Pike Township Family Stories
RUMMELLS FAMILY
Nichols, Iowa Centennial Book 1884-1984, pages 333-334
By Michael ApplebyJosiah Walker Rummells, Sr., was born in Pennsylvania in 1831. He married Amanda Squibb in 1851, and in 1876 settled in West Branch, Iowa. In 1882 the family moved to Nichols, where Josiah opened a general merchandise store. He later owned a hotel in Nichols and was an undertaker. He was a member of the Nichols Christian church and the Masonic lodge. He died in 1910, retired. Virginia Shannon Frink now owns the grandfather clock that sat in the hotel lobby.
Nine childen were born to Josiah and Amanda Rummells: Josiah Walker Rummells, Jr., called Silas, born 1869, married Della Mae Coyner; Henry Nathan Rummells, born 1853, married Caroline Kelch; John Rummells, born 1863; Lillie Rummells, married Schomberg; Susie Rummells, born 1859; Sadie Rummells, married W. V. Few; Mary Rummells, born 1861, married Rob Stepp; Emma Rummells, born 1854, married Israel Cookson, and Lydia M. Rummells, born 1871.
Josiah Walker “Silas” Rummells, Jr. was born in York, Pennsylvania, in 1869. He moved to Iowa with his parents in 1876 and settled in the Nichols area in 1882. When his father retired in 1900, Silas purchased his share of the general store and the undertaking business. Although he was active as a merchant and undertaker, he also became a truck farmer in the early 1900s due to poor health and doctor’s orders to “get outside more.” During the period from 1914-1916, he tended over 700 acres of cabbage and became active in the Iowa State Horticulture society. He served as president of this society and was named “Cabbage King of Iowa” by them in recognition of the amount of cabbage he raised and sold.
On 27 September 1893 Silas married Della Mae Coyner. Six children were born to them: Harolde J. Rummells, born 1894, married Elsie Pratt; Amanda Emma Rummells, born 1898, married Harry Shannon, Helen Marie Rummells, born 1904, married Gene Borchardt; Edna Mae Rummells, born 1908, married Walter TeStrake; Howard Walker Rummells, born 1909, died 1968; and Dorothea Irene Rummells, born 1915, married Hubert Tipton.
Silas was a classmate of Herbert Hoover and received a letter from him while Hoover was president. Silas retired in Nichols and lived many years. He was a member of the Nichols Methodist church. He died in 1956.
Amanda Emma Rummells was born in Nichols in 1898. She has fond memories of growing up in Nichols, and the many friends she made there. She recalls taking piano lessons from Miss Laurentia Rolland of Muscatine and getting her knuckles slapped with a ruler for not practicing. “I can still remember ‘marching’ through my grandparents’ home with my brother and two cousins while grandmother played ‘Onward Christian Soldiers’ very well on the piano.” One of her best friends while they were growing up was Alberta Metcalf. Amanda graduated from Iowa State Teachers’ college and taught in the Muscatine area for many years. In 1919 she married Harry Eugene Shannon, and they celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1969. She is still living in Waterloo, Iowa. She spends time with her daughter, Virginia Appleby Frink and her family, as well as wintering in Largo, Florida, with her daughter, Elaine Train and family. She has always been active in the Methodist church, teaching Sunday school, playing the piano and organ, caring for shut-ins and contributing her talents where she has been able. In 1914-15 Amanda went to Columbus Junction, Iowa, to the Chautauqua where she took painting lessons and painted for a few years. In 1965, she started oil painting again and is considered an artist, having had some showings.
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Page created December 31, 2010 by Lynn McCleary