Pike Township Family Stories
VERNIE CARTER FAMILY
Nichols, Iowa Centennial Book 1884-1984, pages 234-235
By Juanita Carter LaughlinWilliam Vernie Carter was born 17 September 1896 in Sweetland township, Muscatine county, Iowa, a son of Charles Burdette Carter and Ola Adell Chasteen Carter. He was married 6 April 1921 in Muscatine to Mary Anna “Marie” Yedlik. He served in the U. S. Army during World War I. He died 7 November 1957 at the Veterans Administration hospital in Iowa City.
Mary Anna “Marie” Yedlik was born 27 February 1904 in Fremont township, Johnson county, Iowa, near Lone Tree. She was a daughter of Joseph A. Yedlik and Mary Rosy Nyadley Yedlik.
Vernie worked for the railroad when they were first married. Then he and Marie started a milk route in Nichols before they started farming. They farmed for many years with T. B. Nichols until they retired. Vernie’s favorite past time was fishing. Marie is retired from Muscatine General hospital, where she worked for 14 years.
They were parents of three children, all born at Nichols: Vernon Carter, Juanita Carter and Burt Carter.
Vernon William Carter married Lois Mae Eves at West Liberty, Iowa. Lois is a daughter of Earl Eves and Adeline Ohl Eves. They have three children, all born at Nichols.
Vernon attended Lacey and Nichols Public schools. He spent 30 months in the South Pacific in the Seabees in World War II. Lois and Vernon have been engaged in farming since then. Vernon served 21 years with the ASCS and was chairman of the board for ten years. He has also served on the school board.
Cheryl Marie Carter was born the daughter of Vernon and Lois. She graduated from Florida International university with a major in travel administration and now works for Alpine Charter in Denver, Colorado.
Jeffry Earl Carter was the son of Vernon and Lois. He and Debbie Kasper were married at St. Mary’s church in Lone Tree, Iowa. Jeff graduated from the University of Northern Iowa at Cedar Falls with a major in marketing. He and Debbie are now farming [1984].
Lynne Dee Carter was a daughter of Vernon and Lois. She was graduated from The University of Iowa with a BFA degree and now lives in Muscatine, Iowa [1984].
Juanita Arelean Carter, daughter of Vernie Carter and Marie Carter, was married to James Laughlin at St. Mary’s church in Nichols. Jim is a son of Cleo Laughlin and Adalaide Herold Laughlin of Fort Madison, Iowa. Jim retired from working at the Rock Island Arsenal, and they now live in Eloy, Arizona. They are parents of two children, Terrance and Susan.
Terrance James Laughlin was born at Nichols. He was married to Sandra E. Horst in Davenport, Iowa. Their children are Steven Andrew Laughlin, born in Davenport, and Kathleen Marie Laughlin, born in Davenport. Terry graduated from Scott Community college as an auto body repairman and MIG welder. He lives in Davenport, Iowa.
Susan Therese Laughlin was born in Davenport. She was married to Herb Spies in Minnesota. They live near Dixon, Iowa, where they farm, raise hogs and show horses.
Juanita tells us: “I remember waltzing and fancy roller skating to the music above Mills Motor company. It was a skating rink and dance hall. They held medicine shows there where they sold snake oil and gave away prizes. That was around 1939.
“What a thrill when we got electricity on the farm. I played in the band on Wednesday nights and enjoyed the ice cream socials. I remember the 10-cent movies in back of Kaiser and Heizer’s store on the corner of Main and Ijem.
“I remember visiting with Edna Hesser while she worked the switchboard with all the cords on it, in the old Opera House building. I remember sitting around the old pot bellied stove on Wednesday and Saturday nights in the winter at Enos Shaffer’s grocery store after shopping.
“I started school at Lacey school, a one room school house, then entered Nichols Public school and graduated from there in a class of 15 members. I belonged to the Alpha Society, I was on the Nicholite staff, I played a saxophone in the band, sang in the chorus and played basketball and softball.
“I graduated from the American Institute of Business in Des Moines, where I belonged to the Alpha Iota business sorority and was awarded membership in the International Honor Society for Business Education. I worked as an executive secretary and accountant for Civil Service during World War II at Wright-Patterson Field in Dayton, Ohio. I graduated from nursing school.”
Return to Family Stories Index Return to Muscatine Co. IAGenWeb, Index Page
Page created December 11, 2010 by Lynn McCleary