Odebolt Veterans of World War 1

 1968 photo - Odebolt Veterans at the 50th Anniversary of the end of World War 1

(Click the photo to enlarge it.) 

Identify Fry Studio Photo?

 I received this email from Ingrid Weideryd, of Lungsbro, Sweden. (Thank you Ingrid!)

She said .... At Odebolt history blog I found a photo of a man who looked like my great grandmothers brother. It was from Erin Bohannons album, posted 31 of July 2019, Photo 5, taken at Fry Studio Odebolt. I enclose a photo with this mail (below). There is no name on the photo, only a text written by my grandmother. It says Mammas bror = mothers brother.

 

The photo she believes is the same man

The photo enclosed in the email

  

 (View other photos from Erin Bohannan's album
https://odebolthistorypages.blogspot.com/2019/07/identify-people-from-album.html )

 

 My great grandmother Maria Charlotta Johnsson had four siblings, two brothers and two sisters. All her siblings emigrated first to Minnesota and then to Odebolt, Iowa, USA. Maria was born in Synnerby 1875 in Sweden and she lived all her life there. The man on the photo must be one of Marias brothers.

My great grandmother Marias siblings:

Anna Kristina Johnsson was born 7 may 1862 in Gerum Sweden. She emigrated to USA with her sister Emma and came to Odebolt 1 april 1890. She was married to Anders Peter Swanson (Andrew) born 1862.

Carl Gustav Johnsson (Charly in USA?) was born 26 sept 1864 in Gerum, Sweden. He emigrated to USA 13 jan 1888.

Emma Sofia Johnsson was born 31 dec 1866 in Synnerby, Sweden. She died in Odebolt 24 dec 1890, the same year she arrived there.

Lars Johan Johnsson (Frank in USA?) was born 11 apr 1871 in Synnerby, Sweden. Married to Sofia Andersson.

Aunts and uncles to Marias siblings also emigrated to Odebolt, Iowa, USA. They changed their family name to Stoneberg. Maybe Marias siblings also changed their family names, I don´t know.

I hope this gives some help to identify one person on the photo.

 

-------------------

If you, the reader have any information we would appreciate hearing from you either by email or below in the comments. Thanks!

 

 

Arthur, Iowa popcorn history

Odebolt was once known as the "Popcorn Center of the World". 

Our neighboring town, Arthur, also has popcorn history.  Below are the Shotwell Elevator and cribs in Arthur about 1913.

 

 

 The Chronicle, August 22nd, 1912

It is announced that the Shotwell Manufacturing Co. of Chicago will construct an elevator and popcorn cribs in Arthur yet this fall. The plant will be built by Contractor Birchard of Lincoln, Nebraska at a cost of about $15,000. 

 

The Shotwell people manufacture "Checkers," a confection similar to Crackerjack and are said to be the second largest consumers of popcorn in the country. For some years their supply of corn has been purchased direct from Odebolt dealers, but they have now decided to erect their own plant, and it is understood will buy for their own use only. The plant would have been built here [in Odebolt] had a site with trackage [railroad tracks] been available.

 

The Chronicle, October 10, 1912

The Shotwell popcorn plant now building at Arthur will have a capacity of 80,000 bushels. Eight cribs are being built, each 160 feet long, 10 feel wide and 16 feet high. Thirty men are doing the construction work as it is planned to have the plant completed in time to handle this year's crop. 

Apparently there was also The Famers Elevator Company in Arthur

 

The Chronicle, November 12, 1914

A large amount of popcorn is being marketed at Arthur. The Farmers Elevator company has its cribs all filled, having taken in 1,500,000 pounds in four days.  They have been taking in corn at the elevator and cribs at the same time, loading several cars a day.

The Shotwell elevator handled from the second day of November until Thursday, the 8th, 1,118,230 pounds of ear popcorn. On the first day ninety-one wagon loads were brought in, nine of which were left in the yard unloaded on account of the day being too short. The average weight of these loads were 3,340 pounds. The corn is being sorted and cleaned and the shelled corn taken out as it passes over the cleaning mill. The corn goes into the crib free of dirty or shelled corn, so it has plenty of ventilation. A crew of eight men besides the manage, J. C. Mickelson [? hard to read] are at work. The old popcorn is being shelled, sacked and shipped every day. The machinery works automatically, the belts going at the rate of 800 feet a minute.

 

 

"Time Machine: Iowa was once No. 1 in popcorn" -  Cedar Rapids Gazette, March 28, 2023

Hardly anyone has heard of the Chicago-based Shotwell Manufacturing Co. popcorn plant in Arthur, east of Ida Grove in northwest Iowa.

Sitting in the heart of what was then known as popcorn country, the elevator and cribs were built around 1913.

In 1918, the Carroll Times reported about 18 million tons of popcorn had been raised the previous year around Arthur and Odebolt, “the largest popcorn markets in the United States.”

The plant at Arthur was the largest popcorn processor in the country when it was sold for $50,000 — about $850,000 in today’s dollars — to Shotwell’s main competitor, the Cracker Jack Co. of Chicago, in August 1925.

1931 fire

On Dec 5, 1931, fire destroyed the Cracker Jack popcorn plant in Arthur.

“The blaze swept through the elevator and shelling and cleaning plant of the Cracker Jack Popcorn Co., destroyed expensive machinery and caused damage estimated at $50,000.” according to a wire service story in The Gazette.

Firefighters were able to save “several hundred thousand bushels of popcorn on the cob that was stored in the company’s cribs,” the story stated.

By 1935, though, the storage cribs — that once had held 7 million pounds of ear corn and 1.75 million pounds of shelled popcorn — were empty.

From the Ida County Courier 8/22/12

                                                 

 - Barb Horak, editor

Those who gave their life

Originally called Decoration Day, from the early tradition of decorating graves with flowers, wreaths and flags, Memorial Day is a day for remembrance of those who have died in service to our country.

This Memorial Day, be sure to stop whatever you are doing at 3:00 pm and take a minute or two to thank the brave men and women who are no longer around to enjoy the day with their families.

Below are those listed on Odebolt's Veterans Memorial Monument as "died in service"up until 2000.

WORLD WAR I Robert F. Bernhardt George J. Bihrer Ernest J. Buller Iver H. Carlson William F. Martin Fred C. Meyer Andrew G. Norton Robert M. Pike Herman A. Roose ** Charles A. Wekmeister

WORLD WAR II Gerald R. Bauer Norbert B. Bengford Wayne W. Bernhardt Harry W. Briggle Donald C. Huebner John O. Hunt Delbert W. Lewis William C. Malone Glenn R. Pedersen Norman F. Petschauer   Wendall D. Reinhart Joseph L. Simon Joe L. Sixon Edward H. Stauffer Edward N Walters William Walters

KOREAN WAR

WAR IN VIETNAM    Kenneth L. Boger Thomas J. Kelly Leonard E. Neville Robert F. Rex.**MIA Earle E. Schwaller

 ** *Odebolt's American Legion Roose Post 313 was named after Herman A. Roose, the first soldier in Odebolt, and in Sac County, to die in the service of his country in World War I.  Herman August Roose, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Roose, was born in Odebolt, Iowa, January 9, 1901, and died at Chaumont, France, December 31, 1917, at the age of 16 years, and 11 months.

Click to see all veterans listed on the monument

Click to see photos of servicemen lost in WWI

Click to see photos of servicemen lost in WWII (3 pages)

All the military history on the Odebolt History Pages

The Old Log Swing

 

Recently Jane Lashier Harter, posted the above photo of the legendary "log swing" in the playground of the old school on the Facebook group, "If you grew up in Odebolt you remember". So of course, I had to try to find more information!

I ran a search for "log swing" on the newspaper archive site and this is what I found. The log swing was first placed on the playground in the fall of 1930.

- Barb (Girvan) Horak

ALL OF THE BELOW ARE FROM THE ODEBOLT CHRONICLE AT VARIOUS DATES

Thursday, October 30th, 1930
SCHOOL NOTES
Mr. Adams Gives Grade Pupils New Swing - A unique swing, like one Mr. W.P. Adams saw the children of the Philippines enjoying, has been set up for pupils of the public schools. The swing is perhaps unlike any that one has ever seen. It is a huge log suspended from a framework of steel. The pupils are truly elated over it, and are showing their gratitude to the donor by their enthusiasm.

Thursday, October 30, 1930
NEW SWING MADE FOR KIDDIES
A new swing which is decidedly unique has been provided at the new school grounds through the kindness and generosity of a friend who asked permission of the school board to install one for the pleasure of Odebolt kiddies.

The frame work of the swing is constructed of heavy galvanized pipe, very strongly braced at each corner with inch cable and to this frame work a highly polished cypress log has been hung on swiveled pipe, which allows the log to swing backward and forward end-ways. Upon this log the little tots are supposed to ride and the polished surface of the log make the feat difficult enough to put in the proper amount of kick to the entertainment.

We are not so sure that we won't slip up there some dark night and try a little ride for ourselves, and we know that the children will offer a vote of thanks to the donor for his kindheartedness. 

Thursday, April 1, 1937
W.P. Adams
Several years ago, while traveling through an island on the south seas, Mr. Adams noticed a novel swing made from a rough log suspended from a crude framework. He saw little native children playing on it and enjoying themselves to the utmost. When he returned to Iowa, he had a similar swing constructed with a steel frame and presented it to the Odebolt public school. It now stands at the southwest corner of the school grounds.

Thursday, October 31st, 1940
TEN YEARS AGO (1930) - A kind and generous friend donated a cypress log swing to be used on the local school grounds.

Thursday, November 1st, 1945
FIFTEEN YEARS AGO (1930)
A new swing has been placed on the school grounds for the children (the log swing)

Thursday, September 26th, 1946
ACCIDENTS WILL HAPPEN - Thursday night after school on the school ground, an accident occurred which made the students vow to be more careful. Lawrence Hoefling, a freshman, broke his arm while playing on the log swing.

Thursday, September 3rd, 1987
THIRTY YEARS AGO (September 5, 1957) - Work began last week on the new Odebolt school building. The old log swing will be removed and put on the new school playground.

MEMORIES

Jane's  post brought out a lot of comments from people that remembered the log swing.

Judy Pudenz
That log swing had to be the most dangerous swing ever. The senior boys would line up on it, standing, and got that log to swing back and forth as far as it would go.

Zola Jean Kelly
My first year in the new building was in 1st grade, which I believe was in 58/59. That log swing was moved to the new playground and I remember it well. I think it was there until I went to Arthur in 6th grade.

Charles Lashier
(Once it was moved to the new school playground) ... It was on the northwest corner of the playground just south of the elementary wing.

Jim Girvan
I remember the log swing. It was reinstalled when I was in grade school and sat at the southwest corner of the elementary wing. I think everyone knew if they walked in front of it when it was swinging it would probably kill them.

Sandi Lickteig
The log swing, terrifying especially when Kent Ogden got it going so fast that you slid back and forth with nothing to hold on to but it was always the first thing we were on. So many memories! Does anyone else remember when Bob Brower took the dare and stuck his tongue on the frozen monkey bars? I remember the teachers herded us all back into the school while someone "unstuck" him. Ouch!

Jennifer (Sellman) Shipman
I think that playground was my second home and needless to say, so close to our home. I remember that log so well. Roger Peters, Linda's brother would get us on it and get it going as fast as it could and we were scared to jump off.
..... (another post) love these old pictures and I saw so many people ride that log since it was directly across the street from our home on the corner.

Judy Frey-Hemphill
I remember when they were tearing down the old school building. My cousins Dennis & Danny McFarland and I had a lemonade stand across the street where Martha Kennedy use to live. We made enough money that we all went to Singers store and bought new bathing suits.

On moving to the new school
Bloyce Johnson
I remember volunteering to move the books from the old school library to the newer one. Quite a line up and it took us a while. Then two years? of using the bus barn for school lunches, band rehearsals, and maybe some classes, too.

OTHER CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS 
(If you have photos of the log swing, please send to our email address on the right column!)

 

Both the above photos, taken in 1932, are courtesy of Joan (Lundell) Paup. The bottom one is of her parents, Edmund and Lillian (Dahlstrom) Lundell.  Marvin and Edna Hultman asked Lundells to stand up for them at their wedding in Papillion, NE. Lundell's secretly got married there too and didn't tell anyone until Joan was on the way!

I found the above photo in the on-line archive of Odebolt school yearbooks. It is from 1946. If someone has this yearbook and can get a better scan, please send it to me!

 

This photo is from Mike Peterson and shows Dan Griffin and Mike on their first day of school, September 4th, 1956.
Note the school buses in the background. 

Steve Loger posted this photo, which has a development date of June, 1957.
From the right are:  Dave McDonough, Daryl Hoefling, Bruce Hokanson, Scott Bergren, Steve Loger, Myron Siebrecht, Kerm Ziegmann, Carl Moberg, Roland Schmidt & unknown on the far left.

READ ANOTHER POST ABOUT THE LOG SWING

Odebolt's 75th Parade

 Thanks to Deb Reinhart for this photo of a parade back in the day. It is believed to be taken in very early 1950s and could be of Odebolt's 75th Birthday celebration in August of 1952. Although many of the cars appear to be older then the 1950s, not everyone had new cars!

The Odebolt Chronicle, Thursday, August 14, 1952, page 1
BIG PARADE HERE TUESDAY DRAWS 4,000
Seventy-One Major Entries Compete For Prizes In Local Fair's Largest Show

Approximately 4,000 people were on hand at 6:30 Tuesday night [August 12th] to watch the largest and most interesting parade in the history of the Community Fair. Crowds line the parade route from Fifth street through the center of town and part of the way back to the assembly area near the park.

This year's parade, considerably larger than in former years, consisted of 71 major entries in addition to dozens of children's entries and the local Saddle club which entered as a group. Many organizations and business houses entered large decorative floats along with numerous commercial displays.

The parade was led by a large group of residents of Odebolt who have lived here for 75 years or more, in observance of the town's 75th anniversary. The old-time residents rode at the front of the parade in open convertibles and received a nice hand from the thousands along the parade route. Those in the 75-year group were Mrs. Charles Smith, Mrs. W. Shaw, Mrs. Charles Kistler, Mrs. Frank Searight, L.L. Goreham, E.E. Goreham, A.S.Teaquist, John Gonnerman, Henry Buehler and Will Raasch.

Grand Prize for parade entries went to Iversen's square Dance kids who appeared in an old-time barn dance on the largest portable dance floor ever to enter a parade. The float, pulled by a large truck tractor, consisted of a dance floor complete with about 40 dancers, musicians, spectators and square dance caller.

(list of various categories of winners)

A spoon from Odebolt

From a Facebook post by Shelby Scott

My dad found this spoon in an antique store in Estes Park, Colorado. It was made by Mechanics Sterling Company. out of Massachusetts, which was the flatware subdivision for the Watson Company. The only spoons I have found close to that design are from 1903.

It may have been an "Iowa" spoon and someone customized it for Odebolt. 

Beth Blum posted:

Patricia Applegate moved to Estes Park from Odebolt. Her dad George Hillburn used to polish rocks and make jewelry and doll houses. He was mayor of Odebolt. Maybe he did it?

 

Whatever the story behind it, here it is.

 

 

 

Help with Band identities

This photo was sent as a postcard to Jean (Petersen) Jones' great-aunt. Bettie Peterson, in 1909. Jean said, "One of them is Emil Johnson father of Randall Johnson, father of Gary, Othel (Al), and Dean Johnson. I don't know which one he is nor do I know any of the others. 

7-27-2021 via email:
My name is Kathy Johnson, daughter of Maurice and Leona Johnson. Maurice was a brother to Randell Johnson. Emil Johnson was my grandfather.(Emil Johnson is pictured in the first row, second from the right). I have seen this picture at Evelyn Johnson's home where we celebrated Christmas Eve every year. Evelyn was Emil's sister.The baritone that Emil has in the picture I refurbished and learned how to play. I played Christmas tunes on it one Christmas Eve at Evelyn's farmhouse.

7-27-2021
John Noyd said:  Front row right could very well be Almer G Noyd.
Bonnie Ekse said:  I think I’ve seen this photo before, or a similar one of the same band, and the front right tuba player was identified as Milton Lindskoog.

Click on the photo to enlarge it and let us know if anyone recognizes these men. There was a band from Arthur called the Progressive band, but we don't know if it was the same organization.

Click the below for an enlargemnt of a closeup of the band.

 Below is a photo of the Progressive band from Arthur.for comparison.

Old photos of Knudsen, Mickelsen, Teaquist and Huldeen

Not long ago I received a message from Howard Willey saying he had some old photos from Odebolt that he would like to share with any family descendants that might still live in the Odebolt area. I asked him to send scans or phone shots of them.

Howard says:
When my great grandmother immigrated from Denmark in 1883 she settled in Odebolt. She lived there until she got married in 1892, then she lived the rest of her life in Anthon, Iowa. Her name was Anna Knudsen Mickelsen 1865-1917.

(PLEASE RIGHT CLICK EACH PHOTO,
from the menu choose "Open Link in a New Tab",
then click the photo again to enlarge it.)

 

Anna Knudsen Mickelsen

Anna Knudsen Mickelsen

Below: The first person my great grandmother met in Odebolt was Anna Teaquist 1864-1947. Anna Teaquist married John Huldeen. I noticed in the Odebolt graveyard there are several Teaquist and Huldeen graves. Are there any of the descendants still living in the area that are interested in these pictures?

In the round picture Knudsen is on the left and Teaquist is on the right. In the fancy dresses picture are the same ladies, Knudsen on the right. 

                                                 Anna Knudsen Mickelsen and Anna Teaquist Huldeen

 

Anna Teaquist Huldeen and Anna Knudsen Mickelsen

 Below, the woman seated on the left is my great grandmother Anna Knudsen Mickelsen 1865-1917. I’m pretty sure the woman standing second from the left is Anna Teaquist Huldeen 1864-1947. The picture I assume is of a church ladies group or some other club/organization. Hopefully someone recognizes the other ladies

If you can identify any other of these women, please email me ((Barb Girvan Horak) at the email address on the right column. Also contact me if you wish to have Howard's contact info. 

 

New Site for Newspaper Archive

The link to the digital archives of the newspapers from Odebolt and Sac County as changed! They have also updated coverage to 2020!

Here is the new link
https://saccounty.advantage-preservation.com

 

The big Christmas lights donation match

2014 Memorial Circle

Odebolt needed new Christmas lights. They were getting shabby.

Several years ago Shear Magic Salon & Boutique (Rose Bengford Shultz and Janet Hoefling Thomas) started having a Christmas bake sale to raise funds for new lights and had raised a good sum to start the effort. 

This year Sue (Gronemeyer) Beers saw Shear Magic Salon & Boutique's post on Facebook about the baked goods for sale and wondered how much was needed for new lights. She and her brother, Steve, decided to start a matching funds drive to raise the money needed for new lights. All donations up to $2500 would be matched in memory of their parents, P. Dale and Marge Gronemeyer, and their brother, Todd. A Facebook post was made encouraging people to donate to the fund match, and the rest is history!

The City of Odebolt would like to thank Shear Magic Salon & Boutique for starting the Christmas lights fund! And thank you to the Gronemeyer family for kick-starting the challenge! 

Below are those that donated to the fund:
Jon Zeigmann Estate, Jon Ziegmann's Memorial Fund (memorials given in memory of Jon), Angie & Tyson Quirk, Barb (Girvan) & Don Horak, Robert & Karel Mollhoff, Donna Hoelsher (in memory of Tony), Dennis & Joan Jenkins, Linda & LaFontaine Siebrecht, Mark & Mary  Schroeder, Betty & James Sullivan and Marzella Schuldt.

Also, thanks go to Joyce Curtis (in memory of Becky Mandernach), Swanson Insurance and Real Estate, Dan & Jane Snyder, Richard & Bonnie (Girvan) Ekse, Joan Godbersen, and Kim & Kent Schroeder (in memory of Dave Sweeden).

And finally, a BIG thank you to Mark Hansen Rex Chevrolet for a donation of $5,000!
Odebolt IS going to have new Christmas lights next year and we can't wait to see them in 2021 

2020 Memorial Circle

 

 

Gary Johnson, musician from Odebolt

 Some of you may remember Gary Johnson who, I think, graduated with the Odebolt-Arthur class of 1964. He is a very talented song writer and guitarist/keyboardist and is a great singer. At the bottom of this post is an article about him from 1977.

This is an excerpt about Gary from the Iowa RockNRoll Music Association: "His professional career as a vocalist and guitarist began in 1967 and he continued to perform in supper clubs, dance halls and other venues until 1984. He did 150-225 performances a year in Iowa, eastern Nebraska, southern Minnesota, and eastern South Dakota. Most of those performances were done as a solo act, with the exception of three outstanding years when his brother, Dean Johnson, played with him".

Gary has some of his music on-line and he has a channel on YouTube. Most of it is music except the first one. Be sure to use the arrow on the right to click to see all the songs!
Here is the YouTube Link.

 Click the article to enlarge it.

Odebolt School History

Added history from the 1916 school yearbook to the School History page on the Odebolt History Pages

1890s Horse and Wagon

We found the below photo on an auction site. It was taken by Odebolt photographer F.E. West about 1890. We believe it is on the corner of Main and Third Streets, looking north on Main. The photography studio was located at the corner of Main and Third, so this would be just outside it. 

Mr. West took over photography in Odebolt from the Lundquist Brothers, Swedish brothers who were the first photographers. West ran the business from about 1885 to September 1891, when, because of failing eyesight, he sold the business to W. C. Ross, Jr., who soon took in  E. S. Frey as a partner.

 

Read more about Photographers in Odebolt at the Odebolt History Pages.

Below is the same photo made clearer. 

The building on the right is the old photography studio.  

Men in women's dress

It's not often we receive a photo with identities! Pam (Rex) Hanson sent this photo in from her mom, Elaine Rex. 

Research in the Odebolt newspaper archives has revealed that the event was the "WOMANLESS WEDDING", presented in 1926 at the Princess Theater on Main Street on Friday, November 5th, Saturday, November 6th and, because it was such a big hit, another show was added on Monday, November 8th. About 70 Odebolt men took part in the presentation. The event was sponsored by the Odebolt Library Board. 

You can read the full story on the Odebolt History Pages.

Below is the photo. Click HERE to bring up the image - then CLICK AGAIN to enlarge it!

New things - a look back

While searching the Odebolt Newspaper Archive and other area newspapers I've run across some interesting articles chronicling the excitement of new things happening around town. Hope you enjoy this look back in time!

In 1883, the Denison Review had an article about the "largest and most elaborate farm barn in Iowa" on the Cook Ranch.

The first is a March 22, 1917 listing of who in Odebolt were buying cars!

The July 28, 1949 Odebolt Chronicle had an article on "Another Television Set in Operation Here in Odebolt!

An ad in the May 30, 1946 Chronicle announced the opening of the Ida Grove Airport.

And in the next edition of The Chronicle (June 6, 1946), an article about Dennis Peterson flying a plane during the opening.

Finally, the opening of the Odebolt swimming poot on August 7, 1953, was a long awaited event and many community members spent hours and hours of volunteer time to get the pool and pool house up and going. A real Odebolt milestone! And it is still operating in 2020!

Barbershop Men

CLICK photo to enlarge it!

Photo believed to be either late 1940s or early 1950s. Please help identify these men!

Front Row: 

1)  Don Rex  2) Harry Sommers   3)               4) Ed Korneisel  5)  Ted Metier  6)  Dr. F.W. Worth  7) Jay Wicker

Middle Row:

1) Don "Spike" Einsphar ??   2) Elwood Deibert     3) Dr. James McAllister    4)            5) ??Russ Peters ??   6) Richard Swanson    7) Don Potter

Back Row

1) Marion Hix??     2)            3)           4)         5) Harry Swanson    6)  Frank Shaw   7) Dwight Meyer

Bonnie Ekse found the following:

The Rotary quartet, called “The Felony Four” in an article in the November 20, 1952 Chronicle. These are the men in the photo holding canes!
    Don Potter (far right, middle row)
    Ted Metier (3rd from right, first row)
    Jay Wicker (far right, first row)
    Ed Korneisel (middle of first row with cane)

 

Bonnie also searched Odebolt newspaper archives from 1/1/1952 to 3/1/1953 for names of Rotary members:
  (Perhaps you can spot some of these men in the photo?)

Dwight V. Meyer (in photo)
Merle Sanders
B. G. Ogden
A. W. Lewis
Dr. James McAllister (in photo)
Nate Skalovsky
Paul Fox
Herbert Turin
E. B. Deibert (in photo)
Richard Swanson (in photo)
Rev. W. B. Bell
Walter Lundblad
Harry Sommers (in photo)
Dr. F. W. Worth (in photo-top hat)
Bob Dannenberg
Marion Hix (in photo)

     (start P. 3, rotary 01/01/1952-03/01/1953
Wally Hamann
Ralph Swanson (in photo)
Francis McCorkindale

 

Went back farther and found:

Rev. Palmer Sellstrom
Dean Brown
Rev. Albert Peters
B. B. Strieby
M. H. Paul
Harry Iversen
 

1918 Influenza Quarantine

 CANCELLED for 2020
 Creek Days  and Odebolt-Arthur All School Reunion 

If you want a reunion mailing, update your mailing & email addresses at oaalumniassn@gmail.com
Facebook Page

 1918 Influeza in Odebolt

I thought I'd do a bit of research in the Odebolt Newspaper Archive about the 1918 Influenza Outbreak and how it affected Odebolt. There follows a few articles to show how people fared during that time.

Keep in mind that at that time, there were no vaccines for measles, mumps, scarlet fever and the like. When someone in a family contracted a highly communicable disease, the household was quarantined until all were well, so there are many notices of various families being quarantined, or coming out of quarantine.

However, the quarantine during the 1918 Influenza was different. All meetings, churches and schools were affected. And you couldn't go to the pool hall or the Princess Theater. There are also many articles about our local servicemen who were quarantined at their military camps.

TAKE A LOOK BACK .... 

The Odebolt Chronicle, Thursday, October 24, 1918, page 4

Why Deliveries Are Slow.
The post office influenza quarantine has greatly stimulated letter writing. Almost fifty percent more letters were received the last week than ordinarily. This makes mail deliveries slower, especially since two of the office force, Mr. Ballard and Mr Hansen - have been absent from their duties owing to sickness.

Closing Effects Newspaper
For the first time since the social column was established in The Chronicle, this week's issue has no social activities. The closing of all public meetings prohibits the holding off all social events. The absence of the social news together with the church notes and school notes is noticeable. It is hoped that the quarantine will not be needed many weeks.

The Odebolt Chronicle, Thursday, October 31, 1918, page 1

Quarantine Lifted - Quarantine regulations, which were ordered to prohibit all public meetings and gatherings, owing to the prevalence of influenza, have been lifted. The billiard rooms opened Monday and the Princess (theater) last night. All public church services will be resumed on Sunday, unless there should be a change in the orders.

[Another article on the page]
Will a. McCorkindale of Camp Gordon has been promoted to First Sergeant. He has not been at non-com school, but has made good in his work in the ranks. He was first corporal, then sergeant, and now first sergeant. He writes that the quarantine was lifted there for the flu, but is on again for measles and mumps. He has not had the flu.

The Odebolt Chronicle, Thursday, November 14, 1918, page 1

Notice: The quarantine for the Spanish influenza will be lifted in Odebolt Saturday morning, November 16. - Board of Health

[On the same page] Strict quarantine is on again at Lake View. Public meetings are not to be held nor theaters or pool halls opened. Not more than three persons are to be allowed at one time in the stores or post office. There has been two deaths there in the last week.

 Mrs. E.R. Powers Dies Monday; 
Her Death Marks the History of One of the Saddest Occurrences in Odebolt History.

Never to our knowledge has as sad an occurrence taken place in Odebolt, as has come in the past week, when a family - husband and wife and a new born babe - have all fallen victims to the dread malady that has been sweeping the country for the past few months.

A shock went over the community on Monday morning, November 11, when in the midst of the general rejoining over the news that the war had ended, the word went out that Mrs. Barbara Powers was dead.

Only a few days previous - Wednesday morning, November 6 - her husband Edward R. Powers had passed away, and in such a short time, the young wife had followed.

Mrs. Powers was taken sick with influenza about thirty-six hours after her husband came home sick with the disease, and she had cared for him as long as she was able. She battled valiantly for life, bearing up remarkably well, when she knew her husband had passed to the other world, and until Monday morning hopes were entertained for her recovery.

Sunday night a baby daughter was born to her, but was dead at birth, and the knowledge that she had lost her babe as well as her husband seemed to take away her courage and she had no heart to fight longer for life. She passed away a few minutes after eleven o'clock.

Funeral services were held at 10:30 o'clock yesterday morning at the cemetery, where a large company of friends had gathered to pay their last tribute of respect to one who had gained the love of all who knew her. Rev. Father Schaefer had charge of the service and Will J. McCorkindale, Charles Davenport, Albert Landgraf, Alphons Schmitz and Vincent Ballard acted as pall bearers.

Anna Barbara Alexia Mattes was born in Odebolt April 15, 1892, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J.R. Mattes, and her life has been passed here. She was graduated from the local schools with the class of 1909, and attended the university of Illinois, after which she remained at home until her marriage.

On April 23, 1914 she was united in marriage with Edward R. Powers, and after a brief residence in Fort Dodge, she spent the most of her time with her mother, except for the time she spent at the cottage at Lakewood. Her mother died nearly two years ago and since that time she has kept the home for her father.

Barbara was of an especially bright and happy disposition; always pleasant and wonderfully kind hearted; she was liked by everyone. Her death brings sorrow, not only to the family but to many others as well.

Her father, J.R. Mattes, and her brother, Frank, are all who are left of a large family, and they surely have the sympathy of the community. Frank is at an officers training school at Camp Grant and arrived yesterday morning only in time for the funeral.

Other relatives here for the funeral from out of town were E. P. Hartman and son Philip and daughter Mary and Mrs. Joseph Hartman of Lake View, E.W. Powers and daughter Louise and sons Mark and Burton and Mrs.Paul Powers of Lohrville.

[On the same page]
Mrs. O.E. Huglin is scheduled as hostess for the members of the Tuesday club Tuesday afternoon, November 19, and the meeting will be held if the quarantine remains lifted. The roil call at this meeting will be answered with war poems.

(Apparently the quarantine was off and on for a while. The final notice below states that the quarantine is lifted as of December 24, 1918, just in time for Christmas!)

Jack Simpson

Former Odebolt resident, Jack Simpson passed away March 4, 2020 at the age of 93. He was a big part of the Odebolt community while he lived there, as was his wife Joan. They ran Singers Department Store, and Jack was post master, belonged to many Odebolt organizations and served on many boards.

I looked in the on-line Odebolt Newspaper Archive and found this article from Odebolt's newspaper, The Chronicle.

(Click the image to view the larger version.)

Below is Jack's obituary, taken from Farber & Otteman's on-line obituary archive

Jack Simpson, youngest son of Murel and Pearl (Cleveland) Simpson was born on a farm near Sac City on June 2, 1926.  He passed away at the age of 93 on Wednesday, March 4, 2020, at Loring Hospital in Sac City.

Jack grew up in and around Sac City, graduating from Sac City Public School in 1944.  He participated in athletics in high school, but track was his real love.  He became the 100 yard dash champion of the State of Iowa in 1944.  During the summer of 1944 he entered the United States Army serving two years and was discharged as an Army Sergeant. 

   In the fall of 1946 he enrolled at the University of Iowa to continue his education and participation in track.  He became the first freshman to lead the team in scoring and was elected Captain of the team.  He won four major letters while participating in track and became the first track athlete to accomplish this at the University of Iowa.  He received a Bachelor of Science Degree at the University in June of 1950.

   Jack and his wife operated a retail store in Odebolt for twenty-five years.  He went to work in the Odebolt Post Office in 1959 and continued working there until his retirement in 1987, retiring from the position of Postmaster.

   On August 22, 1948, Jack married Joan Schwitzer in Sac City.  To this union were born five children.  Their second child, Vickie Marie was born in 1951 and passed away in 1953.  Their youngest son, John, passed away in 2001.  Those remaining to mourn his passing include his wife Joan of Sac City; sons: Tom (Mary Kay) Simpson of Colorado, Greg Simpson of Salina, KS, daughter, Deborah (Doug) Haase of Denison, IA; eight grandchildren: Jessica, Kristin, Emily, Brandy, Wade, Colby, Emma and Jack; eleven great-grandchildren: and one great-great grandchild; extended family members and many friends.

   Jack was preceded in death by his parents; brother Milford Simpson; daughter Vickie and son John.

   Jack enjoyed participating in community affairs.  He served as an elder and deacon in the Odebolt First Presbyterian Church.  He had been a member of the American Legion, Odebolt Rotary Club, The Odebolt-Arthur Community School Board, Masonic Lodge, Odebolt Fire Department, and Board of Directors for Colonial Manor Nursing Home.

   Jack and Joan had wintered in Mesa, AZ since retirement and enjoyed their traveling and visiting children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Feeling cooped up?

IDEAS TO OCCUPY YOUR TIME AT HOME DURING
THE COVID-19 "STAY AT HOME" TIME

 

Visit the ODEBOLT HISTORY PAGES and find out a LOT about our town's history!

Neighborhood "I Spy" game - have your kids draw big rainbows and put them in your window.  Tell your friends! Then walk around and see how many rainbows you spy!

Phone family, friends and neighbors a couple times a day. Human voices, telling stories, laughing - cheers you up! This includes kids. They can learn phone-talking skills!

Call elderly neighbors to check on them. Do they need groceries? Cheer them up.

Have your kids do some art on your sidewalk with chalk. If a lot of people do it in a neighborhood, you can take a walk to see it.
Find an antique fire cart near downtown. Find out about Kelly's Colts!

Organize a walk with your friends - staying at least 6 feet apart. Make a long line! You'll have to talk loud and laugh louder!

Take a family hike in a park (stay off play equipment though!)

Drive around Blackhawk Lake and look for migrating birds. Take binoculars!

Drive around town - how many flag poles can you spot? Or blue houses. Or ....

Visit the Vet's Memorial Monument at the cemetery with your kids. Talk about the people on the monument. Walk around tombstones of people you knew and tell about them.

Find a small, red, one-room house in Odebolt once inhabited by Swedish immigrants and read about it!

Walk the path at Memorial Walk Park from the beginning and then back again. Read the plaques embedded in the walk.

Visit Monument Circle and read what is written on the stone marker there.

See the window display at the Odebolt Museum.

Look for Easter decorations around town - or make some to decorate your lawn or windows.

Find a small park where the Ground Observer Corps used to watch for enemy aircraft.

Think creatively, especially as the weather warms up. Maybe you could plant a pollinator garden with your kids and help beautify Odebolt for people AND feed our beneficial bugs, bees and butterflies!

All the best, and stay safe!