JERRY ALINGH
Jerry Alingh, now of Des Moines, assistant art
director of "Look" magazine, has a one man show at the University of
South Dakota every spring.
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MRS. CHARLES ADDY
Fern Addy compiles and files history of Marcus and surrounding area,
and serves as a source for folks desiring information on people and
places. Writes feature articles mostly with historical background. |
ARDYTH WALKER ALTON
Ardyth Walker Alton, born Cherokee, Iowa,
daughter of Clarence and Lillian Walker, after graduation she attended
Morning College one year before receiving a four year
scholarship to Oberlin College. From here she attended Julliard and
went abroad to study.
Ardyth's family consists of Dr. Thad Alton, professor of Columbia
University and three children, Ted, Charles and Anne.
Ardyth, "cellist", trained at Oberlin and Julliard, has toured
extensively in the U.S., Canada, and Europe. She appeared as a soloist
with the N.B.C. Orchestra, the orchestra of Detroit Chautauqua, and the
Connecticut State Symphony, among others, and was member of the
Columbia Concert trio. Following a recent Washington, D.C. National
Gallery recital, the Evening Star warmly praised her intelligence,
musical taste and discriminating music making, and the Times Herald
cited her for "the season's best cello player."
Ardyth is teaching at Julliard and Manhattan Colleges in New York
besides playing for Community Concerts. |
MARLYS BRYANT
Marlys Bryant (Mrs. Bill), Aurelia artist,
raised in Sioux Rapids, her parents own the Wikins Cafe, there she
displays much of her work in the town of Rossi. Marlys had a little
drawing in school and is other wise self taught. She and Teddi Kline
give talks and demonstrations on art in the school at Aurelia. The
Bryants have two children, Kathy and David. |
SISTER MARY EUSTELLA, O.S.F.
Sister Mary Eustella, the former Gertrude Jane
Bush, the daughter of Henry and Mary Anne Bush, Sister Eustella was
born in Cherokee, attended Maryhill school.
Gertrude Jane at the age of sixteen joined the St. Joseph convent in
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 51 years ago. She majored in History and Music,
conducted many choirs and taught music.
She taught school for seventeen years and was superintendent of schools
for ten years in Nebraska, Chicago, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Montana
and Mississippi. In 1931 she went to China as a missionary to teach
until March of 1942, then she became a Japanese prisoner, they took her
to Tsnig to where she was to remain for thirty-five months. She was
released in February of 1945.
Sister Eustella is now at St. Josephs convent in Campbells Port,
Wisconsin. She is writing a book about "The History of The Indian
Tribes" based on her work in Montana, and is also preparing manuscripts
on her work in China and her imprisonment by the Japanese. |
ARNOLD PAUL BALLANTYNE
Paul Ballantyne, born in Cherokee in 1928,
attended school in Cherokee; two years at Ames majoring in Economics
and Math; the University of Southern California, Los Angeles; received
his M. A. at Iowa City; his Ph.D. at Stanford University, California.
Paul, the son of Alfred and Julia (Davenport) Ballantyne was discovered
as a singer when just a child, he was well known for his fine voice
here is Cherokee, he was in the choir at Ames, Iowa City and in
California. He sang as one of a group of soldiers in the Mario Lanza
movie, "Because Your Mine". He is in great demand as a singer.
Paul married Mr. and Mrs. Clint Lowerys daughter, Wanda. After
receiving his M.A. at Iowa City, Paul became a Jet pilot at Lackland
Air Base in Texas, he received his wings there; they moved to Colorado
Springs, their permanent residence, where Paul became a teacher at the
Air Force Academy. The Ballantynes have two children, Lisa and Arny. |
HARRIET BEAN
Harriet Bean, born Pender, Nebraska, educated
in the Bancroft schools and Bellevue College. Harriet Rice,
married James Wilson Bean in 1908 and moved to Cherokee, Iowa in 1909,
where Rev. James Bean served as pastor of the Cherokee Presbyterian
Memorial church. During that time the brick church was built which
still serves the Presbyterians and the community.
Harriet has been active in poetry societies at the local and state
level in both Iowa and Ohio. Her work has been published in numerous
periodicals and anthologies, including: Christian Century, Christian
Advocate, Time of Singing, and Singing Quill, The Iowan, Composers and
authors of America and An American Girl.
Her fiction and articles, published by Presbyterian Tribune, Swedish
American Journal, Forward, Pioneer, International Journal of Religion
and Trailblazer.
A book of her poetry entitled "When I Behold" will be published early
in 1967. The Beans have two sons and a daughter. The Beans retired to
California where Dr. Bean died in 1964. Mrs. Bean still resides there.
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JANE ANN BIGBEE
Jane Ann (Mrs. Garth) Bigbee now of Marengo,
Iowa, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard T. Steele, Cherokee. Graduate of
Cherokee schools and Iowa State University, Ames. Has had a articles
published in Wallace Farmer, Des Moines Register, Picture magazine
among others. Does regular feature writing for Cedar Rapids Gazette, is
stringer for this paper and the Des Moines Register. Specialty is
feature story writing. Does own photography. Mother of four children. |
BETTY CONLEY BALDWIN
Betty Conley Baldwin (Mrs. Russell) now of
Forest City, born in Washta, Iowa, daughter of Ern and Henrietta (Hass)
Conley, attended local schools, graduate of Quimby. Has had articles
published in "The Iowan", "Capper Weekly" and others. Has five sons,
Richard, Daniel, Steven, David and Randall. Also three grandchildren. |
JERRY BISSELL
Jerry Bissell, son of Vernon and Barbara
(Burton) Bissell, was born in Ottumwa, Iowa. Jerry attended Walsh high
school in Ottumwa; a year and a half at St. Ambrose in Davenport; then
finished his schooling at N. East Missouri State Teachers College,
Kirksville, Mo., majoring in Physical Education.
Jerry taught three months in Ottumwa high; a y ear at Allison
Bristol community school, Allison, Iowa; then in 1964 he came to
Cherokee to become the coach and Athletic director at the Immaculate
Conception. Jerry was asked to write a 2000 word article on his methods
and basketball techniques of coaching for The Coaching Clinic, a
nationally known book on athletics, produced in New Jersey. The
publication is to be out by March. Jerry and Bonnie Bissell
have three little Bissells: Craig, Kyle and Kent.
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SARAH JANE BLAIR
Sarah Jane Blair, preceded her twin brother by
two hours, on a farm in Madison County, May 19, 1867, the daughter of
Rev. and Mrs. Michael Myers. Sarah's mother died when she was seven,
some how the father kept his family of eleven children together. After
teaching in the public schools of Iowa from 1885 to 1888. Sarah married
Charles A. Blair, a pharmacist. They moved to Cherokee in 1896 and
built a home at 604 Main. Here their children, Mabel, Helen, Alexander
and Mark were born. Sarah loved writing and art, and took art lessons
from Mrs. W. P. Goldie.
In 1910 the Blairs moved to Grinnell, where she took a correspondence
course in writing, then she started to write poetry.
A number of her poems have been published. In 1939 and 40 she had an
exhibit at the National Poetry Center at the World's Fair. She received
a certificate of commendation as a patron of the Poetry Scholarship
fund. Helen made her home with her mother since the 1940s when
Sarah lost her husband and son Mark. On May 19, 1967, Sarah will be one
hundred years old. "Sarah
Jane, your old home town wishes you a joyous birthday". |
MRS. WILLIAM J. BERGER
Mrs. William J. Berger, Marcus the former
Jeannene Woodall has compiled a 2000 page reference on Plymouth County,
is writing a newspaper series for the LeMars Centennial year. She
studied classical piano and voice under Amy Price, Sioux City. Has one
son Wade. |
BOBBY - OLIVER ELDON BEERS
Bobby Oliver Eldon Beers, was born at Battle
Creek, Iowa but spent most of his childhood with his grandparents, Mr.
and Mrs. O. J. Plomeson, who lived in Washta at that time. At the age
of 12 he went to live with his father and stepmother, the E. E. Beers
of Cushing.
Bobby, as a youngster, entered all local talent shows as a singer and
dancer. An Alta talent show started him on his career when he won the
chance to appear on the Des Moines Radio show WHO. During that program
he was invited to appear with "The Fisher Dance Band" in Hollywood,
Calif., and the WHO Barn Dance Frolic. He also made a guest appearance
with the great Ted Lewis.
In 1940 he appeared on Major Bowes amateur hour; competing at the age
of 14 with 10,000 contestants in Chicago for NBC, and was third one to
be selected. He appeared at the Palmer House and WLS radio station;
then auditioned for Herbert Yates, owner of Republic studios and
received a seven year contract. He appeared in several pictures with
Roy Rogers; with Ginger Rogers and Ray Milland for Paramount..
While at Paramount, Lawrence Welk signed him on for a three week
engagement at the Capital theater on Broadway. He toured with Welk for
several weeks then moved to Chicago to remain with Welk. Here he made
many many recordings, among them a song he introduced "Marizy Doats."
At eighteen he joined the Navy, singing with the Griff Williams Navy
Band. During an Asiatic Tour with the Navy he contracted Rheumatic
fever and was hospitalized for nine months. The night he received his
medical discharge he rejoined the Welk Bank.
Deciding to go on his own he worked at WSM in Nashville, Tenn., then
appeared with the Paul Whiteman Band and the Blue Barron Band. During
this time he was voted one of the top ten vocalists. He married Donna
Kurtz of Des Moines and the couple have two sons, Bobby Jr., and
Randall Kurt. They now live in Des Moines, where Bobby has two shows a
day over radio station KSO. He is also music director for the station. |
MARJORIE MERRILL BLISS
Marjorie Merrill Bliss, daughter of Fred and
S. Louise Bliss spent most of her early days in Washta, sister of
Marion and Fred Bliss listed elsewhere in this book. Wrote poetry
published in many magazines and included in Anthology of Mid West
Poets. Wrote many book reviews for Des Moines Register. Died 1948. |
JAMES BOMAR
James Bomar, Cherokee, (wife Zelma) Sculptor,
prolific wood carver, fine dish wares as well as s statues - gavels,
etc. Presented a gavel to the new court house carved from wood of the
stair railing of the old court house, to be used on the judges bench. |
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