married were married in Alsace only a short distance from each other.

Pilgrim, Charles and Nancy (Boyer)

(Elaine Johnson)

John Pilgrim was born in the sub-district of Leadenham, County of Lincolnshire, England 14 Dec 1846. He married Elizabeth Croft. Charles Pilgrim was born 21 Nov 1851 in Wales to John and Elizabeth. He came to America with his parents, settling in Peoria Co., IL. Charles Pilgrim married Nancy Boyer 3 Nov 1868. Charles and Nancy “Nellie” had 4 sons: Edward, Clem, Frank and Walter. They lived in Hesper and Frankville Twps. before moving to Madison Twp. Charles died 15 Dec 1936 in Winneshiek Co. Nancy was born 21 Nov 1851 in Wales and died 1 Jan 1928 in Winneshiek Co. Nancy and Charles are buried in the Phelps Cemetery, Decorah, IA.

Pilgrim, Walter and Lottie (Birdsell)

(Elaine Ruen Johnson)

Walter B. Pilgrim was born 23 Feb 1876 at Hesper, IA to Charles and Nancy “Nellie” (Boyer) Pilgrim. He was the youngest of 4 sons born to the couple. The other sons were: Edward, Clem and Frank.

At the age of 11, Walter moved with his family to a farm north of Frankville (then known as the Beard farm). He attended McKay School. At the age of 17, the family moved to Madison Twp., west of Decorah, where he lived until his marriage.

On 23 Nov 1898 Walter married Lottie Birdsell at the home of her parents, James and Rachael (Folsom) Birdsell. Three children were born to Walter and Lottie: Lawrence, Florence (m. Arthur Ruen) and Evelyn (m. a Thomas).

Lottie was born 12 Feb 1887. She had 2 brothers: Roy and Ray. She attended the county schools in her community (Birdsell School, Frankville #4). Later she attended Valders College in Decorah. She was a school teacher in the Birdsell School close to the family farm.

The original property for the Pilgrim farm west of Frankville was purchased from the Van Wey family. Additional land was purchased and added in small acreages at different times. After 47 years of active farming, Walter and Lottie retired to Frankville in 1946. They lived 65 years of their 66 years of marriage in Frankville Twp. They observed their 66th wedding anniversary at the Decorah Retirement Center (now the Aase Haugen Home).

Walter took an active interest in all community affairs: serving as secretary of the local school district (Birdsell School); was a member of the Masonic Lodge, from which he received his 50 year certificate in Jan 1959; was a trustee of Frankville Twp. and a director of the Frankville Cheese Factory. As a young man he had joined the Good Templars and the Presbyterian Church in Frankville.

Lottie was very active in the Frankville Community Presbyterian Church. She was Sunday School Superintendent as well as active in the Ladies Aid. She provided her children with strong family values.

Walter died 5 Dec 1964 at the Decorah Retirement Center; Lottie died 19 Mar 1967. Both are buried in the Frankville Cemetery.

Polley, David — Family

(Mildred I. Kjome)

David Polley Sr. was born in Delaware Co., NY 28 Sep 1786. He was a soldier in the War of 1812. David married Amanda Cooley (b. 30 May 1783) in Delaware Co. on 9 May 1816. They lived in Stamford, then went to Chenango Co. In 1844 they left New York and moved west to Rock Co., Wl where Amanda died 15 Aug 1847. About 1851 David Polley went to IA to Bloomfield Twp., Winneshiek Co. Shortly thereafter he died of cholera. David and Amanda were parents of Eunice, William C., James, Hiram, Cyrus, Lucy, David C., Aaron A., Charles W. and Sarah A.

James died at age 2 years in New York. Some of the children also came to Bloomfield Twp. Eunice married George Helmer in Beloit, Wl in 1848 and settled in Bloomfield Twp. Hiram married Cynthia Lucretia Harvey in 1857 and Lucy married Edwin Erastus Harvey, both children of Rev. Erastus Harvey of Castalia. Lucy and Edwin moved on to Republic, KS. David C. Pollev Jr. married Martha Windell in 1855 in Bloomfield Twp. They had a son Adolphus. David C. enrolled in Co. 1 of the 9th Iowa Regiment along with his brother Charles Wakeman Pollev in 1862. The regiment was sent south to Pea Ridge, AR where it suffered heavy losses, including the life of Charles W. Polley. David returned to Bloomfield Twp. from Pea Ridge. He purchased land south of Castalia. But they also moved west about 1869 to Cherokee, IA. David died out there but is supposed to have been brought back to Winneshiek Co. to be buried. Sarah Amanda Pollev mar-ried Caleb Wray in Bloomfield Twp. in 1858. They moved to MN where Caleb died. But Sarah and her 2 daughters returned to Bloomfield Twp. about 1863 at which time she married Thomas P Brush and had a second family. They moved on to Poweshiek Co. and are buried in Iowa City.

William and his wife Clarissa L. Christie went from New York to Wl, then to Ml before continuing west to Republic, KS. Their great-granddaughter, Agnes Polley of Republic, KS, came to Winneshiek Co. as the bride of George Kjome of Decorah in 1934. Her parents, Walter Hugh and Mildred (King) Polley, moved to Decorah in 1950. They managed the Scarvey Grocery Store in West Decorah for a year and then finding the climate too harsh retired to Plattsmouth, NB. Little is known about Cvrus Pollev but Aaron Pollev went west to prospect for gold in CA. The trip took 6 months with a team of oxen. He worked for many years in the placer fields and hard rock mines of CA and UT A pair of gold earrings is all that remains to give evidence that he found what he was looking for. The last 18 years of his life he lived in Springfield, OR where he died at age 93.