I was born in Cedar County, Wilton was the nearest town. My parents lived on a farm. They moved to Rochester, Iowa. My mother received her home place after her brother died, so we moved there, which was in the Bayfield area. Charles Harper ran a store there, and it was also a train depot. I received all my schooling at the Bayfield Grade School. We had several different teachers then. Alma King McCarty was our teacher when I graduated from eight grade.
Mother's home was homesteaded by her grandparents. Her parents and grandparents came from Germany. It was settled by my great grandparents. My mother's grandparents were Matthias and Catherine Schmolz.
My grandfather, Louis Miller, fought in the Civil War and was sworn in as Sergeant Company C, 35th Volunteer Infantry 26 July 1864.
My great grandfather, Matthias Schmolz, wanted to go back to Germany to visit, but my great grandmother wouldn't go. He made the trip, and while he was there he died. He was 68 years old. They buried him over there with his family.
I don't know much about my father's family. His father was in the Civil War, also. He is buried in the Harker Cemetery near Sweetland, Iowa. Father was born in Illinois around Illinois City. His mother died when he was about 8-10 years old. Grandfather remarried, and it seemed the children left home. He did have one sister in Muscatine, and they all visited back and forth a lot, especially on the 4th of July. We would make ice cream and really had a good time. The 4th of July was really my father's day for a nice celebration, really more than any other holiday.
I had five brothers and three sisters. We always lived around Muscatine so we were always able to get together when holidays came. One brother and one sister are deceased, as well as my parents.
My oldest brother is Louis Everett. He moved to Nichols about eleven years ago. Before that he and his wife had a gift shop out on Highway 22 as you went to Muscatine. He bought Hazel Poole's home, sold it and is living in the mobile home that Hazel Poole lived in. He is 83 years young. He plays a violin and has a group that plays at nursing homes, senior citizen gatherings and such.
I got married 22 Aug 1936. My husband was born and raised at Fairport, Iowa. Work was very hard to get, so we lived wherever he could get work. We lived in Muscatine, Fairport and then on a couple of farms. One was in the Bayfield area for Jim McCoy, an Illinois boy; on the Welch farms and in Grandview for Harry Stineman. Then my father wanted us to move to Muscatine. The house they lived in as expenses were too high. So we did.
My husband (Ray) got a job at Dewey's Portland Cement Plant. He got to be an electrician helper. Worked on switch board, etc. But illness stepped in so he had to leave it. He then was on the Muscatine Sanitation Department till death took him, coronary heart. He was 48 years old. We had four children, two boys and two girls. They were through high school before he passed away. The youngest was 18 years old. I had a job at the Automatic Button Factory. Had started working to get the children through high school. Their grade school training was at Mathias Grade School and all graduated from Hayes Catholic High School. We watched that school as they built it. It was very interesting.
We bought a place on West Fulliam Avenue. My father was blind and bedfast for eight years. Mother and I cared for him. My mother lived with us 27 years. She was 93 when she passed away.
I worked at the Button Factory till I was put on disability. I had had several surgeries. I did too much heavy lifting for my size, so much is life. My home got too expensive for me so I sold and bought out here, so that has been my life.
Raymond S. Truesdale was born 6 Aug 1912 at Fairport, Iowa, the son of Palestine S. and Nuffie (Brewer) Truesdale. He died 8 April 1961 in Muscatine and is buried in St. Mary's Cemetery, Muscatine. He was married 22 Aug 1936 in St. Mathias Catholic Church in Muscatine to Mary Everett, daughter of William A. and Victoria (Miller) Everett. Their children are Leo, Lois, LeRoy and LaRae Truesdale.
Leo R. Truesdale was born in Muscatine 10 Nov. 1937. He married Lyla Lee, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Lee of Muscatine. Their son is Dennis Wayne Truesdale.,p> Lois L. Truesdale was born 31 May 1939 in Muscatine. She is married to Kenneth Irwin, son of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Irwin. Their children are Annette Marie (deceased), Douglas Michael, Jeffery Alan, Patricia Michelle and Jayson Christopher Irwin.
LeRoy W. Truesdale was born 19 Nov. 1941 at Grandview, Iowa. He is not married.
LaRae M. Truesdale was born 25 Nov. 1942 in Muscatine. She is married to Jerry Stearns, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Stearns of New Boston, Illinois. They have three children; Loretta Lynn, Joseph Allan and Mickey Eugene Stearns.