SAAR, CHARLES EDWARD
Charles Edward b. Nov. 1861 southeast of Council Bluffs in Mills County,
son of Henry and Sophie Saar. He m. May 1886 Mary Anna Bauerkemper. She
was b. 1-26-1868 in Pott. County, the daughter of William and Margaret
Bauerkemper. They moved to the Saar homestead where their son Louis Edward
was b. 5-27-1887. In March 1888 they purchased a farm of 320 acres 2 miles
north of Silver City where 2 sons were b. and both died in infancy. Their
son Charles William was b. 4-14-1892, 2 months after his father’s death.
In 1913 Charles bought 160 acres of the original farm on which he was
born. He m. 10-20-1915 Clara Kochenderfer, daughter of Howard and Eliza
Kochenderfer. He specialized in Hereford cattle and thoroughbred hybrid
hogs. They are both deceased.
Louis Edward married Nora Wasserman daughter of Herman and Sadie Wasserman
of Idaho Falls, Idaho on 1-22-1918. They have a daughter Romona. She is a
graduate of Pocatello Hospital School of Nursing. She served in the Army
Nurse Corps. Louis was a successful farmer in Idaho for many years. He d.
3-3-1954. Mrs. Saar is living in Idaho Falls.
SANDERS, ED
Ed Sanders (1/22/1896-2/25/1970) and his wife Helen, daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. Henry Stortenbecker, moved to the Silver City community in 1933. They
farmed N.W. of town from 1933 to December 1944. In January 1945 they moved
to Silver City. Ed did custom farm work throughout the area from 1945
through 1947. The Sanders bought the Cafe in 1946 and operated it until
1958. Ed also operated the Pool Hall for a time in 1950-51.
Ed was a World War I veteran and he and Helen were continuous members of
the local American Legion Post and its Auxiliary. The Sanders had two
children: daughter Marilouise and son Edward, both of whom attended the
Silver City schools. Marilouise graduated from SCHS in 1948 and Edward in
1953.
Marilouise married Ralph Brewer in 1949; they lived in Nebraska and South
Dakota for a time before returning to Silver City Community in 1956. They
farmed N.E. of Silver City from 1956 to December 1963, when they moved to
a farm near Mountain Grove, Missouri. Ralph passed away in 1964.
Marilouise and Ralph had two children, Sandra born 7/25/1950 and Bradley
born in 11/26/1955. Sandra married Paul Gabbert and now lives in rural
Springfield, Missouri. Bradley and his wife Carol have one daughter Kelly.
They live in Longview, Texas.
Marilouise married Leo Fry of Mountain Grove, who had two small sons, Mark
and Scott, whom they raised on their farm where they live near Mountain
Grove. Marilouise was employed for eleven years in the Mountain Grove
Elementary School.
Edward graduated from N.W. Missouri State University in 1958. He taught
school in N.W. Missouri and S.W. Iowa for eight years. In 1964 he received
his Master’s Degree from Missouri University. In 1966 he married Lenora
St. John of Platte City, Missouri. Edward, Lenora and her two small
children, Rhonda and Bruce moved to Cassville, Missouri where he taught
school for two years, before starting a public accounting practice which
he operated until 1976. Edward, Lenora, Bruce and small son Vance, born in
March 1967, moved to a farm near Noel, Missouri. Edward is an Accountant
for a Poultry Co. which operates in S.W. Missouri, N.E. Oklahoma and N.W.
Arkansas.
SCHEEL, HANS
Hans F. Scheel was born in Keg Creek Township in 1884. He married Dora
Bendt October 18, 1906. Mr. Scheel resided on a farm northeast of Silver
City for 41 years. Upon retirement, he moved to Silver City. He has served
as township trustee, school board member, Lutheran Council member, town
council member and Mayor. The couple had five children: Joe, Roy, Harold,
Mabel and Allen. Hans died December 2, 1968 and Dora died August 15, 1963.
Joe married Helen Schoening. They have no children, and he died July 15,
1960. She remarried Lavern Larson and lives in Carson, Iowa.
Roy married Lillie Miller. They farmed near Silver City and Malvern before
retiring to Glenwood. They have two sons, Roger and Robert. Roy died
November 29, 1978, and Lillie lives in Glenwood. Roger married Ruth White,
they have two children, Rick and Ronda, and presently live in Omaha.
Robert married Kathy Knop, they have two sons, Ryan and Wade, and live in
Chicago.
Harold married Arlene Miller and they have one daughter, Susan. Harold has
resided on the family farm for 69 years, and it has been in the family for
75 years.
Mabel (deceased) married Albert Schoening. They have three sons, Levern,
LeRoy, and Edwin. (See Levern and LeRoy Schoening histories).
Edwin married Connie Lemonds and they have four children: Kathy, Steven,
Neil and Rodney. After the death of his wife, he married Janice Miller.
Allen married Rosa Pontow, and they have farmed near Malvern. In 1979 they
celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary on December 20th.
SCHNOOR, BERNARD
Donna Mott was born October 8, 1930, the daughter of John W. Mott and Ruby
Grace Rommel. Donna was reared by her Grandparents Henry and Grace Rommel,
attended Silver City Public School and after graduation in 1948 moved to
Council Bluffs, Iowa. She attended Business school and worked in Omaha and
Council Bluffs. On October 22, 1949 she and Bernard D. Schnoor were
married at the Silver City Methodist Church. Their first home was 5 miles
north of Silver City on the farm purchased from the Clifford Schoenings.
Bernard is the son of William F. Schnoor and Annie Stortenbecker.
In 1962 the Bernard Schnoor family which consists of James W. Schnoor,
born November 26, 1954 and Jann C. Schnoor, born October 15, 1959, moved
to the family home on the Pioneer Trail. James and Jann attended the
Treynor Community School and both graduated from there. James married
Kimberly Ann Goos, daughter of Clint Goos and Betty Sell, on October 9,
1975, and is engaged in farming. Jann is a second year student at Nebraska
Wesleyan University at Lincoln, Nebraska..
Bernard is a very active farmer and past President of West Pott. Farm
Bureau and now serving as Voting Delegate. He is a member of the Extension
Council in West Pott. and the family are all members of the Silver City
United Methodist Church. Bernard is Ambassador to AK-SAR-BEN of Omaha, Ne.
Donna is a past Chairman of West Pott. Farm Bureau Women’s Committee and
is now serving as Publicity Chairman. She is active in many parts of the
Silver City United Methodist Church.
SCHOENING, JOHN FRED
John Fred born 2-17-1863 in Mills County. He is the son of Fred and
Johanna Schoening. He was a successful farmer east of Silver City for a
number of years. He married 1888 Caroline Louise Roenfeld. They were
members of the Lutheran Church. He died 12-29-1940, and was buried in
Mineola. They had 7 children 2 died young, Edward born Dec. 25, 1893 and
died August 25, 1975; married Bertha Mass born Jan. 31, 1890 and died Oct.
26, 1975. They farmed for several years before moving to Silver City where
they died. They have 2 children: Byron married Marie Hafer. He works for
the Glenwood Community School as a bus supervisor and she works for the
Glenwood State School Hospital. They have 2 children Linda married to Bob
Dalton and has a son and daughter. James lives in Silver City and is
married to Kathy Agan and has 2 sons. Carol married to Michael K. Larsen
and lives in Council Bluffs. She has 2 children Joan and Edward.
Alta is living in Silver City
James is married and lives in Oakland.
Clyde (See Robert Schoening)
George Fred born 6-13-1891. He married 6-27-1920 Eula Sell. He farmed east
of Silver City and moved to Colorado where he d. 2-28-1940 at Cannon City,
Colorado. They had 2 children; Kenneth and Myrna.
SCHOENING, LE ROY
LeRoy Hans Schoening was the third son born to Albert Henry Schoening, Jr.
and Mabel Scheel Schoening on April 10, 1940. He grew up on a farm
southwest of Silver City and graduated from school there with the class of
‘57.
LeRoy and Donna Marie Mullica from Pacific Junction were married November
27, 1960, at St. John Lutheran Church in Mineola at which time they moved
to their present farm west of Silver City where LeRoy continues to farm.
Their first child, Mark LeRoy, was born August 27, 1965. A second son,
Brian Lee, joined the family February 25, 1970.
SCHOENING, LEVERN
Levern Albert Schoening, son of Albert and the late Mabel Scheel Schoening,
lived with his parents on a farm southwest of Silver City. He attended
grade school and high school at Silver City. On April 21, 1954, he was
married to Norma Lea Heiman, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Heiman. They
moved to a farm northeast of Silver City, where they have farmed for 15
years and raised their 5 children.
Cindy was married June 30, 1979 to Randy Rea Pottroff of Salina, Kansas.
Nancy Ann was married October 28, 1978 to John Joseph Tackett of Glenwood,
Iowa.
David Levern was married November 17, 1978 to Debra Ann Osborn of Silver
City, Iowa.
La Donna Day lives in Omaha, Nebraska and attends
NCB.
Greg Scott still lives at home.
SCHOENING, ROBERT K.
Clyde married Willa Trout and have 2 sons: Robert K. Schoening and Bruce
E. Schoening.
Robert K. Schoening married Donna Rae Plumer of Mineola, December 27,
1952. Bob and Donna made their home in Hutchinson, Kansas where Bob was
stationed in the U.S. Navy during the Korean Conflict. Upon discharge they
moved to rural Mineola where they farmed until December 1957 when Bob was
employed by the Mineola State Bank, where he has remained for the past 22
years. In November of 1959, Bob, Donna and their first son, Dwight moved
to Silver City where they had purchased the R.P. GaIt home. In 1960 a
second son Delwyn was born and in 1964 a third son Danny was born. In June
of 1971 the family moved 1/4 mile south of Silver City where they had
built a new home. Upon graduation from high school, Dwight completed a
course at Iowa Western Community College and is presently employed by Agri-Technology
Inc. of Mineola and travels midwestern state. Dwight owns his home and
lives in Mineola, Iowa. Delwyn has graduated from Glenwood Community
Schools and is presently employed by Lincoln Farm and Home of Glenwood,
Iowa. Danny is a sophomore at Glenwood Community School.
Bruce E. Schoening married Linda Hughes of Postville, Iowa and they
presently live in Des Moines, Iowa. Bruce served 2 years with the U.S.
Marines in Vietnam. Upon discharge Bruce worked for the Union Pacific in
Omaha where he became interested in computer programming and from there
went with Blue Cross/Blue Shield insurance in their division. From Omaha
Bruce and Linda were transferred to Chicago where they lived for 3 years
and now have been transferred back to Des Moines where Bruce is now a
computer program auditor for Blue Cross/Blue Shield. Bruce and Linda have
one son, Brent who is now in the first grade.
SCHROEDER, CARL HENRY
Carl Henry b. 3-10-1865 in Holstein, Germany. He came to America and
settled in Mills County. He m. 3-4-1897 Christina Roenfeldt. Both were
members of the Lutheran Church, in Mineola. He was a successful farmer
near Mineola for many years, retired and moved into Mineola in 1944. Eight
years later he and his wife came to Silver City to live in the home of
their daughter, Mrs. Ferdinard Bichel. They have 7 children: Carl, Ella,
Olga, Herman, Harry, Erma and Hilda. Carl m. Vera Schoening has 2
daughters Marilyn and Rogene. Ella m. Wm. Hartman, has 2 children: Luetta
and Clarence: Olga m. Otto Deithcher has 1 son Virgil: Herman m. Vera
Bendt see Herman’s History: Harry m. Geneva Haney has 1 son Steven: Erma
m. Waldo McMinimee, has 1 son Gary: Hilda m. Ferdinand Bichel, lives in
Silver City and has five children: Joann, Charles, Larry, James and
Richard.
SCHRODER, CHRISTIAN H.
Christian Henry Schroder was born November 14, 1833 in Meckelburg,
Germany. He came on a sail-ship to the United States when twenty-four
years of age locating in Cincinnati, Ohio where he remained only one year
and moved to Knox County, Illinois. He followed farming as a young man in
Germany and again in his newly adopted country. As a young boy he was a
sheep herder.
On February 16, 1865 he married Mary Ellen Rounds, the daughter of Samuel
B. Rounds and Johannah Roach Rounds. Mary Ellen was born August 23, 1846
in Illinois. She lived her girlhood days around Abingdon and Bushnell,
Illinois. She was the oldest of ten children; the parents both dying when
the children were young.
After Mary Ellen’s marriage to Christian Schroder their home was
established in Warren County, Illinois, about fourteen miles from
Monmouth. In 1884 the family came to Ingraham Township and settled on a
farm two miles south of Silver City. Mr. Schroder was enterprising and
thrifty, providing a good home for his family.
All of the children were born in Illinois except the youngest daughter.
Their children were:
1. Mary Ann married Robert McClure and lived in Mills County. Children:
Carrie and Nettie; Glenn deceased.
2. John William married Grace Teatsworth. No children. Home in Mills
County.
3. Martha Jane — married Thompson McClure. Home in Mills County. Children:
May died in infancy, Roy and Dale — both deceased.
4. Sarah Elizabeth married Francis E. (Frank) Howard. Home in Mills
County. Children: Lyle and Arline deceased and Edwin living.
5. Florence Elnora — married George Henry Howard. Home in Mills County.
One daughter Fern Howard Mayberry.
6. Fannie Mabel married Fred G. Meeks; they lived in Missouri and Mills
County. Children:
Gail, Amos, Wayne. C. Ervin and a daughter died in infancy.
7. Minnie Ellen married Homer Clipson. Home in Mills and Fremont Counties.
Children: Geneva Fannon deceased and Helen Watkins.
Three Schroder children died in infancy. Mrs. Schroder passed away
November 29, 1894 and Mr. Schroder died March 29, 1911; they were buried
in the Silver City Cemetery. The six daughters and their companions, a son
and an infant daughter were also buried in the same cemetery as their
parents.
Florence and Fannie Schroder had a double wedding in their father’s home;
the men were cousins. Mrs. Schroder passed away when some of the younger
children were still at home; the girls being home makers until all were
married.
Florence Schroder Howard was the last of the family to pass away on
October 2, 1977 at the age of 99 years. She had the pleasure of enjoying
two grandsons, two great-grandsons, a great-granddaughter and one great-
great-granddaughter.
SCHROEDER, HERMAN P.
Herman, the son of the late Charles and Christina Roenfeldt Schroeder was
born and raised on a farm in Mills County south of Mineola, Iowa. He
attended rural Mills county school. On January 24, 1934 at Rockport,
Missouri, Herman married Vera E. Bendt, the daughter of the late Herman
and Helen Hansen Bendt. She was born and raised on a farm in Pott. County
north of Mineola, Iowa and attended rural Mills County School. Both are
life long members of St. John Lutheran Church in Mineola, Iowa.
Herman and Vera spent their first years of marriage farming in Mills
County. In 1941 Herman changed his profession to that of a welder and
moved his family to Council Bluffs, Iowa. That same year saw the start of
the Second World War. Shortly thereafter, Herman began employment with
Eaton Metal Products in Omaha, Nebraska. In 1948 the family purchased the
property of Glen Nelson (originally built by Charles Kruse) in Silver
City. This move was to be the last move for the family. 1957 saw a
complete renovation of the property when Herman and Vera removed the
second story of the structure and remodeled the home into a one story
ranch style.
In 1957 Vera began employment at Carpenter Paper Company in Omaha,
Nebraska where she is presently employed. In 1966 Herman’s health forced
him to retire from Eaton Metal Products after 22 years of service. He
passed away February 1968.
Herman and Vera had two daughters, Janet Marie (see Gerald Jones history)
and Judith Helen (see Kenton Roenfeldt history).
Herman and Vera spent memorable and enjoyable times with their family and
grandchildren (which number five) and when ever possible made trips to
Minnesota to participate in their favorite sport “fishing.”
SCHULTZ, WILLIAM T.
William T. Schultz was born in Segeberg, Holstein, Germany, April 1, 1846
and died November 11, 1924.
In 1866 Mr. Schultz came to America, making the trip in a sail ship,
taking eight weeks to reach the American Coast. He continued his trip
westward and located in western Iowa where he continued his trade of
bricklayer and plasterer. Later he came to Silver City and spent several
years farming. In the year of 1872 he was married to Doris Mass. Their
children were: Ferdinand, Theresa, Minnie, Lena and Adolph.
Ferdinand married Maggie Hesch and their children were Clarence, Leonard,
Harold and Hazel. Theresa married Arthur Saar and their children were
Harvey, Roy and Leona. Minnie married John Taylor and their children were
Jack and Earl. Lena married Frank Hettinger and they had a daughter,
Doris.
Adolph married Ida Schwartz of Shenandoah, Iowa and farmed north of Silver
City, specializing in Aberdeen Angus cattle. Mr. and Mrs. Schultz were
active in Farm Bureau work for many years, and they celebrated their
Golden wedding in December of 1953 at their home in Malvern. They had four
children: Wilma, Donald, Arline, and Eldon. Adolph passed away in January
of 1962 at the age of 82, and Mrs. Schultz now resides at Nishna Care
Center in Malvern.
Wilma graduated from Iowa State College at Ames, Iowa with a major in Home
Economics. She spent 17 years in extension work, 11 of which were in Mills
County. Shortly before her death in November of 1966 following surgery,
she received a distinguished service award at the national convention of
Home Demonstration Agents in Chicago. Both Mr. Schultz and Wilma are
buried at the Silver City Cemetery.
Donald married Eleanor Galt and they live on a farm near Macedonia. They
have two children, Duane and Randall. Randall married Sheryl Dragoo of
Shenandoah. They live near Macedonia and have a daughter, Shelby. Duane
lives in Lakeland, Florida where he is employed.
Arline graduated from Simpson College at Indianola, Iowa and now lives
with her mother at the Nishna Care Center in Malvern. She was active in
4-H work for many years.
Eldon married Velma Miller and they have one daughter, Beverly. They farm
north of Silver City. Beverly married Philip Dashner. They live at Malvern
and have two children, Kim and Owen.
SELL, HARRISON
Harrison Sell was born March 4, 1915 to Charles Sell and Nettie Hoover. He
married Elaine Miller on January 5, 1946 and is a life time farmer in this
area. They have two children, Wayne and Joyce.
Wayne is a graduate of Northwest Missouri State College. He served four
years in the U.S. Navy and was stationed in Guam and Hawaii. He married
Doris Vogl of Manning, Iowa, and is presently farming the home place.
Joyce is a graduate of Tarkio Missouri College. She is married to Patric
Reed of College Springs, Iowa. Both Patric and Joyce teach in the Glenwood
School system. They have one son, Shane Reed.
SELL — KRUSE
Nettie E. Hoover, daughter of James and Anarpy Huffaker Hoover, was born
in Bureau County, Illinois, June 23, 1878. While a small child she came
with her parents to Silver City, Iowa. Her parents died shortly after and
she went to live with her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Israel Huffaker.
Charles V. Sell, son of Nelson Bisby and Lou Adams Sell, was born June 27,
1877 in Coles County, Illinois. As a young man he worked on ranches in
Montana, then he came to Silver City. He and Nettie Hoover were married
February 22, 1903. Three children were born to Charles and Nettie: Mildred
(see Ed C. Kruse family), Genevieve and Harrison (see his history).
Genevieve Sell was born to Mr. and Mrs. Sell on August 9, 1909: she
married Conrad Kruse Jr. in 1935. They have two sons: Gerald born December
18, 1937, he married Deanna Lincoln in 1960. They have two sons and one
daughter: Brian, Bradford and Ann. Charles Kruse born 1942; he married
Glenelle Dashner in 1963. They have two sons: Aaron and Jerad.
SIDENER, EZRA LATHROP
Ezra Lathrop Sidener, son of George Washington and Harriett Lathrop
Sidener was born near Greensburg, Indiana, Decatur County. He became a
breeder of fine horses as was his Father. He married Mary Hannah Dunbar of
Union County, Indiana on 9/5/1860 and the couple purchased their own farm
living on it until the entire George W. family moved to Iowa in 1868. He
purchased land a mile west of Silver City tho’ there was no town at that
time. The farm is presently owned by Mrs. Grace Anderson. Until the home
and buildings could be built Ezra and family lived in Glenwood where the
youngest child and only daughter, Dora Mabel was born 11/13/1869 and where
she lived and died at the time of her death 7/18/1947. Ezra experienced
all the hardships of prairie living, droughts, grasshoppers, locusts,
blizzards, and roving Indian tribes plus the inconvenience of herding his
cattle to the railroad in Glenwood until the Wabash was built in 1879,
most of the cattle being shipped to Chicago. In 1885 Ezra sold his farm
and moved to Council Bluffs for a short time where he was in the Feed and
Grain Business. Returning to Silver City, Ezra and his wife established
the Sidener Hotel and Ezra also assisted his brother, Sidney Sidener in
the livery business. From the Silver City Daily Review, August 9, 1894,
E.L. Sidener and Son advertised for their Grocery Store south of the
tracks. Mr. Sidener’s interest in horses continued to the end of his life.
He was born 3/17/1840 and died 7/10/1911. His two sons were born in
Decatur County, Indiana; George Fruit b. 5/9/1861, d. 4/23/1938 in
Lincoln, Nebr. In early life George was a farmer, moving to town and
worked in the Silver City Creamery. His next move was to Nebraska and he
retired from the Hardy Furniture Co. at Lincoln only shortly before his
death. George married Iola Edmundsen 3/4/1886. Iola lived with her Mother,
widowed early in the Civil War, moving to Iowa from Illinois. lola was a
teacher in the rural schools of Mills County, having attended a Teacher’s
Normal School in Malvern, Iowa. She was very talented as a Dramatic
teacher and was often called back to Silver City Dramatic Club who
regularly gave plays on Memorial Day evening, the proceeds donated to the
Cemetery Association. lola b. 2/23/1861 Illinois, d. Lincoln, Nebraska
11/19/1937, buried in Silver City Cemetery. This couple had a son, Ray
Edmundsen b. 4/1/1887 Silver City, d. 11/7/1966 Lincoln, burial there: m.
1st Gladys Townsend of Tabor, later Mrs. Madge Mehuron of Lincoln, widow
living at Tempe, Arizona: no heirs. Ray did not finish his Senior year at
Silver City but left school to become a Salesman’s on the road for
hardware firms having worked for the Sioux City Iron Works: later he
represented the Minneapolis Paint Co.; his territories were the Dakotas
and Montana and salesman had to depend on railroad travel as roads were
not well developed and winter travel was almost prohibitive. Towns were
along the railroad and tho’ growing the stores were much like trading
posts and general in their stock; many were operated by Indians. On week
ends the owners went back to the Reservations and Saturdays were
celebration days. On one occasion Ray was invited by an Indian store owner
to stay over for their dances accompanied often by liquor and questionable
cooking of wild animals; this time Ray hired a rancher with a good team to
get him out of town to the next railroad station and train. The Indian
friend chided him considerably about the White man’s bravery. Ray returned
from his South Dakota residence to Lincoln and became head of the glass
department of Van Sickle Paint and Glass Co. doing only the blue print
work, drawing plans for the first shopping centers in the city. Ezra’s
second, Frank Hunt Sidener b. 10/20/1866, d. 11/10/ 1934 at Anahein,
California and is buried there. He was in business with his father in
Silver City, going to Cole and Cole Hardware Store in Council Bluffs: m
Maude Eramer 1905, divorced; moved to Lincoln and was employed by Hardy
Furniture Store; remarried Mrs. Susie Jobes of Beaver Crossing, Nebraska;
moved to Anahein where he bought an orange grove ranch: died in
California; had no heirs. The daughter of Ezra, Dora Mabel, was a child of
pioneer days; herded cattle over much of Ingraham Township before there
were fences; when there were fences, walked over their snow drifted tops
to a school one mile west of the present town and went later to the first
frame school in Silver City. On the family’s removal to town, Dora became
a milliner and assisted her parents in the Hotel. Her further history
under her husband’s Raoul William Clipson. This family affiliated with the
Baptist Church except Mary Hannah and Dora who were Methodists. Dora was a
constant worker in the Ladies Aid as was her Mother. It was a common sight
to see the quilting frames set up in the home and neighborhood ladies
coming and going as they had spare moments to quilt for the Church
Bazaars, Dora was Treasurer of the Ladies Aid, also of the Rebecca Lodge;
served as Librarian a number of years for the Silver City Public Library.
SIDENER, GEORGE WASHINGTON
George Washington and Harriett Lathrop Sidener pioneered in Mills County,
settling on a farm land near what is now the town of Silver City, coming
from Greensburg, Decatur County, Indiana in 1868 with their entire family.
Mr. Sidener had come as far as Ottumwa, Iowa in 1867 seeking a new
location, deciding that Western Iowa was the ideal spot and looked
something like home. The couple have an unique history, the ancestral
records of each indicate a people seeking religious freedom, political
freedom and independence. He, the son of Jacob and Rachel Blickenstorffer
(later Pleakenstorffer then Pleake) Sidener: Rachel’s parent Johann left
the Netherlands in 1746, age 20 years, because of exacting and long term
military regulations to take up arms in the Colonies in their fight for
freedom. George’s paternal grandmother, Catherine Fruit Sidener, a French
Huguenot fleeing to England and then to the colonies of Pennsylvania and
Maryland. The Sideners of Austrian descent tired of the disruption of
their lives because of the warring Princes of Middle Europe sought the
neutral city of Strausbourg, Alsace Lorraine and Martin Sidener arrived in
America, Pennsylvania colony in 1754. His brother’s descendants made the
same move for the same reason during World War I in 1916. Harriett’s
ancestor, Rev. John Lathrope born in Etton, Yorkshire, England, educated
for the ministry at Queen’s College, Cambridge, found the rituals and the
government of the English Church incompatible with his interpretation of
the Bible; he began preaching independently and was imprisoned for his
views. He could not come with the Pilgrims but arrived at Barnstable,
Mass. in 1634 where the congregation which had preceded him had built him
a Church and a home. He became a Baptist minister and each generation saw
a son in the ministry; Jacob, a landowner in Indiana, built a church on
his land and was an elder in it. In the Civil War with the destruction of
the cotton lands in the South, the Government asked the Northern farmers
to grow flax. This greatly deleted and eroded the thin soil in the area
where the Sideners owned land so their move to the virgin soil in the
West. They bought farmland south, west and east and northeast of the
present Silver City. George was also a breeder of fine horses. They left
the farm with the organization of the town and built the first house south
of the old Baptist Church, still standing. George and Harriett true to
their heritage and beliefs helped organize and built the Baptist Church in
1880. George Washington Sidener b. 9/16/1813 Mt. Sterling, Ky, m. Harriett
Lathrop of Canada (EnglishFrench descent) 1/6/1835 at Greensburg,
Indiana, she was born 4/15/1815, d. 12/4/1893 at Silver City, George W. d.
11/2/1885. This family all buried in the Silver City Cemetery unless
indicated; children (all born in Decatur County, Indiana) Rachel b.
3/6/1836, d. 9/24/1912, m. Franklin Smawley 10/10/1854; Jacob b. 2/2/1838,
d. 4/30/1842 Indiana; Ezra Lathrop b. 3/ 17/1840, d. 7/10/1911, m. Mary
Hannah Dunbar 9/5/1860; Martin Fruit b. 12/29/1887, m. Levicy Eliza Cline
3/22/1864; Sidney Green b. 5/7/1845, d. 5/22/ 1919, m. 1st Esther Guthrie
1868, 2nd Flora Ray; Surrilda Jane b. 6/10/1847, d. 6/25/1904, m. 1st
Issac Wolverton 1863, 2nd David Spencer 3/-/1886; Saran Ann b. 8/4/1849,
d. 11/23/1883, m. Philip Martin Spencer 10/20/1871; Abigail b. 8/10/1852,
d. 7/28/1945 Los Angeles, CA., m. 1st George Harrison 10/10/1882, 2nd
James Allison 10/9/1919; Mary Frances b. 4/24/1855, died very young.
SKERRITT, JOHN T.
Among the pioneers who came to Iowa and settled in the community around
Silver City were Samson and Lettie Hallam Howard who came from Michigan in
1871 with four small children in a covered wagon and made their home four
miles southeast of Silver City. Both had come from England at an early
age. Another family, Robert Plumb and Jane Parker Skerritt Plumb with a
small son, John T. Skerritt, came by covered wagon and boat from Ohio in
1865 and settled four miles east of Silver City. Both were of English
birth. Mr. Plumb had served during the Civil War. John T. Skerritt’s
father, Abraham Skerritt, died and was buried at Wyandotte Mission
Cemetery, Upper Sandusky, Ohio.
Of these pioneers came John T. Skerritt and Ella Jane Howard, who were
married March 1, 1887 and began housekeeping on the farm Mr. Skerritt had
bought from John Bee. They built a new house and other buildings and
progressed with the trend of the times.
At the death of Mr. Skerritt’s mother he inherited an eighty acre farm,
which is now owned by a granddaughter and husband, Mr. and Mrs. Ward
Hunt.
Mr. and Mrs. Skerritt reared a family of seven children: Elsie, Ralph,
Edith, Ethel, Fern, Glenn and Gayle. Each attended Osborne Valley School,
as did their mother. The Skerritts made it possible for each to attend
high school and to go on to the college of their choice.
The Skerritts remained on the farm until 1926 when they moved to Silver
City. Mr. Skerritt died July 21, 1949 at the age of 92; Mrs. Skerritt died
October 8, 1953 at the age of 87 years. They are buried in the Silver City
Cemetery.
After high school graduation Elsie attended Shenandoah Normal School and
taught. Later she had a sewing shop in Glenwood and Red Oak. She married
Earl Hielman of Red Oak and lived there 60 years. Mr. Hielman died in
1967, and Elsie lives at a care center in Red Oak. She is 91 years old.
Their son, Kenneth graduated from Red Oak High School and Iowa State
University majoring in Chemistry. He served two years in the U.S. Navy and
is now with DuPont in New Jersey. He is married and resides in Wilmington,
Delaware.
Ralph farmed with his father and married Mary Whitesides (see Ralph’s
history). They had one daughter Catherine. (see C. Ward Hunt).
Edith taught for several years after attending Nebraska Wesleyan
University for two years. She married Alfred Elder May 17, 1916. He was a
watch maker and jeweler of Hebron, Nebraska. They moved to Geneva,
Nebraska and had a store there. Alfred died September 24, 1942, and Edith
continued in the business for 50 years after which she sold the store and
retired in Geneva. The Elders had one daughter, Carolyn, who died in
infancy.
Ethel received Degree from Nebraska Wesleyan University and taught many
years in Iowa and Nebraska. She married Howard Hall June 12, 1928. They
had one daughter, Nancy Alice, who was a graduate of the University of
Nebraska, specializing in Home Economics Journalism. Ethel retired, and
she and Edith live in a condominium in Geneva. Nancy married Charles Shaw
of Geneva who served in the Navy Air Force for 20 years attaining the rank
of Lieutenant Colonel. He died September 1976. Nancy and their five
children: Kim, Mark, Beckie, Chris and Katherine, live in Omaha.
The elder Skerritts retired in 1926 at which time Glenn married Phyllis
Burgoin, daughter of James and Elizabeth Burgoin, and took over the
Skerritt home place. He continued to farm there until he passed away in
1946. A son, Roger, died in infancy in 1927. Harold was born in 1929,
graduated from Silver City High School and attended Iowa State University.
He served two years as a paratrooper in the army and then returned to the
farm to continue the operation of the farm started by the elder Mr.
Skerritt over 100 years ago. Harold married Marilyn Mintle in 1956; they
have two children, John attending Iowa State University and Ann who is 11
years old at home. Marilyn died in May 1976.
Gayle graduated from Nebraska Wesleyan University and Iowa State with a
degree in Chemistry. He moved to the East and was a chemist with Standard
Oil of New Jersey and latter associated with Esso Petrolem Products. He
married Helen Harris March 1, 1935. They lived in various localities and
live in Pennsylvania during the summer and Tucson in the winter. They are
the parents of four children: Diane, Michael, Linda and Gloria and have
nine grandchildren.
After three years of college, Fern taught school five years and married
Rew Burgoin, son of James and Elizabeth Burgoin. They made their home
northeast of Silver City on what was known as the Rew Ranch. There they
continued farming and raising Purebred Hereford cattle until Mr. Burgoin’s
death on February 15, 1975. Mr. Burgoin was President of the Silver City
State Bank for 20 years and was 4-H Boys’ Club leader for 12 years. Mr.
and Mrs. Burgoin were both active in church interests and helped in the
building of the present United Methodist Church. Mrs. Burgoin was
president of the Cemetery Association for several years. Their daughter,
Margarite, graduated from Silver City High School and Iowa State
University after which she took a year of Dietetic Internship at the
University of Michigan Hospital. She married Fred Goodenow and lived in
Cleveland, Ohio and then moved to Council Bluffs. She operated a
Restaurant for 11½ years and now runs a catering service. She has four
children: Rew, David, Paul and Mary.
SKERRITT, RALPH A.
Ralph A. Skerritt, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. J.T. Skerritt, was born
January 20, 1890 at their farm home three miles east of Silver City, Iowa.
He attended the Osborne Valley rural school and Western Business College.
Ralph farmed with his father until March 3, 1920 when he married Mary
Whitesides at her parents’ home in the East Liberty neighborhood. Mary,
daughter of E.R. and Catherine Ranne Whitesides who came to Mills County
in a covered wagon, is the youngest of the 7 boys and one girl. She
graduated from Pleasant Valley and Malvern High School, taught rural
school and worked for Malvern Light and Power Company. They moved to the
house built for them a quarter of a mile south of his parents, where they
raised Percheron horses, Shorthorn cattle, Poland China hogs and Buff
Orpington chickens along with sheep, corn, etc. Ralph joined the Silver
City Methodist Church July 26, 1903 and later served as recording
secretary of the Official Board for 35 years. He also, served as secretary
of the Osborne Valley School Board for over 40 years. He was a charter
member of the Farm Bureau and served as township chairman, a member of
IOOF, Masonic Lodge and O.E.S. at Silver City and on the extension
council. Mary moved her membership to the Silver City Methodist Church
after her marriage and later worked with W.F.M.S. and W.S.C.S. serving as
president. Other activities include the Rebekah Lodge, Worthy Matron of
O.E.S., Treasurer of Cemetery Association, Secretary of S.C. Woman’s Club
and President of the Malvern Garden Club. One daughter, Catherine Jane,
was born August 22, 1932. She attended Osborne Valley and Prairie Creek
rural schools, Silver City High School and Nebraska Wesleyan University
where she was active in vocal music. She married Ward Hunt and they have
two children and two grandchildren. Ralph and Mary lived on their farm for
46 years, moving to Malvern in 1966. Ralph passed away November 7, 1967
and Mary still enjoys her home there and her grandchildren and great-
grandchildren.
SPEER
Mrs. Mary (Bauerkemper) Saar lived on a farm north of Silver City, which
was considered “One of The Best” and “Fine Stock.” Then “Fate” stepped
into her marriage and “The Tragic Death” of her husband, Charles Saar.
Mary was expecting her fourth child, when word came to her, so this child,
a son, was named Charles.
A few years later Mrs. Saar married John B. Speer. To this union were born
a Son Dale B. and a Daughter Gladys M. Mr. Speer had returned from his
Homestead in Antelope Valley, California, so he knew a little about work.
He was especially proud of his “Belgiums” and “The Animals” on the Farm.
Then due to Health Problems, they moved to Silver City, where Mr. Speer
had a Grocery Store.
At this time, Gladys was married to Arthur “Shorty” Burgoin and they had a
Daughter, Shirley Dale. Gladys lived on “The Farm” where she was born and
was so proud of her Ancestory. But, “Depression Era” came along so “The
Burgoins” and “Speers” went to Canoga Park, California, where “Shorty” had
work promised in the “Speer Lumber Co.”
Mary Speer passed away 11/14/1937 and was buried at “Salem Cemetery” now
called “Plumer.” John Speer passed away 12/30/1960 and was buried at
Oakwood Canoga Park. At this same cemetery is buried Arthur “Shorty”
Burgoin 3/25/1970; Wm. “Bill” Burgoin 3 27/1955 and Dale Speer 6/14/71.
Their daughter, Shirley Burgoin, graduated from Canoga Park High School in
1942. Then she and her parents went to work at a “Defense Plant” until
Victors was won for America. After that Gladys went to Birmingham Hospital
for Veterans to work. Here is where Shirley met Robert Newton, a
Paraplegic and was married in “The Chapel” 2/14/1948. They had one son.
born 1/17/1953, named Brian Lee. Brian is now married and lives at Coos
Bay, Oregon. Robert passed away 1/13/1969, was buried in Riddle, Oregon.
Shirley still lives in Riddle and is a “Teacher’s Aide.”
SPEER, GLADYS
I’m very proud of my ancestory. My mother’s mother was “A Boat Person”
too. She and an older cousin came to America from Germany and landed
finally in St Louis, where many people met. After getting on a boat they
came up the Missouri River to Council Bluffs. A few miles from the Bluffs
(near the Salem Cemetery — where the Bauerkempers and my mother were
buried) the people thought a boy had the Small Pox, so off “The Boat.”
They made their way into Council Bluffs and located in a hotel and
proceeded to find work. There she met another German, William Bauerkemper,
who made bricks for the streets. After their marriage they bought land
seven miles east of Council Bluffs; to this union nine children were born.
They were: Aunt Em (Emma Markel), Mary (my mother), Annie, George, Ernest
William, Julie, Louise and Conrad.
Then on the Speers side Dad’s mother lived near Abraham Lincoln and the
two families split rails together. Later Grandmother met Jacob Speer.
After their marriage they lived at one time near Malvern on a farm
Antelope Valley and back to a farm west of Silver City and finally at
Valley, Nebraska.
Sylvia Speer was in school with Birdie Wilkins (then Huffaker). She told
me, “She would trade apples for a ribbon from Birdie. So we are all
“Homesteaders” and a wonderful country.
When I am lonesome, I go to the cemetery and there it is “so peaceful by
The Rocky Craig.” The Moores, the Coburns (not Mac, still going strong at
88) Dad, Dale. Shorty and Bill. I think of “Mom” over at Plumer Settlement
among “The Pines” and Silver City Cemetery. So now, I’ll close with
Memories Some Sad Some Happy— But Silver City is Home.
Gladys Speer Burgoin
SPENCER, PHILLIP
Phillip Spencer, a native of New York state was born about 1837; he served
in the New York Infantry during the Civil War, After the war he was
married to Sarah Sidener, the daughter of George and Harriett Sidener, Mr.
Spencer was a contractor, who helped build the west wing of the School for
the Deaf at Council Bluffs and was also the architect and contractor of
the first Silver City Methodist Church in 1882. Many of the early homes in
Silver City were also built by Mr. Spencer. He died in 1895 and Mrs.
Spencer a few years before. They had three children: Ezza (see Pullman
family), Ode (see I.S. Little) and Maude, who married William Petersen:
she had two children: Frederick and Neva, both of Ames, Iowa. Neva was an
instructor of the college for several years, retired recently.
SPELBRING, GEORGE
George Albert Spelbring came to Silver City in 1901. He was born in
Poland, Indiana in 1865, son of German Immigrants. As a very young man he
pursued a college education and became a professor of music, also teaching
grammar and mathematics.
He was teaching at Shenandoah Normal when he met his future bride. That
college burned in the late 1890s and both he and students resumed their
careers at Lincoln Normal in Nebraska. In 1893, a year of economic panic,
the professor married Sarah Cordelia Greenwood, daughter of Charles Gower
Greenwood. The latter had brought his family of four daughters and one son
to Silver City from Chatsworth, Illinois in 1880. His early business in
coal, lumber and shipment of farm products helped establish the Wabash
railroad service from Omaha to St. Louis, Missouri.
Mr. Spelbring and his bride lived in several small Nebraska towns
following their marriage. He taught school, sometimes not being paid
because of financial shortages, but created other opportunities such as
editor and publisher of the town newspaper. A son, Paul was born in Salem,
Nebraska in1896 and a daughter, Fern, was born in Sterling, Nebraska in
1899.
By 1900 Mr. Greenwood had established lumber and banking interests in
Silver City. He incorporated the Greenwood Lumber Company with himself as
President, his son, Davis, as Vice-President and two sons-in-law were
respectively secretary and treasurer. They were G.A. Spelbring and Maurice
Kehoe. There were lumber yards in Silver City, Dumfries and Emerson, later
in Imogene and Sidney, Iowa.
Mr. Spelbring quickly became involved in the cultural and economic growth
of the town. In addition to management of the lumber yard, he educated
himself to serve as heating, lighting, water systems engineer and dealt
independently in the sale, installation and performance of these
improvements in the fine homes growing in the town and adjoining rural
areas. At one time he formed an Ice Company with the backing of Mr.
Greenwood and Richard Bada. A large pond was dug and was filled with clear
pure water by constant pumping. In the winter when the ice was frozen to
depth of 21 to 24 inches, Mr. Spelbring headed an ice-harvest crew which
cut and stored the ice blocks in sawdust in an ice house. Daily delivery
in town, by horse drawn wagon during the summer and service at the ice
house allowed residents of the area the first refrigeration they had.
By 1909 there were three more daughters in the Spelbring family, Margaret
(b. 1902, Genevieve (b. 1904), and Eva (b. 1909). Mr. Spelbring’s pride in
his family and his dedication to music and education motivated him to help
create cultural activity and an atmosphere of contentment at home in the
town, so that the children of all of the families would have a good school
system, could provide good music for their churches, and would have
entertainment that would keep them at home. He was ambitious to have
musicians for a band and orchestra, so in addition to serving some thirty
years on the school board and perhaps a few less on the town council he
gave almost all other evening hours to private instruction on wind and
string instruments. His bands or concert orchestras performed at early
chatauquas, county fairs, farmers-merchants picnics, old settlers reunions
and when radio opened a field of entertainment, his orchestra was among
the first to perform at Henry Field’s station in Shenandoah and at the
Woodmen of the World Radio station in Omaha.
About 1918 he acquired a two-story building on Main Street and remodeled
it to make a movie theater on the first floor and a party hall on the
second. This preceded a gymnasium in the school building and provided a
place for school and community gathering. The theater ran first-run movies
and featured the weekly serial and china give aways. One of the first
showings was “Birth of a Nation.”
A few attempts were made to bring a winter series of entertainment known
as theatrical or lyceum traveling shows but winter travel to Silver City
was too difficult, both for the talent and audience.
The Spelbring children all attended college. The son served first in World
War I, then returned and attained a degree in medicine, at Chicago Rush
Medical School in 1926. The following year he married Bessie Heiss, a
graduate nurse and he established a practice in Diseases of the Eye, Ear,
Nose and Throat in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. He retired in 1968, died in
1976. Paul’s family consists of three children: Genevieve, born 1927,
married to Eugene Farrell in 1954, one son; married to James Speindler III
in 1963, two sons.
Charles Albert Spelbring, born 1931, married January 1957, one son, one
daughter; married Kay Henderson, 1978.
Paula Margaret Speibring, born 1923, married Robert Roy Kimmel, 1957, one
son, also adopted son and daughter.
The girls (4) all became teachers. Fern majored in Home Economics and
taught until her marriage to Edward Van Zante of Pella, Iowa in 1940. He
died in 1952 and and she now resides in Jacksonville, Florida.
Margaret attained a degree in music and was teaching in Sheridan, Wyoming
when she married John Stout in 1942. His death in 1957 preceded hers in
1965.
Genevieve was teaching intermediate grades in Silver City when she married
Dr. James Plumer Donelan, Glenwood, Iowa in 1929. They moved to Los
Angeles, California the next year where he became associated with
Insurance Medicine. Except for three years in the army in World War II, he
was medical Director for Guarantee Mutual Life Company in Omaha from 1940
until retirement in 1969. He died in 1972. Three sons were born while they
lived in Sierra Madre, California (1) James Spelbring was born in 1933,
married Patricia Uehling from Oakland, Nebraska in 1957. They have two
sons, Mark and Matthew. Dr. Donelan practices anesthesiology in Omaha,
Nebraska. (2) Paul Michael was born in 1936, married Donna Aronson from
Tekamah, Nebraska in 1961. They have a daughter, Suzanne and son, Thomas.
Michael is Life Insurance Underwriter and lives in Des Moines, Iowa. (3)
John Plumer was born in 1937, married Sybil Kathryn Deitsch from Battle
Lake, Minnesota in 1966. They have a son, Patrick and a daughter, Erin.
John is a real estate broker in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. Genevieve
continues to live in Omaha.
Eva was teaching in kindergarten when she married Charles L. Day in 1933
in Omaha. His business was Casualty Insurance and they had homes in
Oklahoma, Illinois, New York and California, where he died after
retirement in 1976. There were two sons, Robert Gower, now in Los Angeles
and James of San Francisco. He has a son. Eva lives in San Diego,
California.
Cora Spelbring was a gifted mother and homemaker She contributed to the
music making as piano player but was mainly involved in the betterment of
the community. Her cooking and baking for her church were notable
contributions. She was a member also of the Womens Club, the Library Board
and a charter member of the Order of Eastern Star. She was an avid reader
and selected many of the books when the library was new. Her influence
fell early on her grand children also. and they eagerly anticipated her
story-telling and reading to them.
In their declining years Mr. and Mrs. Spelbring did not recognize them as
retirement years. They drove to visit their children and families. They
drove to Omaha to take advantage of good music and good theater. Roads
were not hard-surfaced nor cars so well heated and cooled, so their effort
was greater than some. Mrs. Spelbring died in 1941 and the home was
maintained for only a year. Mr. Spelbring who had been sole owner of the
Silver City lumber yard for about ten years, sold out and managed a
Greenwood yard in Imogene for a few war years.
When his age curtailed activity and travel, he entered a nursing home in
Tabor, Iowa. Hospitalization became necessary and he died in Council
Bluffs in 1956. He had been a faithful member of the Silver Light Masonic
Lodge for more than fifty years and received their burial honors in the
Silver City Cemetery.
SOLIDAY,
GEORGE
George Soliday, born October 22, 1849, at Carlyle Hill, St. Joe. County,
Indiana, married Adeline Jones. daughter of Allen P. and Frances Smith
Jones, on December 25, 1873. They came to Mills County in 1883 and to
Silver City in 1895 where he owned and operated the City Dray Line for
many years. He died on August 13, 1924 and she died October 31, 1932. They
had four children: Allen, Cassius, Blanche and Frances.
Allen married Viola Burger and have one foster daughter and one daughter.
Cassius lived in Indiana for many years where his family also resides.
Blanche graduated from Silver City High School and married Ernest Decker.
They have five children, Alvin, Mae, Marjorie, Lyle and Robert.
Frances married on June 10, 1891 to William Henry
Batten, born September 22, 1865, and was a farmer near Silver City for
many years where he died February 6, 1911. They had five children, George
Thomas, Albert, Ray, Bessie, and Mary.
George Thomas died November 22, l9l0.
Albert married Gladys Young and lived in Glenwood. (Both deceased) They
had one daughter Marlene.
Ray married Sylvia Carr. (Both deceased) They had seven children, Wayne,
Marlin, Wilma, Glen, Galen, Phyllis and Lois.
Bessie married William Ray. (Both deceased). Their son Cecil married Helen
McMahill and had two sons. They live in Colorado.
Mary — see George Ord history.
STEVENS,
E. A.
E.A. Stevens was born in Iowa and grew up at Oakland and in Harrison
County. He came to Silver City in 1902 with Mr. Ford when he bought the
Silver City Times. In a few months Steve bought the Times from Mr. Ford.
He was a very popular and prominent man in Lodge, social, and community
affairs. Shortly after Steve purchased the Times he and Dr. McCue
established bachelor quarters on the second floor of the Times building;
where the doctor also had his office. And thus began one of the finest
friendships any two men ever enjoyed.
Steve married Meda Hettinger, the daughter of Lewis and Alvena Hettinger
and the McCues and Stevens were next door neighbors for a number of
years.
In December 1916 Steve and C.W. Bays exchanged papers. Steve going to
Woodbine where he edited the Times for many years. They continued to live
in Woodbine until the fall of 1953.
STEWART, CLIFFORD C.
Clifford C. Stewart was born October 10, 1902 in a farm house one mile
west of Pacific Junction, Iowa. He lived all but ten years of his life in
Mills County.
Susie Sargent was born east of Pacific Junction on October 7, 1907 and
lived all her life in Mills County.
Cliff and Susie were married February 11, 1928 in Glenwood, Iowa. To them
were born one son, Duane
(Bo) who died in 1947, and a daughter, Wava, who married Robert Adair on
April 8, 1961. The Adairs have three children: Audrey, Duane and Pamela,
all now living in Rifle, Colorado.
Cliff and Susie moved to Silver City in 1933 where he set up a blacksmith
business. He is a former member of the I.O.O.F. Lodge and a past master of
the Masonic Lodge No. 400. Cliff is now retired.
Susie is an active member of the Woodland Rebekah Lodge No. 552, the
Ladies Encampment Auxiliary No. 90, Glenwood and also a past matron of the
Order of the Eastern Star No. 536.
STEWART, CORTE KIMBALL
Corte Kimball Stewart was born November 16, 1908 at Eagle, Nebr.
On March 2, 1938 he married Bertha May Clay who was born March 1, 1901.
She attended school in Mills County, South Dakota and Cedar Falls State
Teachers College and taught for thirteen years.
They lived on the Huffaker place north and east of Silver City and later
moved to their farm south of Malvern. They had two children: Joyce Lavon
and Lyle Edwin.
Joyce married Robert Lahey and they live in rural Council Bluffs. Their
children: Bruce, Bryan and Elaine.
Lyle Edwin married Barbara Beasley of Malvern and works for Northern
Natural Gas Company in Omaha. They live in Glenwood and have three
children: Ten Lynn, Matthew and Courtney.
Corte died March 6, 1970 and Bertha died September 13, 1979.
STEWART, LE ROY BURTON
Le Roy Burton Stewart, (b. 1875, d. 1951) was the son of Robert and
Catherine Richardson Stewart of Logansport, Indiana. They settled in Mills
County in the late l800s. Le Roy was married to Alice Estella Kesterson
(b. 1877, d. 1957), the daughter of Rev. Robert and Mrs. Mary Wolfe
Kesterson.
To the union of LeRoy and Alice Stewart were born 10 children.
Mabel Erville, (b. 6-12-1901, d. 1-13-1953) married Fred Alley of
Glenwood.
Clifford Cole (b. 10-10-02) married Susie Sargent. see Cliff Stewart
history)
Mary Ola (b. 3-9-1904, d. 2-13-1970) married John Fiierstein (deceased) of
Campbell, Nebraska.
Velma LeVon (b. 7-19-1906) married Paul G. Weed ~i 10-2-1930) married
Arthir Freemore (d. 9-27-1976). Velma makes her home in Shenandoah, Iowa.
Corte Kimball married Bertha Clay. (see Corte Stewart history)
Oma May (b. 3-7-1910) married Ransford Bare (deceased) married George Earl
Mathews. They live in Ma1vern.
Robert Wayne married Zeta Ferne Clay. (see Wayne Stewart history)
Alice Carrol married Willie Williams. (see Willie Henry Williams history)
Ralph Dwight married Margaret Doris Mass (see Ralph Stewart history)
The Stewart family moved to a farm near Silver City in 1932. Four of their
children have remained in the Silver City area.
STEWART, RALPH
Ralph Dwight “Pinky” b. 4-12-1919, is the son of
LeRoy and Alice Stewart. He married Margaret Mass,
b.5-21-1925, on June 5, 1942. Ralph served with the
U.S. Army in France and Germany during W.W. II.
They have four children; Sharon Margaret, Kenneth
John, Karen Alyce and Kevin Lee.
Sharon Margaret (b. 6-10-1946) married Gary E.
McNutt (b. 6-29-1943) of Manning, Iowa on October
14, 1967. They have 3 children; John Kenneth (b. 3-12-1971), Sarah
Margaret (b. 4-2-1973) and Stephen Dale (b.10-20-1975). Gary is a Viet Nam
veteran and is employed by Western Electric. They make their home in
Silver City.
Kenneth John (b. 3-10-1950, d. 2-10-1968)
Karen Alyce (b. 3-31-1954) married Dan R. Templeton of Sullivan, Indiana
on December 29, 1973. Their children are Alisa Kristine (b. 4-20-1975) and
Robert Daniel (b. 9-26-1977). They live in Omaha and Dan is employed at
Western Electric.
Kevin Lee (b. 12-28-1957) works with his dad as a carpenter and lives near
Malvern.
STEWART, ROBERT WAYNE
Robert Wayne Stewart was born May 1, 1913 at Eagle, Nebraska. He attended
Pacific Junction High School. On August 8, 1938 he married Zeta Ferne Clay
who was born December 7, 1913 at Letcher S.D. She graduated from Malvern
High School and studied at Omaha University, Northwest Missouri State
College and University of Nebraska at Omaha. She taught school for 22
years and retired in 1973 due to a heart attack.
Wayne started farming 1 ¼ mile north of Silver City in 1933 and they
purchased an acreage there and built a new house in 1972 and 1973. They
continue to farm with son Robert’s help. Their children: Robert Paul,
Roberta Virginia and Richard Duane.
Robert was born February 7, 1940 and graduated from Silver City High
School in 1958. He is currently engaged in farming.
Roberta Virginia was born October 20, 1941 and graduated from Silver City
High School in 1959. After graduation from Personnel Training in Omaha,
she worked for Northwestern Bell Telephone Company and was a teller at
Mills County State Bank in Silver City. She married Michael Miller on July
8, 1960. (See Miller, Arthur)
Richard Duane was born December 8, 1949. He attended grade school in
Silver City and graduated from Glenwood in 1968. In April, 1968 he joined
the Army. After completing basic training in Fort Lewis, Washington, he
served as Instructor at Fort Knox, Kentucky and in Germany. He was named
Staff-Sergeant in 1970. He attended college in Omaha and Bowling Green,
Kentucky where he was married to Angela Davis on September 18, 1972. They
have two children: Samuel Wayne born August 24, 1974 and Shaye Elizabeth
born April 18, 1976 (Easter Sunday). They now live near Waterloo, Iowa
where Richard is working as a machinist in the John Deer plant.
STILLE,
RUBEN
In the year of 1928, Ruben Stille, age 37 and wife Pearl, age 32 purchased
the old Swarts farm south of Silver City and moved there with their
family, at this time consisting of eight children.
Albert has three children, is married to Lurline Brake and now retired
living in Red Oak, Iowa.
Walter who married Opal Henderson now living in Malvern, Iowa. Walter has
two children (See Walter
Stille History)
Leona who married Kenneth Henderson, made their home in Malvern, Iowa,
after retirement until March of 1978 when she passed away from a rare
disease. Kenneth still lives in the home in Malvern. Leona had four
children.
Bedah Anna who married William Huff, Jr. are now making their home on a
farm north of Emerson, Iowa. Bedah Anna has two children.
Ila Fae who married Rev. Walter Sieck now lives in Earlham, Iowa. Fae has
four children plus one adopted child.
Ernest, better known as “Snowball” married Minni Vohs. They are retired
living summers in Loveland, Colorado and winters in Mesa, Airzona.
Snowball has four children including one daughter who passed away with
incurable cancer in 1973.
Pearl married Leland Young, now lives in Kersey. Colorado. Pearl has four
children.
Betty married Lyle Hansen, they have retired and are living in Glenwood,
Iowa. Betty had one son and lost him in an auto accident in 1962.
Lee was the ninth child born at Silver City, Iowa. He married Phyllis
Rennack and they now live at Seward. Nebraska. They have no children.
To the best of my knowledge there are 83 living descendants of Ruben and
Pearl.
The reason for moving to Silver City was simple. Father got tired of
farming for others and decided to buy land of his own. You all know what
happened in 1929, but father managed to hold on to his land. I, being one
of the younger ones, can’t remember the lean years as well as my brothers
and sisters. There is one thing I do remember, we all knew how to work and
I’m sure were my father raising some of the children today, there would be
fewer juveniles.
Recalling back to some of the things we did, I remember very distinctly
helping bottle fresh milk and cream, going with my father to Silver City
to deliver it to the grocery store. I was the outdoor chore girl raising
chickens and helping with feeding many bucket calves plus riding the
buckskin horse after the cows.
There are not too many high school graduates in my family, but with
American freedom and back bone plus brains, one can succeed in America.
One of the sad situations of our family was when Mae Johnson (the
veterinary’s wife) got infection in her finger from a thread. Brother
Albert summoned the call after his blood typed with hers, to give a
transfusion, thus giving him blood poisoning. Hence my parents didn’t only
have nine but also Kenny and Wayne Johnson with us real often. They tried
to help Doc, as we knew him.
Children in those days had chores, eggs to gather, wood to carry for
cooking, etc.
I also remember pulling a coaster wagon to Spelbring’s Lumber Yard for 100
lbs. of ice to freeze that 5 gallon of homemade ice cream, usually an
every Sunday occurrence in the summer.
Lots of you can still see, as I can in my mind the huge wood pile my
father and brothers chopped, saved for firewood for our wood furnace in
the winter.
We children attended the Methodist Church on Sunday. We didn’t have much
money but father would donate a load of wood once in a while to the church
for our share of giving.
The church was very dear to me and I shall always remember Mrs. Galt being
my very special Sunday School teacher. It was she who made me realize the
Christian life was a life I wanted. She also gave me singing lessons that
weren’t too expensive that helped me enjoy singing, even today
Betty Hansen.
STILLE,
WALTER
Walter Stille moved to a farm south of Silver City with his parents, Ruben
and Pearl Stille, in the late 1920s from a farm close to Pacific Junction,
Iowa.
On August 28, 1934, Walter was united in marriage to Opal V. Henderson,
(see James Everett). Walter and Opal started their married life on a farm
southeast of Silver City where they lived for six years. In 1937 a son was
born on August 10 and named Bobby Leroy.
The family moved from Silver City to a farm northeast of Red Oak, Iowa
where a daughter, Dorothy Jean, arrived on February 7, 1943. The Stilles
lived on three different farms in the Red Oak area before moving to
Henderson, Iowa to a farm south of town. The children and parents were
members of the Methodist Church wherever they were living and were very
active in 4-H and took part in all community affairs.
In 1954 the Stilles purchased the 60-acre farm from Opal's parents, the
Everett Henderson’s north of Malvern. The first of December, 1955, the
move was made and the family lived there for 24 years and retired, selling
the farm to son, Bobby Stille.
Bobby was married December Il, 1955 to Barbara
Ross. To this union were born three children — Michael, Kathy and Kelly.
Dorothy Jean was married to Thomas N. Beno on
May 17, 1969 and she now lives in Bellevue, Nebraska.
Bobby's son, Michael, was married to Jody Smiley
October 9, 1976. They are engaged in farming near Emerson, Iowa. On August
17, 1978 a baby daughter was born to them and she was named Melissa.
The Walter Stilles moved to their present home at 606 East 7th Street in
Malvern, Iowa in January of 1979.
STOGDILL, GERALD
Gerald, born September 30, 1931, is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert
Stogdill of Tabor, grandson of the late Mr. and Mrs. William L. Stogdill
of Silver City who worked on the George Rew farm. Gerald served in the Air
Force and upon discharge went into farming.
Lenora, born September 4, 1933, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred
Techau, Sr. of Silver City. She graduated in 1951, valedictorian, at the
Silver City High School and worked 8 years at a Council Bluffs Bank.
They were married June 2, 1955, at the St. John Lutheran Church, Mineola,
where they are still members. They purchased the Talboy home in Silver
City where they lived 15 years while Gerald operated the Standard Service
Station. They built their present home in 1972. Gerald is presently
employed at the Farm Service Coop at Silver City and operates the Stogdill
Car Wash.
They have three children, Ronald Alan, born February 11, 1962; Lisa Renee
born April 29, 1964; and Steven Andrew, born August 23, 1967. All three
attend the Glenwood Community School and are active in sports and 4-H.
Lisa is in Legion Aux, FHA, Band, a Baton Majorette, and in vocal music.
Steve also plays in the band. Ron will be attending University of Iowa
upon graduation.
Gerald is a member of the Legion Post Gordon May 439 and a past Commander;
was a past councilman, past assistant Fire Chief; First Chairman of the
Volunteer Ambulance when it was organized in 1970; began Cub Scout Pack
230 in 1969 and served as Cub Master 2 years, and is a member of Pork
Producers Ass’n. Lenora is a member of the American Legion Auxiliary;
Porkettes; American Lutheran Church Women; a member and past officer of
Silver City Slick Chicks; a past Cub Scout Den Mother for 5 years; an
Assistant Leader to the Loyal Lassies 4-H Club; an E M T on the Silver
City Volunteer Ambulance Crew, and a Church Choir member.
Their son Ron is presently a member of the Silver City Cope Committee.
STOGDILL, JAMES BENTON
James Benton was born June 27, 1874 in Bloomfield, Iowa, the son of Morris
and Edith Stogdill. He married Frances Ann Shelton in 1894. They came to
Silver City in 1913 where he farmed and later operated the dray line. They
moved to Council Bluffs in 1922. Frances Ann died on April 14, 1925 and he
married Mrs. Carrie L. Bowman on October 4, 1926. He died on May 22, 1932.
His children Charles Wesley served in World War I and married Ruby Sell.
She died a few weeks later and he married Fay Sell, a sister of Ruby.
Morris died on April 16, 1930. Frances lives at Idaho. Ruth now deceased
was married to Carlisle Clipson.
STONE, SPENCER
Spencer Stone was born March 3, 1792 in Virginia. He married Elizabeth
Hargis. From Kentucky they moved to Illinois in 1828. They were the
parents of eleven children, the oldest being William Langford Stone, born
March 30, 1822. Spencer Stone came to Mills County in 1853 and secured one
or more sections of land on Silver Creek. William Langford Stone followed
his father to Iowa, renting land from him. Then he purchased land on the
west side of Silver Creek until he had 500 acres or more. His wife, Mary
Ellen McLemore, died while they still lived in Illinois, leaving three
children: John Young Stone who married Harriet Solomon, Nancy Ann who
married David Orr, and Elizabeth who married John W. Gilliland. In 1857
William married Sophia Patrick, a native of Cumberland, Maryland and
daughter of a pioneer of Mills County. She was a sister of George Patrick,
who owned and operated the old grist mill on Silver Creek, known as
Patrick’s Mill.
Three children were born to this union: Elmer Stone, born October 20,
1858, married Atlanta Anderson; Elma Eva, born May 30, 1861, married
Charles C. Knight (see Knight) and Emma Grant, born April 28, 1863,
married Milton Knight (see Knight). After the close of the Civil War,
Spencer Stone returned to Illinois where he died in 1869. William Langford
Stone died August 27, 1899 and is buried in East Liberty Cemetery.
STORTENBECKER, HERMAN
Herman Stortenbecker was born May 1, 1918, son of George and Mary
Stortenbecker and lived north of Silver City until his marriage to Sarah
Jane Hill, born April 15, 1918, daughter of Floyd and Mae Hill.
They moved to a farm south of town where they still reside. They have two
sons.
Larry Herman was born February 7, 1943. Larry graduated from Silver City
High School and is engaged in farming. He married Betty Jean McMullen
November 24, 1963. They have 3 children, Leroy Herman born August 18,
1964, Gary Duane born February 9, 1967 and Rodney Wayne, born March 7,
1968.
Leo Laverne was born June 7, 1946, and graduated from Malvern High School.
He married Linda Hatfield on December 3, 1966. They have two children,
Angela Michelle born January 17, 1971 and Brian Andrew born November 17,
1974.
Herman and his sons are prominent cattle raisers and grain farmers.
Jane sang in the Methodist Choir and taught Sunday School and was a
pianist for a time.
Leo and Linda are avid antique enthusiasts and Betty enjoys sewing.
SWANBURG, CHARLES
Charles Swanburg born 3/2/1862 at Phillipstood, Sweden, the son of August
and Mary Swanburg, came to America in 1881, first settled at Axtell,
Kansas; later to Silver City in 1884 and farmed for years north of Silver
City. He married 3/23/1892, Alpha Bryant, daughter of Lyman and Sarah
Bryant. Mrs. Swanburg was born at Oxford, Illinois; she came with her
parents to this community in 1882. Mr. Swanburg was a highly respected man
and a member of the Masonic Lodge. He died 10/28/1933. They had six
children: Maude, (see James Bailey), Mae, Ray, Daisy, Annabelle, and
Katherine. All the children of this family attended Evergreen School north
of town. The second daughter, Mae married Ben Bothwell; they moved to the
state of Washington with their son, Charles and daughter, Irene; both of
the children are married. Ben is deceased and Mae lives in Tacoma,
Washington. Ray, the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Swanburg, died in his youth
(1899-1915). Daisy Swanburg McGarr lives in Sacramento, California.
Annabelle Swanburg married Albert Bailey; they lived in Omaha where
Annabelle passed away in August 1962. Katherine Swanburg Norre, the
youngest daughter was a Silver City High School graduate; her husband is
deceased. Katherine lives in Omaha. The mother of the above children, Mrs.
Alpha Bryant Swanburg, married Cecil Thompson in 1942. Mr. Thompson passed
away in 1953 and she on October 10, 1960.
SWARTS HISTORY
The roots of the Swarts family were put down in Luzerne County,
Pennsylvania with the birth of Peter Swarts in 1796. He married
Connecticut born Elizabeth Dolph (some accounts call her Susan). They
migrated to Indiana. There they had five children: Elizabeth, Rueben,
George, Mary and Thomas. George, the middle son (born November 26, 1826)
married Margaret Johnson in 1849 when he was 23 years old. Margaret died
in 1868 leaving five children: William Cyrus, Emma, Alice, Laura and Clara
(who died when she was young). George Swarts then married his first wife’s
sister, a widow, Amanda Johnson Doner and moved his family to Iowa where
another daughter Kate was born.
William Cyrus Swarts, only son of George Swarts, was born October 11,
1849, Allen County, Indiana. He married Sarah Jane Iseminger, daughter of
John and Catherine Iseminger in Kouts, Porter County, Indiana, September
30, 1852 and died March 1, 1916 at Silver City, Iowa.
William Cyrus had bought and farmed an eighty in Porter County before he
was married. He sold this and used the funds to purchase a 270 acre farm
north of Silver City to which, in 1874 at the age of 24, he brought his
bride of less than a year. He prospered on this farm residing there 12
years and then, after living on several other farms in the county, he
bought 350 acres just south of Silver City adjoining the city limits in
1895 and built a new modern home and a set of farm buildings on the slope
not too far from Silver Creek.
The children of Sarah Jane and W.C. Swarts were: Frank, Ed, Mabel and Mae
(twin daughters), James, Mark William, Maude (died in infancy 15 months).
W.C. Swarts was industrious, hard-working and “all business.” He was a
successful farmer well known for his hog raising operation, for his beef
cattle and also for a stable of fine racing horses, the most well known as
the beautiful “Chestnut Wilkes.”
Though he had not graduated from high school himself, Mr. Swarts saw to it
that his children were well educated. Both Ed and Frank became registered
pharmacists: Mabel earned a MD degree from Creighton University in Omaha
and Mark became a high school mathematics teacher. Mae was well known in
the community for her beautiful singing voice and for her entertaining
readings. Religious training was an important part of family life. Mrs.
Swarts was a member of the Silver City Methodist Church; all the children
attended Sunday School and young people meetings; Mabel and Mae taught
Sunday School and led youth groups. W.C. supported the church with his
labor, time and money, but seldom with his presence.
Realizing that he was well blessed with the world’s goods, W.C. Swarts
believed in sharing with those who were less fortunate. Therefore at
Christmas time and when he butchered he dispersed his children through the
community with many of their farm products. His home was a haven for
indigents who could find no work, for there was always plenty to do in the
barn and gardens and the cooking and cleaning tasks were monumental. Many
workers were glad to exchange their labor for a little spending money,
good meals, a warm bed, and the security of a loving family, sometimes
remaining for several years.
Frank, the oldest son, (born November 9, 1875) married Edna Dunbar
September 8, 1897. Their daughter Ada made her home with W.C. Swarts
family after the death of her mother (1902); she graduated from Silver
City High School.
May 24, 1911 Jim married a local girl, Sadie Reeve. She died December 28,
1918 during the flu epidemic leaving four children: Bern, George, Marjorie
and Jerry. Jim later moved to California with his family. See James Swarts.
Late in life Dr. Mable married Earl Thomas and also went to California.
There were no children.
On Thanksgiving Day November 26, 1908, her twentieth birthday Mae married
Thomas David McMahan of Gower, Missouri, a brakeman on the Wabash Railroad
which ran through Silver City. They made their home in Stanberry, Missouri
where their three children: Naomi (see LeVier), Kenneth (see McMahan), and
Mayme were born. On March 16, 1915, Tom McMahan was killed in a train
wreck. To add to this tragedy Mae’s mother passed away March 1, 1916 and
her father on December 23, 1917. Later, Mae remarried to Floyd B. Hill, a
Council Bluffs florist and to them were born Sarah Jane (see Stortenbecker),
Gretchen (see Hodges) and Geraldine.
In the late l890s a Methodist minister, Rev. John Wright, came with his
family to Silver City. One of his daughters was a gentle timid tiny girl
named Mary. It was on her that Mark soon focused his attention. She
graduated from Silver City High School in 1900. After a courtship of
several years, during which both young people attended Iowa State Normal
School and taught in the local schools they were married by her father in
Cumberland, Iowa June 30, 1908. The wedding was attended only by immediate
family and by Mark’s mother, Sarah, and Edna Dunbar Swarts, his sister-in-
law. The couple left the same day by train for a farm east of Silver City,
which Mark had prepared called “Maple Top,” (where Clyde Bond family now
live). Here on September 11, 1911 Muriel was born and John Cyrus on August
4, 1916.
After the death of W.C. Swarts December 23, 1917, Mark brought his family
to a 120 acre farm south of Silver City across from the cemetery. There he
built new farm buildings and eventually a new home.
Muriel received her BA degree from ISTC, and John, his MA from University
of Omaha. Both were teachers.
On June 5, 1938 Muriel married Paul Menzel and moved to a farm near
Janesville, Iowa, where they still reside. Their children are: Lois (Mrs.
Gerald Rigdon) of Burlington; James of Ames and Bonnie (Mrs. Jack Mennenga)
of Cedar Falls. The following year John married his school day sweetheart,
Ruth Barnes, daughter of one of Silver City’s most beloved Methodist
ministers, Rev. F.G. Barnes. John was stricken with cancer in midlife (age
48). Ruth is still teaching, presently at Carter Lake. They had two
daughters, Carol (Mrs. John Prieto) and Linda Ruth (Mrs. William Wredt).
(see John Swarts).
SWARTS , JAMES AND
SADIE FAMILY
Two members of the 1904 Silver City graduation class were James Paul
Swarts and Sadie Bonner Reeve. After teaching for a time Sadie married Jim
Swarts. They made their home on a farm near Silver City. In 1918 Sadie
passed away leaving four small children: Bern Reeve, George, Marjorie Jean
and James Jerry. Shortly after Sadie’s death, Jim moved to California with
his young family and continued his residence there until his death October
26, 1969 at San Diego.
1. Berne Reeve Swarts married Carmelita Louise Harkleroad. They had three
children, a daughter and twin boys: Rosalie Ann who married Jack
Christensen (now divorced), their children are Otto Bern and Ana Laura.
(In September 1979 Rosalie returned to San Diego from a teaching position
in Mittagong, Australia and Madang, New Guinea); James Reeve Swarts
married Kathy Burkleo, their children are Jennifer, Mathew Thomas and
Carrie Jo (they live in Ashland, Oregon); George Thomas Swarts married
Maren Krieps (now divorced), they had three children: Diane Marie, Maria
Louisa and Rose Elaine (Dolly). They live in Parks, Arizona.
2. George Swarts married Emily Krause (now divorced). They had one son,
Walter Jerry. George lived in Susanville, Calif.
3. Marjorie Jean Swarts married Albert Hornby, a navy career man. After
retirement they lived in San Diego and chose dahlia flower growing as a
hobby. They raised many prize winners and traveled a great deal to judge
at shows. Marjorie passed away June 3, 1979 at San Diego. They had two
daughters: Marjorie Alberta who married James Dentler and had three sons:
David Lee (deceased), Jeffrey Robert and Michael Edward. A divorce
followed and later Marjorie Alberta married
George Houck, a navy career
man. They live in Lakeside, California.
4. James Jerry Swarts, the youngest of Jim and Sadie’s family, married
Irene Wegner; they live in San Diego.
They had one son Eric Reeve who
lives in Houston, Texas.
SWARTS, JOHN FAMILY
John Swarts, the son of Mark and Mary Wright Swarts, was born on a farm
near Silver City August 4, 1914. He received his grade and high school
education in the Silver City
schools. Later he attended State Teachers,
Simpson College and earned his Masters from Omaha Uni. In 1939 he married
Ruth Barnes, the daughter of Rev, and Mrs. F.G. Barnes, who served Silver
City as a Methodist
minister. To this union were born two daughters, Carol
Sue and Linda.
John taught in several towns in Iowa, but returned to his home farm with
his family for the last eleven
years of his life. He was a victim of
cancer and died at the age of 49.
While John and Ruth lived at Silver City, they were active in the
Methodist Church and all community affairs.
During World War II John
served in the South Pacific. On his return, he continued teaching and
farming. Ruth, his wife, began teaching a short time before his death. She
resides in Council Bluffs.
Carol Sue married John Prieto of Council Bluffs: they have two sons,
Anthony John Swarts Prieto and Jerome William Swarts Prieto. Carol is now
a medical Transcriptionist in Radiology at
University Hospital in Omaha.
Linda, Mrs. William Wredt, lives in Omaha and is a secretary for the Omaha
Housing Authority.
Return to Silver City Biographies
