MUSCATINE COUNTY IOWA

Pg. 126

Alvin N. and Edna Jensen Roberts

        Alvin N. Roberts had passed away so there was no information given about him. Edna was born January 12, 1908 the daughter of Martin and Catherine Christensen Jensen. Her parents were farmers Northeast of Atalissa. Alvin was known . . .

Pg. 127

. . . for his corn husking awards. They were members of the Atalissa Christian Church and she was in the Ladies Aid Society. Alvin and Catherine had two children, Nevin Alvin and Arlene Catherine. They were married October 22, 1927.

Harry and Wilma Tomasson Rock
2134 137th Street

Picture: Harry and Wilma Rock in 1945

        Lived where Tom Rock now lives. Harry built it and they named it Wallakapoose.

        Wilma now resides in West Liberty.

        Harry was born August 17, 1911 in Keokuk, Iowa, the son of Albert and Anna Rock. Harry is deceased now.

        Wilma was born January 25, 1916 in Muscatine, Iowa, the daughter of Bill and Mae Tomasson. They both were schooled in Muscatine, Iowa. They were married July 13, 1935 in Keokuk, Iowa. He was a mill worker and her time was spent being a housewife and making clothes for her family. They had 5 children, Harry Lee (deceased), G L “Buck” (deceased), Margaret Elaine of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, Thomas Walter of Atalissa and William Lloyd of Atalissa. Harry was in the Army in 1942. She was in the Town and Country Club and was involved in helping at the Henry Turkey Service house. Wilma was there 8 years helping with the men living there. Wilma made all of the clown costumes they wear when being in various parades in the area. At 81 she was still active with them and would dress up and walk the routes with her boys as she called them. They were like her second family and are very special in her heart. To the boys at the schoolhouse she was called “Grandma”.

Picture: Wilma Rock in 1997

Louis and Margaret White Ruess

Picture: Louis and Margaret Ruess wedding picture

Bert and Wilma Schmidt Schafnit

        They lived at 102nd St North of Atalissa.

        Bert was born in 1901 and died in 1969. His parents were Fred and Rena Schafnit. They lived at 111 Fourth Street. Fred had two siblings Clara and Gladys who married George Morrison. Wilma was born in 1902 and died in 1979. Bert was a farmer and Bank Clerk and Wilma was a Teacher. They had one son Ronald known as Razz who was well known for his singing voice. He married Shirley Gertz. Bert and Wilma also raised a nephew Jack Garvin and a niece Joyce Garvin.

Picture: Bert and Wilma Schafnit’s son Ron and wife Shirley and Shirley’s Aunt Edith Gertz

Pg. 128

Harry and Rena Schafnit
111 Fourth Street

        Harry and Rena had three children Clara, Bert and Gladys.

Calvin and Marion Wacker Schmidt

        They now live on farm at 1830 Newton Ave. Tipton, Iowa.

        Calvin (Mike) was born December 7, 1926 the son of Clarence and Lillian Hunter Schmidt. Calvin lived in Atalissa approximately 25 years. His entire education was in the Atalissa School System. He was in the Army from 1945-1947 and was stationed in Panama. Calvin and Marion were married May 25, 1951 in Wilton, Iowa. Marion is the daughter of Art and Minnie Grunder Wacker. They have 3 children Mrs. Marsha Batty of Muscatine, Iowa, Mrs. Sally McBride of rural Atalissa and Mrs. Rita Orine of Wilton, Iowa. As a young man Calvin farmed and drove a lime truck for Herman “Sandy” Stewart and drove a semi for Tom Stewart. He has been an Electrician for the past 40 years. Marion has been a Typesetter for 25 years. He loves to fish when he can find time and she enjoys sewing. They have 6 grandchildren.

        They now live on a farm near Tipton, Iowa.

Ewolt and Lydia Schmidt

Picture: Ewolt standing beside some of his needlepoint in 1979. This was a craft show at the Zion Lutheran Church

        Ewolt was born in Felda, Germany on March 2, 1904 the son of Joseph and Helene Vemejer Schmidt. He immigrated to the United States on September 3, 1927. Ewolt had been trained as a Taylor in Germany but came to this country as a Displaced Person. Early on his arrival to the Atalissa area he was involved into farming and later moved into town where he operated a Welding Shop. He and Lydia Schulz were married on April 14, 1937 in Phillipsburg, Kansas. They had 2 sons Carlos and David. He passed away in 1980 at the age of 76 years. Lydia passed away before him but have no date.

        He was a very good carpenter and his work was in great demand. He had a hand in the construction of many buildings in town. He was called “The Town Fixer-upper” by several of the local people of Atalissa.

Christ and Henrietta “Blim” Devore Schmidt

Picture: Henrietta “Blim” DeVore

        Christ was born to August and Marjana Schmidt in 1862 2 ½ miles East of Atalissa. Henrietta was born to Hiram and Martha Tice DeVore in 1882. They had three children Clarence in 1901, Mabel in 1903 and Gertrude in 1905. They moved to town and lived on the northeast corner of Linn and Second Street, where Darryl McKillip now lives. Christ owned and operated a Dairy business while living at this location. He later sold the property to Kenneth McKillip. At one time in the early 1900’s thru 1940 this property was known as the “Town Pasture.”

        In later years Blim lived with Mary Gerdts on Cherry Street, where the Rick VanDusen family now live.

        She was a hard worker for the Christian Church and was a member of the Ladies Aid, she did a lot of quilting and was also a member of the Royal Neighbors.

Clarence and Lillian Hunter Schmidt

        Lived in Alvin Hinrichs house on Highway Six.

        Clarence was born 1901 the son of Christ and Henrietta DeVore Schmidt in Atalissa. Lillian was born in 1902 the daughter of Curtis and Mary Mills Hunter in Atalissa. They were married in . . .

Pg. 129

. . . 1921. There were three children Vivian in 1922, Calvin (Mike) in 1926 and Shirley in 1930. They farmed Southeast of Wilton and in 1927 they moved to Atalissa. Clarence worked for Bill Hohnke in the Grocery store. Clarence worked at the Rock Island Arsenal after he left the store. In 1946 they moved to the family farm 1 mile east of Atalissa. They spent their winters in Florida. Lillian died in 1970 and Clarence in 1980 and are both buried in the Overman Cemetery.

Picture: Family picture of Clarence and Lillian Schmidt front row, back row Vivian, Calvin and Shirley

Robert and Leila Schmidt

        Robert and Leila lived on a farm before moving to Atalissa in 1951. Robert owned a Grocery business on the ground floor of the Bank and lived in an apartment upstairs. Their son Bob remembers there was no hot water in the building. Robert is now deceased and Leila is living in Muscatine, Iowa.

Picture: Robert and Leila Schmidt with son Bobbie and dog Master

John and Edith Schnier

        John and Edith lived at 217 Lundy. He owned and farmed land on Penn Avenue. After John died Edith married Chesley Maxson.

Duane and Julia Martinson Sharpless
5049 Hoover Highway

Picture: Duane Sharpless

        Duane was born March 7, 1934 at RR 1 Atalissa to Bill and Vera Sharpless. Julia was born December 4, 1936 the daughter of Helen and George Martinson. He went to school in Atalissa and graduated in 1952. She went to school in Iowa City, Iowa and graduated in 1954. They were married over 40 years and have 3 children Roxanne, Shelly and Mark. There are 3 Grandchildren and 2 Great-grandchildren. They are members of the St. Pats Catholic Church in Iowa City, Iowa. Julie passed away a few years ago. Duane farmed and now owns Sharpless Auction in West Branch just off Interstate 80. He also enjoys traveling.

Alan and Pat Smith
Wilton, Iowa

Picture: Allen Smith

        He lived in the Presbyterian Parsonage in Atalissa from 1929-1940.

        Alan was born in 1929 the son of Walter A. and Irma Connelly Smith. He went to school in Atalissa. From first-sixth grade then went to West Liberty from 7th thru 12th. Pat went to school in Wilton, Iowa. They have 5 children David, Christie, Lisa, Sally and Kitty. Alan was in the Army from August 1951-1953 stationed in Europe and in the Korean War.

        As he was being interviewed he recalled several stories of life in Atalissa. He remembers his father telling him about the first Highway Patrolman killed in the line of duty. In 1936 or . . .

Pg. 130

. . . 1937 Orren (Nanny) Pape stopped at the Midway Station on Highway 6. After visiting with everyone he left and was later shot and killed just East of Muscatine, Iowa on Highway 61. His father and Delbert Arnold worked at the Bank when it closed in 1933. After the Bank closed his father was Secretary for the Shipping Association at the Stockyard.

        One boyhood memory was when he, Ray Oepping and Calvin Schmidt decided to put a big rock on the railroad track to see what would happen. R. Fizell, the section boss saw them do it, somehow their parents found out about it and believe you me we found out exactly what would happen. The creek on the North end of Cherry St was called “Old Jordan.” In the winter Bob Sledding down “The Old Clay Hill” Lundy St was the greatest. You could slide all the way to the tracks and the Sterner and Ellsworth boys sleds were always the fastest. One year in the late 1930’s the snow was so deep they had to scoop a path for the sleds.

Picture: Allen Smith and Irma

Evelyn Stiles

Picture: Evelyn Stiles in 1997

        Evelyn was born February 2, 1909 in West Liberty, the daughter of William and Marietta Kline Stiles. She moved to Atalissa when she was four years old. While living in Atalissa she lived on the NW corner of Linn and First Street. Evelyn attended school in Atalissa and graduated in 1926, then attended the University of Northern Iowa and graduated in 1936. Upon graduating she taught school in Lone Tree, Clinton and Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Then she went to Chicago and studied Fashion Art and remained as an instructor. Evelyn worked at the Drake Hotel, in the Valet department for 35 years. There she trained personel and was supevisor over the coat checkroom. Because of her duties she was the first person to accept and teach young black men how to meet the public, how to charge for the work they did for pressing and repairing clothes. Also how to fill out the reports of the work. She even taught one young man how to read.

        Her boss, at the Drake, told her if people wanted to be noticed they would go to the Ambassador Hotel and not the Drake. In the years she was there she met many famous people like Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, also Hiro Hito from Japan. In 1990 she retired and moved to Florida then moved back to West Liberty in 1990.

        Dr. Ahrens was the doctor in Atalissa when Evelyn was growing up and she remembered him as being a very good doctor. During the Flu Epidemic around 1918 he and his wife would visit every house everyday. He would leave a bottle of whiskey at every house to be used as medicine. She remembered she and her Dad were the only ones not to get the flu in their house, so they had to help care for the sick ones. Dr. Ahrens only lost two patients and that was because they didn’t follow his instructions. He would take all youngsters that showed interest in medicine, and teach them. When he felt they were ready to practice medicine he would hang a shingle on their door.

Orville V. and Gladys M. Sterner

        Orville was born April 8, 1918 in Atalissa the son of Gale and Ester Melick Sterner. Orville attended school in Atalissa and after graduating he joined the Navy.

        Gladys was born December 16, 1919 and was raised in Atalissa. Gladys was the daughter of George F. and Elitha P. Chapman. She also attended school in Atalissa where after graduating Gladys also joined the Navy.

        While Orville and Gladys were still in the Navy they were married on May 2, 1944. After leaving the Navy they made their home in . . .

Pg. 131

. . . California where they raised their four children Cheryl Kay, Kathleen Gail (Kathy), Frederick William (Bill), and Larry Ray. They lived in California for some 35 years making frequent visits to Atalissa.

        In 1973 Orville retired so they moved back to Atalissa where he purchased the property his parents had owned. He and Gladys built a new home on the property. Along with their moving back three of their children came with their families also. Gladys died in January 1989 and Orville remained in Atalissa until he remarried in 1992. He sold the property and moved to Rock Island until his death in March 1999. He and Gladys are both buried in the Overman Cemetary in Atalissa.

        There are four grandchildren Donald Hundoble, Rhonda Hundoble Rock, Judith Sterner Keith and R. Michael Sterner. There are also five great-grandchildren Mehgin Hundoble, Matthew Hundoble, Jonathon Hundoble, Danielle Rock and Gabriella Keith.

Fred Stortz
110 W. Fourth Street

        Fred owned and operated the Lumberyard in the early 1920’s. The kids would play pranks on him during the Halloween season and he didn’t have a very good sense of humor. One year he shot Jimmy Lane in the side with a shotgun. After three years of pranks he sold the business. He tore his house down and re-built it in Muscatine. Opal Stewart helped by pulling out nails.

Wayne and Vivian Spilger

        Lived on the Church farm, the farm is 150 years old. They are now living in Florida.

        Wayne, the fourth child, of Phillip and Anna Gatzke Spilger was born at home on the family farm at 1412 Kelly St. Atalissa, Iowa. Vivian is the daughter of Clarence and Lillian Schmidt. Wayne and Vivian went to school in Atalissa. They were married in 1942 and have 2 children Jan Sweitzer of Maitland, Florida and Dick Spilger of Atalissa. There are 7 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. When they were living in the Atalissa area they were engaged in farming and were members of the Zion Lutheran Church in Atalissa. Both Wayne and Vivian enjoy dancing and playing cards. Wayne served 3 years in the Army in the South Pacific during World War II.

        They are now living in Geneva, Florida and spend much of their summers in Iowa.

Picture: Wayne and Vivian Spilger’s wedding picture taken in 1942

Archie and Lillian Staley

Picture: Archie Staley in 1917

        Archie was born August 13, 1888 in Joy, Illinois the son of Charles and Sarah Beggs Staley. Lillian was born September 26, 1888 in Muscatine County the son of Charles and Diana Oepping Wiese. Archie married Lillian on February 28, 1917 at her uncles Charles and Edward’s farm east of Atalissa. Archie and Lillian lived on a farm east of Atalissa and were active in the community. They belonged to the Royal Neighbors and Modern Woodmen of America in Atalissa. Archie was a member of the Atalissa Town Band, playing the Alto Horn, and . . .

Pg. 132

Picture: Lillian Staley in 1917

. . . was president of the School Board when the gymnaisium was added. They belonged to the Atalissa Church of Christ where Lillian was the pianist, she was also an accomplished violinist, and Archie was an Elder. They lived on the farm until their deaths Lillian in 1947 and Archie in 1985. He farmed his entire life and retired in 1968. They had two children Fern Elizabeth born in 1919 and Robert Frederick born in 1923.

        Fern graduated from Atalissa High School and went to the University of Iowa School of Nursing graduating in 1946.

Picture: Fern, Lillian and Robert Staley

Robert and Eleanor Staley

Picture: Family of Eleanor and Robert Staley seated, back row Sheryl, Pam and Mark, seated on the ground Jeff and Diane taken in 1987

        Robert married Lena Lindhorst in 1948 they lived on the farm and Bob helped with the planting and harvesting as well as working as a mechanic in the Muscatine and West Liberty area. They had five children Diane, Sheryl, Pamela, Jeffrey and Mark. They attended the Atalissa Church of Christ. Eleanor was active in the Get to Gether Club, the Eastern Star, and Royal Neighbors. She served as a 4-H leader for the Goshen Gleamers for several years and also worked at Corn Steak House and Yeagers Grocery Store. Bob and Eleanor lived in the area until their deaths Bob in 1996 and Eleanor in 1991. Mark and Jeff are still living on the family farm and are active in the Atalissa Church of Christ.

Louis and Bernice Staley

Picture: Family picture of Louie and Bernice Staley in front, back row left to right Alma, Lavonne, Charles and Louie Jr.

Zella A. Smith Statler

Picture: Zella Statler

        Lived on large farm called “Overman House at Tice Bridge”.

        Zella was born in 1915 the daughter of Grant and Ada McGill Smith in Moscow, Iowa. She attended Penn Avenue School thru 8th grade and graduated from Muscatine High School in 1933. She married Robert Statler in 1938 and had 3 children JoAnn Rursch, Sandra Lilienthal and Carl W. There are 8 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. She lived in the Atalissa area 17 years and was a teacher at Penn Avenue School in 1934-1935, Champion Hill School in 1936-1937. Zella belongs to the Presbyterian Church and her hob- . . .

Pg. 133

. . . bies are baking and sewing. She now lives in Wilton, Iowa.

        Zella’s memories of Atalissa gave us a great insight into how the community was in the early 1920-1940’s. She said there were no bars from 1923-1940. Mutt Markham owned the Chevy Franchise at the Midway Garage and she bought her brand new car, a 1938 Cheby, from him. She remembers one of her students at Champion Hill School as being Betty DeVore Gatzke. Zella was a Sunday school Teacher in the Presbyterian Church and remembers how active the Youth Groups were. Her mother was the Oricle of the Royal Neighbor Hall and both parents held offices in the Masonic Temple of Atalissa.

Darel and Donna Faye Passmore Sterner

Picture: Darel and Donna Faye Sterner

        Darel was born in 1931 the son of George and Florence Aye Sterner at 131 Linn St. Atalissa, Iowa. Donna Faye was born in 1933 the daughter of Chester and Lois Hepker Passmore. Darel attended School in Atalissa and graduated in 1950. Donna Faye went to Independence School and graduated from West Liberty, Iowa in 1951. Darel was in the Army from 1952-1954 and was stationed in Germany. He and Donna Faye were married in 1954 at the Cedar Valley Methodist Church south of Atalissa. There are 2 children Darla and Durk and 2 grandchildren. He is a barber. She is a bookkeeper. They are of the Presbyterian Faith and his hobbies are golf, fishing and woodworking. He lived in the Atalissa area for 21 Yrs. He was a paperboy, for the Cedar Rapids Gazette, in 1941. He remembers how Mutt Markham’s dog used to eat pennies which was a funny sight to see.

Picture: Home on corner of Linn and First Street where Darel grew up.

George and Florence Aye Sterner

        Lived at 131 Linn St. Atalissa, Iowa

        The house was purchased from the Burhop family. George and Florence were married February 8, 1922 and had 5 children Dean, Raymond, Emma, Darel and Ronald.

Picture:
George and Florence Sterner
George and Florence’s children in 1935 Ronald, Darel, Erma, Raymond and Dean

Scott Stillman
119 3rd Street Atalissa, Iowa

Picture: Scott Stillman’s house 119 Third Street

Pg. 134

        Scott is a Paramedic in Iowa City, Iowa.

Hilbert and Mary McGrann Stucker
315 4th Street

Picture: Hilbert and Mary Stucker

        Hilbert is the son of James H. and Emma Worrell Stucker. Mary was born December 4, 1900 the daughter of James and Nellie Fuller McGrann. Hilbert and Mary were married June 19, 1923 in the Presbyterian Church in Atalissa, Iowa. They had 2 children James and Donald. Hilbert was a rural mail carrier for Atalissa and picked up cream, from the farmers, for the creamery here in town. They were members of the Presbyterian Church in Atalissa and Mary was a 50-year member of the Order of Eastern Star.

        Mary taught school she was Jessie Stewart’s third grade teacher at Penn Avenue School. She also raised Chihuahua dogs.

James and Grace Phelps Stucker
Now living in Wilton, Iowa

        Jim was born September 6, 1927 the son of Hilbert and Mary McGrann Stucker in Centerville, Iowa. Grace was born December 30, 1928 the daughter of Glen and Laura Phelps in Summit, Iowa N.E. of Muscatine, Iowa. Jim went to school in Atalissa, Wilton and Mystic, Iowa and graduated in 1945. Grace went to the Penn Avenue School and West Liberty graduating in 1947, 2 years at Muscatine Community college and 2 Years at the University of Iowa graduating in 1972. Jim was in the Army from December 18, 1945-February 1947. He was stationed in Germany and witnessed the Nuremburg War criminal trials. They were married in 1950 at the Presbyterian Church in West Liberty. They have 2 children Carolyn and Wayne, there is one grandchild who is deceased. Jim is a retired Rural Mail Carrier and Grace is a teacher. They belong to the Methodist Church.

        Jim remembers several stories of Atalissa his great-grandfather came here in 1867 and settled on Penn Ave. It received the name because the 8 families living along the road were all from Pennsylvania. His grandfather also lived directly across from the Penn Ave School where he went at age 5. He had a hand painted picture of the farm and the school with a dirt path between. Jim’s father used to pick up cans of milk from the farmers and bring them to the creamery in Atalissa. It was located at the bottom of Lundy St. just north of the railroad tracks. He used a team of horses and a wagon. The creamery was still in operation in 1910 but later burnt down. The sight is a vacant lot now. George Worrell, the barber, had a sister Emma Worrell and Jim’s grandfather, James Stucker, had a sister Emma Stucker. Emma Worrell married James and became Emma Stucker and Emma Stucker married George and became Emma Worrell. Grace’s father, Glen Phelps, bought Tice Bridge for 1 dollar.

        We would like to thank Jim for all the wonderful information he has given us for the book.

Picture: Jim and Grace Stucker

Jason and Katrina Terpenning
226 3rd Street

        Jason was born October 12, 1971 in Washington, Iowa the son of Dan and Julie Terpenning. Katrina was born July 30, 1970 in Davenport, Iowa the daughter of Dennis and Patti Ray. Katrina went to school in Tipton, Iowa K-9th and in West Liberty, Iowa 10-12 graduating in 1988. Jason went to school in Muscatine, Iowa graduating in 1990. They were married in 1997 and have 1 child Erin Marie. Both are employed at the HON Company in Muscatine, Iowa.

Pg. 135

Picture: Jason and Katrina Terpenning’s house

Delbert and Fern Thomasson
300 S. Columbus Street, West Liberty, Iowa

Picture:
Fern, Robert and Delbert in 1961
Delbert and Margaret Thomason in 1997

        When in Atalissa Delbert lived at 15 Lundy Street, fern’s grandmother built the house in 1884 for $200.00.

        Delbert was born January 19, 1915 seven miles S.W. of West Liberty, Iowa. He married Fern Staley. Fern graduated from Atalissa High School and then to the University of Iowa School of Nursing graduating in 1946. There was one son Robert. Robert was a paperboy from age 9 to 17 in Atalissa. Delbert was on the water department for nine years, served on the fire department, was assistant scoutmaster and assistant patrolman. He also had a large part in the first communication system for law enforcement. He is a member of the Church of Christ in Atalissa, Iowa. He worked at the Arsenal during World War II then at the Chevy dealership in Durant and worked at the University of Iowa for 11 years. After his wife passed away in 1993 he married Margaret and the couple now live in West Liberty.

William and Grace Thomason

Picture:
William and Grace Thomason
William in the early 1960’s

        Wlliam and Grace were residents of the area for many years. William and Grace had one son Delbert. William owned the Texaco Gas Station located on Highway Six.

Pg. 136

Earl and Pearl Turkle

Picture:
Earl and Pearl Turkle and daughter Lorena in 1906
Earl and Pearl’s house in 1919 Third and Cherry Street

        Earl and Pearl lived on Third and Cherry and had one daughter, Lorena. Earl was a handyman and had a bad vocabulary. It got so bad the town council made him stop swearing in town. When he was a young man there was a burglary in West Liberty. Several men formed a posse and went after them. Earl tagged along. The men spread out going through the woods. Earl was tagging behind and saw the burglers raise up out of a pile of leaves. Earl hurried up the reported he had seen them. All he could say was “Let’s bounce em”. After that he was called Bouncer. Because of Earl the burglers were caught.

Jake Vauble

        Jake was a Machinist and had the Gristmill. He lived at 311 5th Street. His shop was located on Main Street across from the brick bank building. He did general repair work for the town and surrounding country. No one could remember Mrs. Vauble’s name but we know they had a daughter Pansy.

Harry Wallingford

        Harry and his family lived on the Northwest corner of town where Leggins now live. He was a carpenter and while shingling a porch at the Wertzbaugher farm was struck by lightening.

Lonnie and Clella Fiderlien Walton

Picture: Lonnie and Clella Walton taken in 1996

        Lonnie Walton was born in 1909 at 2136 Old Muscatine Road, Wilton Iowa where he lived all of his 88 years. Lonnie died in September 1999.

        Clella was born in 1916 at 1932 Highway 6 the daughter of Ernest G. and Euella Crees Fiderlein. Clella went to school in Atalissa graduating in 1933 then going on to Parsons College. She taught school at Cedarville and Cedar Hill in this area. They were married May 1, 1938 at the Presbyterian Church in Muscatine, Iowa. Following the marriage a dinner was given in their honor at the home of Clella’s mother. Six of the bride’s students Carl Dotson, Leroy Jewett, Lavone and Alma Staley, Betty Newton and Jean Anne Lindle assisted by Mrs. W.A. Smith and Mrs. C. L. Hoverter served the dinner. They had 2 children Vernon of Wilton, Jane Watson of Marlboro, Massachusetts.

        Lonnie was a farmer. Clella was on the school board, Senior Citizen Housing board and very active in Church affairs. She has always been in this area and has kept up with friends in the community. Clella remembers one of the fun things to do in winter was to go Bob sledding on the eastside of town. The hill was called “The Old Clay Hill.” “Hump Coss”, Sterner and Ellworth were the fastest as Ellsworth’s dad owned the blacksmith shop and could repair the sleds and knew how to make them go real fast.

        Calvin Schmidt recalls how she would grab . . .

Pg. 137

. . . his hand and drag him up the hill to school.

Louis Warner

Picture: Louie Warner relaxing after a hard day of refinishing furniture taken in 1988

        Louis lived on Highway 6, where Kevin Tomasson lives now. He lived in the Atalissa area 35 years. It was always fun to go visit and see all the furniture he had at his home. He was always refurnishing antique furniture. The photo shows him relaxing after a hard day of working.

Leonard and Else Fuerst Weiss

        Lived at 1872 111th St. Atalissa, Iowa.

        They were married around 1920 when Pastor Theodore Drexel, pastor of the Lutheran church, brought Else and her sister Delia here to marry brothers. The girls were from Kewanee, Illinois. Else married Leonard and Delia married Albert at the same time. Delia borrowed Else’s veil for her marriage. They lived where Dick Sovereign lives now.

        Else and Leonard’s son Richard live about 2 miles West of Atalissa on a Weiss century farm.

Picture:
Leonard and Elsie Weiss on their wedding day taken September 19, 1923
Albert and Delia Weiss on their wedding day taken January 29, 1925

Leo and Wilma White Wieskamp

Picture: Leo and Wilma Wieskamp family picture back standing Betty and Richard, front Leo, Kathleen and Wilma

        Leo was born March 7, 1902 and Wilma was born September 7, 1906 the daughter of Bill and Margaret Moylen White. Leo went to school in Atalissa until 8th grade and Wilma graduated from Atalissa. They were married August 17, 1929 and farmed north of town for 20 years. The farm is where Melvin and Kathleen Weiskamp Hepker now live. The original house was moved to Wilton. Wilma was born on a farm near Atalissa. They have 3 children Kathleen, Betty and Richard, and 12 grandchildren. He farms and she’s a housewife. He loves tinkering on his and The Hepkers farms and she likes playing cards and church work. They belong to St. Joseph’s Church.

Pg. 138

Picture: Leo and Wilma Wieskamp’s home.

Velda Werling
2207 Atalissa Road

Picture: Velda Werling

        Velda was born February 14, 1920 at home several miles north of Moscow, Iowa. When she was very young her parents died. Peter and Stella DeMean adopted her. They farmed the acerage just south of the Floyd Dallege farm so she has been in the Atalissa area her whole life. She married Vern Werling October 27, 1951 and they had 4 children Betty, Nancy, John and Bob. Vern passed away in 1987. While he was in the armed service his brother Kurt purchased 130 acres 4 miles north of Atalissa so when Vern came home he purchased another 120 acres of adjoining ground. They raised corn, beans, hay and also had cattle and hogs. Velda is now residing in Iowa City, Iowa.

Walter and Inez Cunningham White

Picture:
Walter and Inez White’s wedding taken in 1917
Family picture of Walter and Inez in front back row Joseph, Geraldine and Francis

        They were married in 1917 and farmed on 102nd St. it was located across from where Melvin Hepker now lives. They had 3 children Joseph Wayne, Geraldine and Francis Edward. Walter moved from the farm into Atalissa in 1941. It is known as the White Farm.

Wayne White
2360 Atalissa Road

Picture: Wayne White and children Delores and Barbara

        Wayne married Audrey Phillips and lived on a farm that is now where Todd Dickey lives. Wayne died in 1950. He is Barbara Rock’s father.

Mabel Carlisle Whyte

        Mabel is the daughter of Alexander and Ruth Carlisle. She went to school in Atalissa and graduated in 1932. Mabel married Vearl Whyte and they have been married over fifty years and have two children Janice Kohout of Maryland and . . .

Pg. 139

. . . Kenneth of Davenport. There are three grandchildren.

Picture: Verl and Mabel Carllise taken in 1989.

Chester and Mary Zimmerman
1876 140th Street

        Lucille Freyermuth lived in this house.

        Chester was born in 1920, Mary was born in 1918 the children of Edwin and Mary Andreas Zimmerman, in Sterling, Illinois. They both went to Cedarville School in Atalissa and graduated 8th grade then graduated from Atalissa High School in 1937. Chester married Marietta and has 1 son and 2 grandchildren. Mary had two children, 4 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. They lived in Atalissa 12 years. Chester was in the Army Medical Corp. from 1942-1945. He worked at Huttig Company 29 years and G.P.C. for 13 years and is now retired. Chester and Mary were both on the Basketball teams and in drama. They walked to and from school every day and if they had practice they had the walk twice. Their best memory of Atalissa is swiping watermelons and hiding behind the school to eat them.

Picture: Chester and Mary Zimmerman taken in 1997