Zearing, Iowa 1956 History

mine. The Womeldorff family needs no introduction in our community. Eugene and Gilbert were brothers.

Eugene W. Womeldorff was born on April 13, 1875, at Chenoa, McLean county, Illinois. Eugene was twenty-seven years old when he moved to Idaho. There he met and married Bessie Trunnell. They were married on October 29, 1902. Eugene and Bessie moved to a farm in our community in 1910.

Eugene and Bessie were the parents of six children. Russell, Pauline, and James were born in Idaho. Burnell, Lyle, and Curtis were born in our community.

Russell is deceased. Pauline Womeldorff Black is living in Des Moines, Iowa. James is a prominent business man at Little Rock, Arkansas. Burnell is in business at Mingo, Iowa. Lyle is in Casa Blanca, Africa. Curtis is farming in Warren township, Story county, Iowa.

Eugene died on September 4, 1953. Bessie is living in Warren township, Story county.

Gilbert B. Womeldorff was born on December 27, 1877, at Chenoa, McLean county, Illinois. Anna Dawson was born on March 10, 1883, at Fairbury, Illinois. Gilbert and Anna were married on February 22, 1907, at Fairbury, Illinois. They moved to our community on March 1, 1909.

Gilbert and Anna were the parents of three children. They were Dawson, born, March 24, 1908, Donald, born, November 21, 1910, and Eileen, born, November 6, 1918.

Gilbert and Anna moved to our community with the idea of sending their children to Iowa State College at Ames, Iowa. Dawson graduated from Iowa State College in 1930. Donald graduated in 1936. Eileen is a 1940 graduate of Iowa State College.

Gilbert died on January 7, 1955. Anna died on February 13, 1952. They are buried at Fairbury, Illinois.

WOOD :

Gordon Wood owned one of the three farms which were considered for the location of the town of Zearing, Iowa. After the founding of Zearing, Gordon established one of the first grocery stores in the new town.

Gordon Wood was born in 1845. We do not have the place of birth. However, he served in an Illinois regiment during the Civil War. Gordon married Rachel Emeline Belden in LaSalle county, Illinois, on February 16, 1870. They moved to our community in 1878. Gordon bought the west one half of the Edward G. Richardson farm in Section 21.

Gordon and Rachel were the parents of two children. They were Minnie Wood Chance and John E.

Gordon died on September 13, 1902. Rachel died on December 27, 1932.