Pike Township Family Stories
ROBERT ELDER FAMILY
Nichols, Iowa Centennial Book 1884-1984, pages 211-212
By Bob and Wanda ElderSpeaking of roots, I guess you could say the Elder family that I married into surely has them. We live in the home in which Bob’s sister, Frances Elder Billick of West Liberty, and my husband, Bob, who is now 69 years old [1984], was born.
The family farm, located 2 ½ miles south of Nichols, was purchased in 1856 by Bob’s great grandfather, Alexander T. Elder. Our home was built in 1909 for Bob’s father, Fred Elder, and his bride. In 1940 another small home was built for us just south of the larger one. As our family increased to three children, we moved to the big house, and the small house is now the home of our youngest son, Mark Elder, and his wife. Our other children are Jerry Elder and Linda Elder.
Jerry married Phyllis Salemink of Nichols. They have five children: Dean Elder, Vince Elder, John Elder, Mary Elder and Bart Elder. Jerry is now married to Lois Lee of Iowa City [1984].
Our daughter, Linda married Tom Pierson of Eldora, Iowa. They have two daughters, Jenny Pierson and Sarah Pierson. They live in the West Liberty community on a farm. Mark farms our land now that Bob is disabled [1984].
Many changes have taken place in Nichols and around the community as well as here on the farm. Time was when you would load your cream and eggs in the wagon or car and drive to town. You could sell them to the local grocer, do your shopping and then go over to hear the concert the high school band played on Wednesday night.
Bob tells how they had to play basketball in the old Opera House above Elder Implement.
Once the town of Nichols sold chances on a Model T Ford. The roads were so muddy it took four horses to pull a wagon to town for the drawing. When they got there, Main street was just as muddy. Bob remembers the man who won was named Bixby.
There was also a railroad depot with twenty-one trains a day scheduled, so you could get a ticket and get on a train almost any time of the day or night. It was located south of where the band stand is now.
The park down town was once a hotel and restaurant. This was at least eighty years ago [1984]. Bob’s father operated the restaurant for three years before he married and started farming.
There was a sauerkraut and pickle factory owned by Will Loeb where Kile’s Feed and Grain now is located. The first Methodist church was a block west of where the Joe Church family now lives [1984]. The old high school was east of the Christian church, but it burned down. When I moved to Nichols in 1935, the depot, the old hotel building and the old pickle and kraut factory were still standing but not in use; except for the depot, and it was still going strong. Later it burned.
Bob’s grandfather, Freeman Elder, and father, Fred Elder, were born here on the farm, too. The original house was sold and now is on the MacKenzie farm north of us. It was bought and moved up to the farm by Mrs. MacKenzie’s grandfather, Joe Ryan.
We have enjoyed living in the Nichols area and are happy to have a part in recalling some of its history. Most of these are memories of stories told to us by Bob’s father.
As we look back over the 48 years of our marriage [1984], we have only mentioned a few of the many changes. We plan to stay right here for the rest of our lives and keep this farm producing crops and livestock, and we hope an Elder family farm for years to come. We are the fourth generation of Elders to live here, and in August of 1983, we became great grandparents, so we now have our own little fourth generation to keep going until Nichols is 200 years old.
Who knows? We are proud that our address is Nichols.
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Page created December 12, 2010 by Lynn McCleary