Al Cass the last horse less carriage era mechanic
Alfred S. Cass, a Sumner auto mechanic of 43 years, retired from his shop after selling to William Ishman of Oelwein. He repaired motorcycles and early autos, built the Shamrock car in 1908, and recalled travels, gas at drugstores, and roadless Iowa in the 1900s. A humorous tale features Father Molloy learning to ride the Shamrock motorcycle, ending with a six mile dash and a crash in a ditch on April 21, 1949.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
al Cass
Sumner Gazette
Alfred S
al) Cass
Sumner
William Ishman
Oelwein
Wisconsin
Iowa
Joe Cass
Madison
Wis
St. Paul
Minn
New Hampton
Evry
Herman Niemann
Chevrolet
Studebaker
Father Molloy
Road conditions hinder car travel in Sumner area
Impassable and rough roads this past week have limited motor travel and disrupted deliveries. Embargoes on primary and county trunk routes reduced large truck movement from Waterloo and hampered eggs and poultry shipments by Wescott & Winks. Local mail, trade, and a Legion dance attendance were all affected as repairs using gravel and planking progressed near No 93 and Tripoli west of Sumner.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Sumner
Waterloo
Wescott & Winks
Democrat
Buck Creek
No. 93
Dayton Township
No. 10
Tripoli
Here
Fred Sell
Fayette Supervisors Club cooperate in road work
The Sumner Community Club plans with the Fayette County Board of Supervisors to gravel the road from Summer to Randalia and eight miles beyond. The board provides gravel trucks and spreaders. the club funds part of the work and seeks farmer labor donations. Progress is reported as of Sept 6 1923 and Nov 22 1923 with graveling already started and a new pit opened east of Sumner.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Sumner Community Club
Fayette
C. C. Dickman
Good Roads Committee
Randalia
Sumner
First Iowa car owner J F Cass outlined in 1906 item
J F Cass of Sumner is credited by the Des Moines Auto Club with owning Iowa’s first commercial automobile. A May 1906 purchase predates a Davenport physician’s July 1900 buy by about three months. Cass drove a steam Locomobile later shipped to Waterloo to Sumner, later swapping it to his brother, and hopes the old auto will be displayed. He now owns a 40 horsepower Winton touring car and remarks on smooth operation amid local road conditions.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
J. F. Cass
Sumner
Iowa
Des Moines Auto Club
Davenport
Cass
Waterloo
C. D
Chickasaw County
Dakotas
Des Moines
Also Mentioned on This Page
Bert
First and
Guilford
Will Milfer
Mason City
Charles City
Mather Molloy
Miller
Cass Machine Shop
Ida Buhr
St. Bridget’s
West Union
Sumner Township
Carpenter Street
Cass’ Garage and Repair Shop
North Carpenter and
East Second Street
Terialize
Four Mile Township
Richfield
Banks Township
Fayette County
Westgate
Dawson
Main Street
Randallia
Fayetite
Dwar
Poock’s “66” Service
Lyle & Kenny
POOCK
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!