Pike Township Family Stories
NEWTON – TOMFELD FAMILY
Nichols, Iowa Centennial Book 1884-1984, page 291
By Edith Tomfeld NewtonMy father’s ancestors came here from Germany when my father, Henry Tomfeld, was only three years old. His mother died and Grandfather Tomfeld remarried. Anne, his second wife, had four sons, Fred Tomfeld, John Tomfeld, Ernest Tomfeld and Chris Tomfeld, and one daughter, Lucy Tomfeld. Lucy is 90 years old and the only one living in that family.
My mother’s ancestors were Hattie Longstreth and John Longstreth, who were or French descent. They had four daughters, Jessie Longstreth, Pearl Longstreth, Julia Longstreth and Ida Longstreth, and one son, Fred Longstreth. All members of this family have died.
Thompson Newton and his wife Grace Newton, had four sons, Lyle Newton, Jessie Newton, Clarence Newton and Adrian Newton, and one daughter, Mabel Newton. Mabel, the only one living, resides in Orange, Texas. Thompson lived on a farm south of Nichols for many years. He was divorced from Grace.
My career was teaching for a total of 30 years. I graduated from Iowa Wesleyan college in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. I taught in Lake township (Hope school), Sandy Grove school in Louisa county, Nichols and Conesville before I retired.
Jesse Newton, my husband, had several occupations. He had a creamery in Lone Tree, Iowa, for several years. We moved to California and he worked for Montgomery Ward. He did trucking and carpentering, building the addition to the Methodist church in Nichols. Most enjoyable was his Newt’s Café in Nichols, which was located where the Catfish Place is today. It came to a sad ending when he died.
Jesse and I were married at the Little Brown church in Nashua, Iowa. Our attendants were my twin sister, Edna Tomfeld, and Jesse’s brother, Clarence Newton.
We enjoyed traveling. We have been to the Black Hills, Wisconsin and many western states. I enjoyed a trip on the Delta Queen on the Mississippi river.
We had one son, William Duane Newton. He has worked at Kent Feeds for 22 years. He married Rose Mary Krueger. She has the Ceramic Shop in Nichols in partnership with Yvonne Holcomb. Bill served four years in the Air Force in Texas.
Rose and Bill have four children: Debbie Jo Newton, Diann Newton, Donna Newton and Tony Newton.
Debbie Jo Newton is married to Charles Rockwell. They have two children, Christy Rockwell and Justin Rockwell, and live in Nichols.
Diann Newton married Kent Jehle; their daughter is Amy Leigh Newton; they live at West Union, Iowa.
Donna Newton lives in Wst Liberty, and Tony Newton lives at home with Rose and Bill.
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