Traer Horse Market Shifts as 1888 Shipments Rise
March 30, 1888 report notes Traer as a growing horse market. In the first quarter, sixteen car loads were shipped east for markets in Chicago Orville Ohio Lowell Mass Morris town N J Lancaster Pa Charter Oak Iowa Lakefield Minn West Bend Town Concord N H. Farmers profits from horses helped during dry seasons. Abraham Lincoln once owned land in Howard township Tama county.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Traer
John Bartley
Chicago
W. J. Winkler
Orville
Ohio
Chas. Clapp
Lowell
Mass
I. Skinner
Morristown
N. J
Hugh Stevenson
Lancaster
Mr. Knott
Waverly
Wm. Antrim
Charter Oak
Iowa
James Morrison
Paullina
J. Brandley
Lakefield
Minn
Greene & Noll
F. A. Goodenough
West Bend
Town
J. C. Averill
Concord
N. H
Radio-TV Service Here Since 1946
Jack Nagel opened a radio and television repair and sales shop in 1946 moving from Anita to the Gamble’s building. The business grew through several moves, partnered by John Romick in 1953, and expanded into color TVs with Zenith and RCA models. Nagel and his wife Argyle, with son Jon now a technician, operated from a building on Second Street and later in the south side location with an upstairs apartment.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Jack
Jack Nagel
Anita
Gamble’s
Kostlan
Carl Wilson
Nagel
John Romick
Tracer
Tracr Washall
Second
Main Streets
Radio
Second Street
RCA Victor
Zenith
Nagel Radio and TV
Argyle
Tuffree Chevrolet Legacy in Traer History
Delmar Tuffree and family ran a long standing Chevrolet dealership in Traer starting in 1960 after moving from Green Mountain. The building traces to 1947 with Cavalier Motor Co. and Cavalier family ties. The piece notes long service, international travels for sales, and a Peace Corps involvement by son Doug.
Cavalier family led Traer car dealers through name changes
The text traces Traer Chevrolet Buick history from C. and L. Motor to Cavalier Motor to Curry’s Tracr Motor Co and finally to Tuffree Chevrolet Buick. George Cavalier Jr. became Miss America pageant writer director and producer in Atlantic City. The dealership shifted hands in 1954 to Homer Curry, who later retired to Arizona and sold in 1980. Tom Tague managed the Tra cr operation. Mr and Mrs Tuf free bought in 1960.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
George Cavalier, Jr
Atlantic City
N. J
Cavalier
Homer Curry
C. & L. Motor
Cavalier Motor
Curry
Tracr Motor Co
Tuffree Chevrolet-Buick
Axon’s Bar and Grill Opens In Former Post Office
Ray and Shirley Axon converted a former post office into Axon’s Bar and Grill in May 1972 after remodeling a recreation center. The couple runs the business with part time help, offering fine food and two pool tables while living on the upper floor with their children James Rusty Julie and Tom Axon.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Ray
Shirley Axon
Axon’s Bar and Grill
Axon’s Recreation Center
Avon
Raymond
James
Rusty
Julie
Tom Axon
Whannels Provide 53 Years of Trucking
The Whannel Trucking firm, founded in 1920 by Peter Whannel, celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1970. After Peter’s 1951 death, son Murray Whannel led the business, expanding from three trucks to eight, including four semi trucks and four straight trucks, with grain and livestock hauling as core operations. Murray and Sandra Whannel are parents to Diane Neal and Brian.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Whannel
Peter Whannel
North Tama
Thomas Whannel
Gladbrook
Murray Whannel
Tracr
Murray
Sandra
Young) Whannel
Diane
Neal
Brian
Hardware Store Dates to 1932
In May 1932 C D Bis opened a hardware store in Traer after purchasing Crippen and Wagner stock. Buis Hardware moved to larger quarters in 1936 and grand opened in 1939. The two buildings were joined into a modern store with special prices featured. Leroy Whannel married Beulah Buis in 1940 and gained an interest in the business. By 1947 Leroy took full control, later selling part to his brother Leiland, who married Betty Marquart in 1947. The Whannel brothers and wives built a prosperous Traer hardware firm active in the community.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
C. D. Bis
Tracer
Crippen & Wagner Hardware
Tracr
Buis
Taylor
Racers Main Street
Buis Hardware
Main Street
Young Estate
Wood Estate
Tracer Bakery
Wilson & Co
Tracr Star-Clipper
Traer
United States
Elesu
Leroy Whannel
Algonic
Mich
Beulah Buis
C. D. Buis
Leroy
Navy
Buis & Whannel
Whannel
Leiland
Fred Whannel
Betty Marquart
Family Ties Highlight Local Parish Leaders in Community Memo
Le Roy and Beulah are parents of four children Lynne Busley Stuart Jay and Gene. Leiland and Betty parent a son Scott and a daughter Gwenth in a note reflecting church and community ties.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Leroy
Beulah
Lynne
Phil Busley
Stuart
Jay
Gene
Leiland
Betty
Scott
Gwenth
Vokoun Motors Family Business History in Traer
Donald Vokoun began in Traer in 1951 as manager of D X station. He bought Lone Pine Service gear in 1953 and in 1956 started Vokoun Motor Company with Dodge and Plymouth agency. The family later expanded to salvage yard, used car business, and a 1973 new car agency, uniting operations at one location. Don and Carolyn Vokoun run the venture with children Dalona and James part of the business.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Donald Vokoun
Traer
Lone Pine
Carolyn Vokoun
Vokoun Motor Company
Dodge
Plymouth
Vokoun
Moon
Wagoner Motor
Elmer Bradley
Highway 8
New Car Agency
Vokouns
Don
Dalona Vokoun Feuerbach
James
Altenheins Run Pauls Lounge in Traer for 20 Years
Paul and Gertrude Altenhein operate Pauls Lounge on Second Street Traer. They opened in August 1953 in a building bought from Frank Cizek now housing Jack Nagels TV and Radio. In May 1967 they moved to the north side and remodeled upstairs living quarters and downstairs dining area adding a steak house. Their daughter Roxanne shares the home on the second floor and Mrs Altenhein handles most cooking. Oct 29 1875 Isnt it about time the question of a fire company was being discussed Where's Pierce
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Truer
Wolf Creek
Mill Street
Zalds
Paul
Gertrude Altenhein
Second Street
Traer
Frank Cizek
Jack Nagel
Mrs. Altenhein
Roxanne
Mrs.Altenhein
Pierce
Traer Nursing Care Center, Inc
Timeline of Tracr Chamber presidents and early Tama County elections
The history lists Tracr Chamber of Commerce leaders from 1960 to 1972 including first female president Joan Hulme in 1966 and Cecilia Podhajsky in 1972, with notes on later officers and board members. It also recounts Tama County’s 1853 organization with six townships, early officers, and the first county election details.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Bank
Chamber of Commerce
Winston Watson
Vinton
Star-Clipper
Watson
Tracr
Ray Mundt
Overton
Cedar Rapids
Joan
Leland) Hulme
Delbert Boldt
Murray Whannel
Donald McDevitt
Mike Richard
Richard Woods
Tama
Benton
Wolf Creek
Buckingham
David Dean
N. L. Osborn
Samuel Dunkel
John Connell
Robert Connell
J. P. Wood
Lyman Wood
Dr. Daniel
N. B. Osborn
Also Mentioned on This Page
Abraham Lincoln
Howard Township
Tama County
Traer Star-Clipper
Tulfree Chevy
Delmar Tithfees
John
Chevrolet
Delmar Tulfree
Treer
Green Mountain
Delnuie Tuffree
Traer Motor Co
Lula Hyland
Delmar
Arlene
David
Tuffree
Puerto Rico
Las Vegas
Doug
South America
Peace Corps
Don Lane
George Cavalier
Cavalier Motor Co
William Lanfert
Harold Robbins
Lanfert
Robins
Robbins
George
Lula
George Cava‘ier, Sr
Matt
Carol Moore
Iva Gates
Gates
Joe Martin
Harold & Maxine Quackenbush
Quackenbushes
Dale Franklin
Matt and
Lows
Vokoun Motors
Altenheins
Sunrise Hill
Traer Community Council
Sunrise Hill Care Center
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!