Jo.
Scarlett now m. Jon L. Huddleston. Kathy Jo m. John Veydt. Rick M.
Patricia Lynn on June 25, 1971 and they have one daughter, Casey Ann.
WILKINS, WILLIAM A.
William Albert Wilkins was born November 8, 1873 in Washington County,
Iowa, the son of Benjamin Franklin Wilkins and Mary Jane Moore Wilkins (a
sister of Dr. Robert A. Moore, long-time doctor in Silver City). He was
educated in the public schools and academies of Washington County.
“Billy”, as he was known by many, had the following brothers and sisters:
Dwight Elisha, Robert Howard, Clara Idell, Fred Goldburn and Franklin
Carl. When he was twenty years old he went to Nebraska where he was
employed by several commission companies over a period of years.
He was married on March 30, 1898 at Silver City to Birdie Almaretta
Huffaker, the adopted daughter of Henry Harrison and Mary Jane Post
Huffaker. They lived on a farm one and a half miles north of Silver City
for sixteen years before moving to town. He managed the Spring Valley
Stock Farm at Silver City for several years. After moving to town, Mr.
Wilkins was active in city affairs and was elected Mayor of Silver City in
1938 serving for eight years.
William Albert passed away at Silver City on January 24, 1962 and he was
preceded in death by his son, Albert, in 1943.
Four children were born to William and Birdie: Vardaman Gettes, Albert H.,
Mary Jane and Lilah Catherine. Vardaman married Lena Bada (See Richard
Frederick Bada). Albert married Marvel Pickenpaugh of Silver City. Mary
was first married to Nisce Duysen who passed away when their only son,
Delbert, was about ten years old. She later married Carl Whistler. Lilah
was married to Eugene McGuire of Council Bluffs.
WILLIAMS, FREDDIE DUANE
Freddie Duane Williams was born August 26, 1934 at Silver City, Iowa. He
is the son of Willie and Alice Carrol Williams. He received his education
in the Silver City Community.
Freddie joined the Air Force in August 1951, served 2 years in Korea, and
was discharged from the Air Force in August 1955 at Chaunte Air Force Base
at Rantoul, Illinois. While stationed in Illinois he met and married
Carolee Rose Garrison of St. Elmo, Illinois on May 2, 1954.
They lived in Illinois until February of 1960 when they returned to Iowa.
They have lived in the Silver City community all except for a year when
they moved to Colorado. They returned June 1979 when they moved to
Glenwood, Iowa.
They have 3 children:
Ronald Duane Williams born July 6, 1957 at Vandalia, Illinois.
Carol Lynette Williams born December 22, 1958 at Decatur, Illinois.
Todd Eugene Williams born March 2, 1964 at Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Ronald Duane married Christy Sue Lundy of Glenwood, Iowa on October 19,
1979. They are making their home in the Silver City community.
WILLIAMS, HAROLD G.
The history of the Williams family in Pottawattamie County began with
Richard Williams, Grandfather of Harold G. Williams, he was born January
15, 1843 in Ohio; he entered the Civil War at the age 15. He married
Catherine Jane Simmons who was born in the year of 1846.
In the fall of 1877 Richard came to Avoca, Iowa and walked down to Taylor
Station, stayed with friends, but there not being many settlers around
mostly Indians, he decided to go back to Ottumwa, Iowa, Wapello County.
Then in the fall of 1879, Richard left Ottumwa on the Wabash came to
Silver City; he walked up along Silver Creek twenty miles to Washington
Twp., where he bought a half section of land. He returned to Ottumwa and
in the spring of 1880 three of the boys rode horseback and Grandfather
Richard drove through with a covered wagon; also bringing some cows along.
They came by the way of Des Moines to Avoca then down to Oakland, known as
“Big Grove.” Grandmother Wi1liams came by the Wabash train with the girls
and younger ones. They had fifteen children; the country school across the
road was named the Williams School after the family.
In 1897 the oldest son Tom left with others on the Alaska Gold Rush, but
he was never heard from again.
In 1903 the Grandparents moved to Council Bluffs; they lived there six
years, then moved to Sacramento. Calif., both are buried there.
In 1897 Rodolpho Harold’s father purchased 280 acres of land 7 miles west
of Oakland, Iowa; he married Hannah Blakeslee, a school teacher from Cory,
Pa. They lived on this farm until retiring, moving to Council Bluffs; both
are buried in the Walnut Hill Cemetery, Council Bluffs. To this union was
born: Erma, Haroki Zoe and Verne. Harold married Gertrude Plumer whose
Great Grandfather, Johaan Heinrich Plumer born in 1795 near Diepholtz,
Hanover, Germany and his wife Mary Giethaus was born in the year of 1798;
they were some of the early families who pioneered the rich soils of Iowa.
Mr. and Mrs. Plumer lived near Diepholtz, Germany until their six children
were born. He served in the English Armies fighting in the battle of
Waterloo.
They came to America in 1840; first going to Dayton, Ohio, then to
California, Missouri, before settling in Mills County in 1851. At Glenwood
the Pony Creek and Nishna Botna were out of their banks so they had to
camp for a week before it was possible for them to cross. As there was
plenty of timber, water and good land here they decided to stay. After his
wife died he made his home with their youngest son Christopher. He sold
his Missouri farm of 160 acres for a total of $300 dollars. Mr. and Mrs.
Plumer are both buried in the Plumer Cemetery in Mills County, the oldest
one there.
Henry F. Plumer, my Grandfather born in 1828 came to America with his
parents; he married Sophia Kinning and migrated to Iowa, 1851. They
settled on timber land in Lewis Twp. near a settlement known as Dumfries
and constructed a small log house 18 x 20. In 1880 they built a large
frame house which still stands today. They acquired farmland in Iowa and
Kansas; also constructed a flour mill in Council Bluffs.
Henry and Sophia were members of the German Evangelical Church near the
Plumer Settlement. They donated 2 1/2 acres of land near Dumfries for the
first church structure in 1868 and was one of the ten original founding
members of what was to become St. Paul’s Evangelical Church. They are both
buried in the Cemetery near the church.
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Plumer had fourteen children; Henry E. Plumer born in
1879, the fourteenth child of Henry and Sophia Plumer. My father married
Ella Green; they had three children — Albert, Gertrude and Martha. Charles
Green, my grandfather, was born in 1834 near Hamburg, Germany. At the age
of 19 he and a friend sailed to America; the voyage took six weeks,
landing in New York they went by ox-cart to St. Marys, a village on the
Missouri River in Mills County; he took his trade as carpenter in the
village building houses for the pioneers. In 1860 Charles marries Julia
Bauer; they pre-empted a homestead of 80 acres, known as the Green Hill
Farm” in Mills County. Charles served in the Civil War in Iowa Infantry
for nine months. In 1886 he purchased 320 acres in Lewis Twp. Charles and
Julia had seven children; Ella was the youngest who married Henry Plumer.
Harold Williams married Gertrude Plumer March 2, 1927. At the Plumer home
in Lewis Twp., that evening a party of 200 or more attended the charivri.
For a number of years we farmed his father’s farm near Oakland. In January
1938 we bought the Bada farm west of Silver City, sold that and bought and
moved in 1943 to a farm one mile north of Silver City, where Sheldon and
family live. We farmed until our retirement, we built our home in Silver
City 1965 and moved into it in January 1966.
We are members of the United Methodist Church. Harold is Past Master of
the Masonic Lodge in 1949; he also received the 50-Year Pioneers Patron
Livestock Award held in Omaha, May 8, 1974; served on the board of
directors of the Council Bluffs CO-OP for 18 years. We served as Worthy
Patron and Worthy Matron of Silver City Eastern Lodge in 1963. Gertrude is
a member of the S.C. United Methodist Women, American Legion Auxiliary,
Eastern Star Kensington and Woman’s Club.
We celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary with open house at our home in
1952; and observed our 50th Anniversary at the Masonic Hall in 1977, and
enjoyed our 51st Anniversary in Honolulu, Hawaii. We both enjoy traveling.
We were blessed with two children: Rose Marie and Sheldon. (See Sheldon
Williams History). Rose Marie was a charter member of the Loyal Lassies
4-H Club while at home and graduated from Silver City High School; she
attended Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln, Nebr. She now lives near
Carson, Iowa where she is a member of the United Methodist Church, Sunday
School Superintendent, Eastern Star and American Legion Auxiliary in
Carson. She has three children: Diane Marie, Brian Harold, and Lisa
Annette.
Diane Marie graduated from Carson-Macedonia High School and also from
Nebraska Wesleyan University, Lincoln, Nebraska; she married Robert
Johnson in 1972; they have one son Brent Robert who will be two years in
January. They live in Hastings, Nebraska; Diane teaches High School Math
in St. Cecilia’s High School. Robert works for North Western Mutual Life
Insurance.
Brian Harold Volkens also graduated from Carson-Macedonia High School and
Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa. He married Jill Townsend September 1,
1979; they are living in Rockwell, City, Iowa, where Brian works for
Production Credit Assocation.
Lisa Annette Volkens graduated from Carson- Macedonia High School and is
currently attending Nebraska College of Business in Omaha, majoring in
Fashion Merchandising; she plans to further her education at a 4-year
college.
WILLIAMS, MR. AND MRS. SHELDON
Sheldon and Delores Williams were married May 4, 1960. To this union were
born three children, Roger Harold, Nancy Lea, and Kevin Lynn. Sheldon and
Delores and family live one mile north of Silver City and also own a farm
1 mile east of Silver City.
Sheldon Harold Williams was born November 23, 1930 to Harold and Gertrude
Williams of Silver City. Delores was born July 1, 1939 to Charlie and
Clara Roenfeld of Glenwood. Sheldon attended country school at Pleasant
Hill and the Silver City schools, graduating in 1949. In high school
Sheldon participated in basketball and school plays, also Legion baseball.
In December, 1950, Sheldon entered the U.S. Air Force and was stationed at
Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, and Indianapolis, Indiana. Sheldon served his
country for four years and then returned to farming.
Delores lived on a farm five miles north of Glenwood along with four
sisters. Delores attended country school at West Liberty # 1 and a couple
years at Mineola under the instruction of an older sister. She attended
high school at Glenwood and graduated in 1957. In high school Delores was
a member of the band and a Homecoming Princess. In January 1958 Delores
started working at the Glenwood State Bank until her marriage.
Sheldon and Delores lived 1½ miles south of Silver City after their
marriage. A son Roger was born while they were living there. In December
1961 Sheldon bought the Schoening farm eat of Silver City and March 1962
the family moved to this location. In August 1962 Nancy joined the family
and three years later, 1965, Kevin was born. In February, 1966, the
Williams family moved to their present home 1 mile north of Silver City.
The family are members of St. John Lutheran Church in Mineola where
Delores was a Sunday School teacher for six years. The family is very
active in 4-H. Sheldon is the leader of the Ingraham Straight Shooters and
Delores is leader of the Loyal Lassies. Sheldon was a charter member of
the Ingraham Straight Shooters and is also a member of the Glenwood School
Board.
Eighteen years old Roger is a 1979 graduate of Glenwood High School where
he was a member of the honor society and participated in wrestling. The
past two years Roger has been listed in the Who’s Who Among American High
School Students and a nine year member of the Ingraham Straight Shooters.
He is also a three year member of the Mills County Teen Club and attended
the Citizens Shortcourse in Washington, D.C. in July 1979. For the past
three years Roger has received a purple ribbon on swine at the Aksarben
Livestock Show in Omaha, Neb. and this past August was selected Senior
Showman of swine at the Mills County Fair. In 1978 Roger attended Boys
State courtesy of the Silver City Legion post. Also in 1978 he attended
state 4-H Conference at Ames and in 1977 received the 4-H Master Swine
Award. This fall Roger will attend Iowa State University at Ames and major
in Agriculture.
Seventeen year old Nancy is a Senior at Glenwood High School. She is a
member of the band and formally played basketball and member of track.
Nancy is an eight year member of the Loyal Lassies and also eight year
member of the Ingraham Straight Shooters. Nancy has had three projects go
to the state fair in the past years. Two in clothing and one in cooking.
In l977 Nancy had the Reserve Pen of three in swine at the Mills County
Fair. In 1974 she won the Reserve Junior Showmanship in beef. Nancy is
also a member of the Mills County Teen Club and attended the Citizenship
Short Course in Washington, D.C. in July, 1979. Nancy is presently Mills
County Pork Producers Princess for 1980 and her future plans are to attend
cosmotology school.
Fourteen year old Kevin is in the ninth grade at Glenwood Junior High
school. Kevin has been very active in football and wrestling. In 1973 he
received the outstanding defensive player award in Little Rams football
and in 1978 he had the best record for wrestling in the 7th grade team. He
is a five year member of the Ingraham Straight Shooters and last year
received a purple ribbon on swine at the Ak-sar-ben Livestock Show. In
1975, 1976, and 1977 Kevin received the Reserve Junior showmanship in
swine at the Mills County Fair. As of now Kevin’s plans for the future are
undecided.
WILLIAMS, WILLIAM
William Williams was born July 24, 1878 in Devonshire, England, the son of
Jack and Anna Williams. While living there he met Ethel Baker, who was
born May 22, 1886 in Devonshire, England and they were married April 7,
1901. Three of their 16 children were born in England: Rita May (Robinson,
now of Malvern) born Aug. 1, 1902, Willie Henry (of Silver City) born July
19, 1903, and Gwendoline Winifred Ethel (Atteberry of Silver City, now
deceased) born Sept. 14. 1905. In 1906 Mr. Williams came to the United
States and to Iowa to work for Bill Burgoin and Mrs. Williams followed in
a few months. The rest of their children were born in the Silver City
Community: Evelyn Mabel (Hunt of Silver City) born Jan. 1, 1908. Edward
John (now of Johnston, Colo.) born March 25, 1910, Pauline Marie
(deceased) born Feb. 25, 1912, Edna Margarite (Kruse of Silver City) Feb.
5, 1914, George Alfred (Strahan, now deceased) Feb. 15, 1916, Victor
Birdie (of Red Oak) Dec. 26, 1918, Phyllis Marie (Franke of Silver City)
May 2, 1920, Norma Katherine (Grudle of Whiting) April 26, 1922, Vernon
Arnold (of Henderson) Feb 3, 1925, Darrel Marlin (Silver City) Feb. 7,
1927, Geraldine Ilene (Spetman of Red Oak) June 7, 1929, Ronald Robert
(Killed in Korea) born April 21, 1931, and Donald Norman (deceased) June
14, 1933.
Mr. and Mrs. Williams had lived near Silver City for 56 years and had
celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary before he passed away March 11,
1964. She continued to live at their farm home until she passed away Oct.
21, 1971. Of course, there are numerous grandchildren and several
great-grandchildren. This is truly a family anyone could be proud of, they
are all good, honest, hardworking people.
WILLIAMS, WILLIE HENRY
Willie Henry Williams, son of Ethel Baker and William Williams, was born
at Devonshire, England on July 19, 1903. He came to America when he was
three years old. He married Alice Carrol Stewart, daughter of Leroy
Stewart and Alice Estella Kesterson Stewart, on April 28, 1934 at Sidney,
Iowa. She was born November 9, 1915 near Pacific Junction, Iowa. They are
the parents of five children; Freddie (see Freddie Williams history),
Cecil Gene, Gordon Lee, Pauline, and Doyle.
Cecil Gene married Betty Ann Kahl and live at New Market, Iowa. Cecil
served for a time in the U.S. Air Force and is presently employed with an
insurance company. They have five children; Debra (Mrs. Tom Hammers),
Julie, Michael, Kathy and Bryon.
Gordon Lee married Verna Benson and is presently employed with the Post
Office. Verna is a Dental Assistant. They have 3 daughters, Sharon, Sandra
and Kelly.
Pauline married Otis Eugene Ballard, who is on the police force in
Jackson, Tenn. They have four children; Theresa, John, Tammy and Richard.
Doyle lives in Peoria, Illinois. He served with the U.S. Army and is
presently working for Catterpillar Tractor Equipment Company. He has 3
children; Susie, John and Joey.
WRIGHT, JOHN
John and Dora Powers were married at the home of Mr. and Mrs. James
Burgoin in Feb. 1913. Following the ceremony, the members of the Fancy
Work Club took over the Reception with a final charivari and send off to
their new home which was in readiness for their occupancy on the Park
Plumb farm and which they later purchased. Dora, her sister Rachel, and
brother Ralph came from England in 1906 and the latter two eventually went
to Canada.
John was born in Glenwood, Ia. but moved with his parents to Mo. and as a
young man returned to Iowa. After their marriage they continued deeply
interested in church and community affairs. John was on the church board
for a number of years and taught in the Sunday School. Dora had Sunday
School Class and assisted in the Ladies Aid. John served on the school at
Osborn Valley School and as Ingraham Assessor for years. His lambs would
arrive on the farm in January, and ready to top the Omaha market in April.
One child passed away in infancy and they had a son Charles that married
Dorothy Sieck who had been a teacher in the Silver City Schools. They have
2 girls: Nancy and Kathy. Marie married Harold Holder a commercial teacher
now retired. Mr. and Mrs. Wright are both deceased.
WRIGHT, JOHN WILLIAM
John William was born 1850, the son of George and Mary Wright. He farmed
for several years and finally decided to become a Methodist Minister.
He
served the Silver City Methodist Church for 5 years. When he retired, he
moved to Malvern and died there June 30, 1937. He married Lillie E. Swayne.
She died on November 25, 1926 and both are buried at Silver City. They had
5 children; Susan who taught in Silver City and married George Gilchrist;
Mary who graduated from
Silver City and married Mark Swarts; June who
taught school for several years and was Mrs. Riker (now deceased); Anita
was also a school teacher and married Seth Carlson,
who died a few years
later and is buried in Silver City. They had a son George Alva.
Transcribed and contributed by Roseanna Zehner and Darlene Jacoby, 2010