Alexander Shum was the eldest child of Peter and Elizabeth (Penor/Pinard) Shum.  Sources, when known, are indicated.  As I send these things, don't feel obligated to use all; much of this is just my notes on the individuals.  Just use what is appropriate.

 

ALEXANDER SHUM
 Alexander Shum  is one of the representative farmers of Nodaway Town ship, Page County, where he has resided since 1873. He was born in Rutland County, Vermont, June 26, 1852, and is a son of Peter Shum, who lives on section 5, Nodaway Township.  Peter Shum was born in Canada in 1831, and lived there until he was seven years old, when his parents, Frank and Margaret Shum, removed to the United States and settled in Vermont.  He was married to Elizabeth Pfenall at the age of twenty-one years, and in 1857 he removed with his family to Lee County, Iowa; they made this their home until 1873, when they came to Page County.  Mr. Shum has a finely improved farm of 640 acres, a good residence and barns for stock and grain.  He and his wife have had eleven children:  Alexander, Peter, George, Lizzie, Joseph, John, William, James, Abe, Moses and Anna.  Five of them are living at home.  Alexander was five years old when the family removed to Lee County.  He was brought up after the usual fashion of farmers' sons, receiving his education in the public schools.  He was married June 8, 1878, to Mary McCowen, a daughter of James McCowen, one of the prominent old settlers of the county.  Mrs. Shum was born in Page County, January 27, 1859.  Two children have been born to this union: Carrie Maud and Bessie Laverne.  Mr. Shum settled on his present farm in 1883; the land is in an advanced state of cultivation, and he has made many excellent improvements in the way of buildings; he has also planted a fine orchard. Politically he affiliates with the Democratic party, and has served his township on the school board.  He is a member of Clarinda Lodge, No. 109, I. O. O. F., and holds an enviable position in the community.

 

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY IOWA; Lewis and Dunbar,Publishers,113 Adams Street, Chicago; 1890

 

ALEXANDER SHUM
 Alexander Shum, who for thirty-six years has made his home in Page County, residing throughout this period in the vicinity of Clarinda, owns and cultivates two hundred and forty acres of rich farming land of which one hundred and fifty-three acres is in the home place a mile north of the corporation limits of the city.  He is far separated from the place of his birth, for he is a native of Rutland county, Vermont, his birth having there occurred June 26, 1852. The Shum family is of French descent and was established in Canada at an early date. The parents of Alexander Shum were Peter and Elizabeth (Penor) Shum, who were natives of the province of Quebec born near the Vermont line. They were married in the Green Mountain state, where both removed when about fifteen years of age. They continued residents of Vermont until 1857, when they removed westward to Iowa, settling in Lee county, where they lived for sixteen years, and then came to Page County in 1873. The father still resides in Clarinda but the mother passed away in that city in February, 1900, at the age of sixty-eight years.  Alexander is the eldest of their ten children, the others being Peter, George, Joseph, John, William, Moses, James, Anna, all living; Elizabeth and Abraham, deceased.
 Alexander Shum was a little lad of five summers at the time of the removal of his parents to Lee county, Iowa. There he was reared and in the public schools of his home neighborhood pursued his education. While not busy with his text-books his time was largely given to the work of the fields on his father's place. He was twenty-one years of age when, in 1873, he came to Page county, since which time he has resided in the vicinity of Clarinda.  His entire life has been devoted to farming and the place of two hundred and forty acres which he owns is the visible evidence of his well directed thrift and industry. He is numbered among the self-made men of the county owing his prosperity to his earnest labor and wise utilization of his opportunities.  He has in his home place one hundred and fifty-three acres, situated a mile north of the corporation limits of Clarinda, and here he has lived for sixteen years.  On the farm are found good buildings and all modern improvements, and these have been placed there by Mr. Shum, who carries on general farming and stock raising, meeting with well merited success in his undertakings. He is diligent, persevering and determined, and these qualities are always valuable elements in the attainment of prosperity.
 On the 8th of June, 1878, Mr. Shum was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary E. McCowen, who was born in Nodaway Township, this county, February 27, 1859, her parents being James and Hulda McCowen, who are mentioned elsewhere in this work in connection with the sketch of her brother, Noah McCowen.   Unto Mr. and Mrs. Shum have been born four daughters: Carry Maude, now the wife of Arthur Apple, of Nodaway township, by whom she has two children, Dale and Nina; Bessie Laverne, who is the wife of J. E. Bean, of Nodaway county, Missouri, by whom she has five children, Thelma, John, deceased, Raymond, Burrell and Vera Bernice; Katharine and Geneva May, the younger members of the family, both at home.
 Mr. Shum has given his political allegiance to the democracy since age conferred upon him the right of franchise.  He has never held office save some minor local one, as his ambition is not in the line of office holding.  He belongs to Clarinda Lodge, No. 109, I. O. O. F., and is in sympathy with the beneficent spirit of the order, for he is a gentleman of broad humanitarian principles.  In the work of the farm his life has been passed and, realizing that success is not a matter of genius but rather the outcome of clear judgment, experience and industry, he has worked persistently to attain the creditable position which he now occupies as a representative of agricultural pursuits in his adopted county.

 

HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY, IOWA ; by W. L. Kershaw; Volume 2, Chicago; The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1909

 

ALEXANDER SHUM Obituary
 Alexander, oldest son of Peter and Elizabeth (Penor) LaShum, was born in Rutland County, Vt. on the 26th day of June 1852 and died on the 15th day of Feb. 1928, aged 75 years, 7 months and 20 days.  His parents were of Canadian-French descent.
 The family came westward in 1857 settling in Lee County, Iowa where they resided until 1873, when they moved to Page Co. Iowa and here most of the family have since resided.
 Alexander was the oldest of a large family. There being beside him, George of Gravity, Ia.; Joseph of Clarinda; John of Barnes, Kans.; William of Sharpsburg, Ia.; James of Clarinda; Moses of Coin, Ia.; Anna, wife of Currie Muckey, of Guss, Ia.; and Peter, Elizabeth and Abraham deceased.
 On the 8th day of June, 1878, Alexander Shum was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary Elizabeth McCowen, daughter of James and Hulda (Nealeigh) McCowen.  To this union were born four children.  Carrie Maude, widow of Arthur Apple of Eagle Butte, Mont.; Bessie LaVerna, wife of J. E. Beam, of Maryville, Mo.; Kathryn Grace, wife of Harry Miller of Billings, Mont.; and Geneva Mae, wife of George Evans, Jr., of Clarinda. There are also seven grandchildren and a host of relatives and friends to mourn his loss.
 Mr. Shum was christened when a child.  He was a member of the Masonic, and the Odd Fellow orders, being a trustee of the later for years.
 In expression of their sincere friendship, there was a large crowd at the home Saturday afternoon for the funeral services. Dr. D. J. Shenton was in charge of the service, music being furnished by Mrs. Leo Humphrey, Mrs. Forrest Davidson, Roscoe Applegate and Tom Tomlinson, Miss Carrie Lroanz accompanying.  His Masonic brothers were pallbearers, and the local lodge had charge of the service at the grave.

 

Page County MARRIAGE:  Affidavit given by W. H. Sullivan (researched by Claraice Shum)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Information researched by Clarice Shum, July, 2000, Clarinda Cemetery Records, Clarinda City Hall:
Alexander LaShum.    Cemetery Record: Sold to Mrs. Mary LaShum, Feb. 18, 1928
                                                                 Deed to Mrs. Mary LaShum
Grave #1    Alec La Shum   (someone wrote Alexander) Clarinda, Ia. Feb. 18, 1928
Grave #2    Kathryn Shum Miller, Billings, Montana, July 7, 1946
Grave #3    Mary Elizabeth Shum, Clarinda, Ia., May 23, 1955
There is a large stone, possibly 6 ft. tall with the center hollowed out & it has a basket in the center which might be the place where the ashes are of Kathryn Shum Miller, July 7, 1946.  There is no name that I could find around the stone.  According to cemetery record diagram this is where the ashes of Kathryn are. 
There are 2 stones.
  Alexander                Mary E.
  1852-1928                1859-1955
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

The 1880 census of Nodaway Township, Page County, Iowa; house and family #172 (Images Online image #10) lists Alexander Shum, a white male aged 26, and a farmer, living with his wife Mary E., a white female, aged 22.  She was keeping house. Their daughter Carrie M. was a year old then.  It lists Mary as being born in Iowa and her parents as born Ohio.  Alexander is listed as born in Vermont but it does not say where his parents were born.   They lived "next door" in the rural area to her brother, Noah McCowen, aged 27, his wife Amanda and sons Harvey, Jesse and James.

 

LDS transcription of this census:
 Census Place: Nodaway, Page, Iowa
 Source: FHL Film 1254359  National Archives Film T9-0359     Page 415B    
 Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace
Alexander SHUM Self M M W 26 VT
 Occ: Farmer Fa: --- Mo: ---
Mary E. SHUM Wife F M W 22 IA
 Occ: Keeping House Fa: OH Mo: OH
Carrey M. SHUM Dau F S W 1 IA
   Fa: IA Mo: VT
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Iowa State Census 1885         Given: Alexander       Surname: Shum
Township Number: 69       Range: 37       Section: 1       Location: SW SE
Age: 32       Sex: M       Marital Status: M       Birth State: VT       Father's Nativity: F     Mother's Nativity: F
Subject to Military Duty: X       Entitled to Vote: X       Line Number: 20
Dwelling Number: 118       Family Number: 120       Page Number: 117      
State: IA      County: Page      Township Name: Nodaway      Family History Film: 1020170    Volume: 243 

 

Cemeteries in Page County Vol. 4, 43464, online at Ancestry.com:
Page: 374       Name: Alexander Shum       Birth Date: 1852       Death Date: 1928
Cemetery: Clarinda       Town: Clarinda, Nodaway

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Again, the source of this newspaper clipping is not indicated.

 

Elizabeth Penor Shum
 Mrs. Peter Shum died at her home in north Clarinda, Friday, January 17, 1902, aged 68 years, 11 months and 22 days.
 Elizabeth Penor was born in Canada January 25, 1833.  She was married to Peter Shum in the state of Vermont December 14, 1851.  Four years after her marriage she and her husband moved to Iowa, locating in Lee county, where they lived for 18 years.  They then moved to Page county which has been their home ever since.  Sixteen children were born to them, ten of whom are still living, and all were present at the funeral--Alexander, Peter, George, Joseph, John, Elizabeth (Mrs. Sullivan), William, James, Moses, and Annie (Mrs. Muckey).  All the children live in Page or Taylor counties, except John, who lives in Greenleaf, Kan.  Mrs. Shum's parents were Catholics and she was brought up in that faith and was faithful to its precepts and teachings to the end.  Though their family was not of her religious faith, knowing that it would have been her choice as the last token of respect they could pay her, Rev. Father Bulger, the Catholic priest at Shenandoah was sent for, and he conducted the funeral services, which were held at her late residence Sunday afternoon, interment being at the Kegley cemetery, five miles north of town.  Mrs. Shum had been an invalid for about three years.  On the 9th of November last, she had a stroke of paralysis, the affects of which caused her death.  She was widely known and highly respected in this community and the sympathy of all will go out to her aged companion, with whom she had lived for more than fifty years, and who is now inconsolable over his great loss.

1885 Iowa State Census
Given: Maud          Surname: Shum
Township Number: 69          Range: 37          Section: 1          Location: SW SE
Age: 5          Sex: F          Marital Status: S          Birth County: Page
Line Number: 22          Dwelling Number: 118          Family Number: 120          Page Number: 117
State: IA          County: Page          Township Name: Nodaway
Family History Film: 1020170          Volume: 243

 

From Susan Smith ( a descendant):   They came west to the Geraldine (MT) area in the spring of 1913.  James Arthur died
that December in an accident at a makeshift coalmine.  It was an area where the local farmers get their coal. Carrie Maude hired different people to run the farm.  One person I heard about was a Frank Dolor (?).   At one time they were going to marry but Dale was sooo against it, she never did.

 

MRS. JAMES ARTHUR APPLE - MAUDE SHUM APPLE 1979-1939
               Maude Shum, oldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Shum, was born near Clarinda January 3, 1879, and passed away at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Si Van Kinlen, in Geraldine, Montana, March 23, 1939, aged 60 years, 2 months and 20 days.
 She was united in marriage to James Arthur Apple on March 5, 1902.  To this union were born two children, Dale and Neva.
 In the spring of 1913 she and her husband moved to homestead in Montana and the following December he husband was accidentally killed and from that time  on her health began to fail.  She became bedfast over a year ago and has been a great sufferer but always hopeful in her faith of Science.  It was her wish that she return to her children in Montana., so on Sept 12,1938, her sister, Mrs. Geo W. Evans, accompanied her to her daughter's home in Geraldine, Montana.
 She leaves to mourn a son, Dale and wife, a daughter, Mrs. Si Van Kinlen, and husband and three grandsons, all of Geraldine;  her mother, Mrs. Mary E. Shum, and three sisters, Mrs. J. E. Beam and Mrs. Geo W. Evans of Clarinda, and Mrs. H J Miller of Billings, Mont.
 The body was layed to rest beside her husband in the Summit cemetery six miles west of Clarinda.
 Out of town relatives were Mr. and Mrs. Ben Willsie and family of Shenandoah, Mr. and Mrs. Al  Spike and family of Ft Dodge, Ia., Wilbur Kelley of Des Moines, Mrs Wm Shum of Sharpsburg, Ia., Mr and Mrs Andrew Nelson of New Market, and Mr and Mrs Raymond Beam of Ray, Mo.

FUNERAL SERVICES HELD FOR FORMER CLARINDA RESIDENT
Funeral services for Mrs. Kathryn Shum-Miller, who died at Billings. Mont. last Tuesday, were held on Monday morning at the Foster-Harmon funeral home with Rev. R. J. Dieken of the Presbyterian church in charge.  Burial was in the Clarinda cemetery.  Members of the Order of Easter Star were in charge at the grave.  Casketbearers were Clinton Turner, Joe Tunnicliff, Clarence Johnson, Arlo Hawley, Virgil Anderson, Charles Nelson, and those in charge of flowers were Mrs. Clarence Johnson, Mrs. Arlo Hawley and Mrs. Charles Nelson.       7-2-1946  (obituary researched by Clarice Shum 4-2000)

 

Memories of George Evans:

 

Lisa Bussard (granddaughter of George Evans)...from memory on Grandpa George, with help from Lisa's father, Ken Bussard.
 Grandpa Harry Bussard told me once that the first he knew of Geo he was demonstrating the Whippet automobile at the County Fair.  This car was one of first cars with leaf springs and Geo was jumping the car off a ramp to demonstrate the springs!
 Geo and a college friend took out a U. S. patent on perhaps one of the first vending machines.  They thought of the idea, on the train, for a machine to dispense a bar of soap, comb and  towel.  As I remember the story, they sold to patent to Pullman Railroad Road for $400.00.  I have the original copy of the patent.
 He also designed a non-friction electrical switch to be used in the coal mines.  I think Geo lost a brother in a mine explosion due to a spark setting off gas in a mine in Missouri.  As I recall the switch used a capsule of mercury that flipped over to complete the circuit.
 When I first started dating Judy, in the early 1950's, Geo and Grandma Evans were making automobile windshield washers in the basement.  The washer consisted of a Ball canning jar, mounted on the steering column, with a rubber squeeze ball.  The ball, when squeezed, forced water through a rubber tube to a small copper tube connected to a rubber suction cup. The tube went through the vent window on the drivers side and the suction cup was attached to the windshield below the wiper path.  The biggest order was for either the Wyoming or Utah highway patrol.  Soon thereafter, cars started to come with washers and Geo died.
 He designed several tools for Lisles Manufacturing after he closed the mines NW of Clarinda.  On a funny note he designed a bellows device that he used to  break in his smoking pipes.  All I can remember was the smoke came out a little hole in drilled in a Prince Albert tobacco can.
 The last few days he was alive in the Omaha VA hospital he was working on a new design for an enema.
 Truly a remarkable man.  By copy of this email to Dan Nelson I will ask him to add to the Geo Evan's history.  Dan and Geo were close and I think Geo helped Dan rebuild or overall a Cushman motor scooter.

 

From Dan Nelson:
  I knew about some of that.  The anti-spark switch I new about actually had heavy duty copper friction contacts with the whole operating  mechanism submersed in oil.  The swith box was probably
about 10 x 14 inches, painted red and had a push-pull actuator rod with a round auto gear shift knob.  Don't know how many he sold but do remember shaping replacement part contacts for some of his customers.  We did on a grinder with contact mounted in jig and hand held - not real good precision.
 He also worked on a front wheel hub for jeeps that would disconnect the front
wheels from the 4-wheel drive transaxle - gas saver when not needed for Deke Hawley on the mail route. As I recall, they were having trouble with a practical quick disconnect mechanism.
 

 

 

This obit is from the Herald Journal, date not noted. 

 

 

In her declining years, Geneva moved to Des Moines to be near her daughter, Judy.

 

GENEVA MAE SHUM EVANS  Obituary
 Geneva Mae Evans, 100, died Sunday, November 14, 1999 of heart failure at Regency Care Center in Norwalk, Iowa.
 Mrs. Evans was born in Clarinda where she lived in her own home until 1990.  She lived in Des Moines until 1993 when she moved to the Care Center.
 Mrs. Evans was born April 3, 1899 to Mary and  Alexander Shum.  She married George W. Evans in 1926.  Mrs. Evans was a homemaker, 50 plus year member of Eastern Star, and Member of the United Methodist Church in Clarinda.
 She is preceded in death by her husband, George Evans; Father Alexander Shum; Mother, Mary Elizabeth McCowen Shum; Sisters; and daughter, Judy Bussard of Des Moines.
 She is survived by a granddaughter, Lisa Bussard of West Des Moines; grandson, Kevin Bussard of Sacramento, Calif.; grandson Brian Bussard of Portland, Ore.; great-granddaughter, Ashley Bussard of Sacramento, Calif.; granddaughter-in-law, Bonnie Bussard of Sacramento; son-in-law, Ken Bussard of West Des Moines and niece, Annie Wyatt of Montana.
 The body was cremated, burial will be at the Clarinda Cemetery.  Family graveside services will be at a later date.

 

Judy was a Clarinda native, a granddaughter of Alexander and Mary McCowen Shum.  Again the obit dates are not noted.

 

JUDITH (JUDY) EVANS BUSSARD  1999
Des Moines Register obituary:
 West Des Moines:  Judy Bussard, 64, of the 1400 block of Walnut Woods Drive, West Des Moines, died of breast cancer Tuesday at Hospice Kavanagh House.  The body was cremated and private services are planned.
 Mrs. Bussard was born in Kansas City, MO, and had lived in Ames, Virginia and California before moving to the Des Moines area in 1966.  She was a nurse and hospice provider at Broadlawns Medical Center and Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines and Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames before retiring.  She was a member of Central Presbyterian Church, where she was a teacher and deacon.
 Surviving are her husband, H. Kennard; a daughter, Lisa Bussard of Des Moines; two sons, Kevin of Folsom, Calif., and Brian of Portland, Ore.; her mother, Geneva Evans of Norwalk; and a grandchild.
 Memorial contributions may be made to the Judy Bussard Cancer Fund c/o Mercantile Bank.  McLaren's Funeral Chapel is handling arrangements. 

 

Clarinda Herald Journal obituary:
 Judy Bussard,64, of rural West Des Moines, died of breast cancer October 26, 1999 at Hospice Kavanaugh House in Des Moines.  The body was cremated and there was a private family service.  Mrs. Bussard grew up in Clarinda, Iowa.  She was a graduate of Broadlawn's Nursing School.  She nursed at Broadlawns, Mary Greeley and IOwa Methodist Medical Center.  Judy, and family, had lived in Ames, Iowa, Ft. Belvoir, Virginia and Corona Del Mara, California before returning to Des Moines in 1966.  She was a long time member of Central Presbyterian Church serving as a teacher and deacon.  She had been a volunteer Hospice provider.  Survivors include her husband H. Kennard Bussard, her mother Geneva Evans of Norwalk, her daughter, Lisa M. Bussard of Des Moines; two sons, Kevin T. Bussard of Fulsom, California and Brian K. Bussard of Portland, Oregon; and one grandchild.  Memorial contributions may be made to the Judy Bussard Cancer Fund, c/o Ken Bussard, Suite 200, 303 Locust St., Des Moines, Iowa 50209.