Washington History Highlights Local Families and Civic Notes
Fern Hershberger returns from relief work in Asia with Mennonite Central Committee and plans to resume nursing in Colorado. Memorial programs, band trip, local obituaries, and civil war veteran tallies mark Washington events from May 1873 to 1923 with community groups, schools, and notable residents.
Ridiculous Day plans and community notices highlight May events
A May 17 community roundup reports Chamber of Commerce plans for Ridiculous Day on June 6 and a fish day menu meeting on May 20. It notes church fire damage in Kalona, local youth shows at YMCA, Izaak Walton trap results, Mother Daughter programs, hospital visits, and visitors from Ohio and England.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Chamber of Commerce
Chamber
Izaak Walton
Myron Salladay
Lake Darling
The
YMCA
Community Notes and Events Across Washington Area
A Franklin County YMCA annual meeting elected new board members. Ruth Ann Wilson crowned Echo Dance Queen at Kirksville State Teachers College. Learn to Swim program begins June 17 in Washington with county wide classes through July 26. Local clubs and schools report officers installed and community activities at Kalona Rotary, Farm Bureau, and St James Home and School. A coin club meets at the Fairgrounds and Wesleyan hosts multiple music recitals featuring area students.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Ruth Ann Wilson
Washington
Harold J. Wilson
Kirksville State Teachers College
Miss Wilson
Sigma Sigma Sigma
Richard Schiebel
Washington County
American Red Cross
Clinton Bushart
Mike Berns
Prairie plants observed at Benson Cemetery and Robert's Chapel
A reader details discovering a miniature wild prairie at Robert's Chapel cemetery near West Chester and notes similar growth at Benson Cemetery in Havre. The piece describes plant collection methods, a plant press setup, and the need for careful cataloging by volunteers with references to local landowners and experts.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Washington County
Benson
Havre
Old Robert's Chapel
Cedar Township
West Chester
Robert's Chapel
Alexander Young
Ames
Aikman
W.L. Wade
Home Nursing Instructor Course Planned in Washington County
A Red Cross sponsored home nursing instructor course will run May 22 to 29 in Odd Fellows Hall with Bea trice Streit training area instructors. Sessions are 7 to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday. Washington area motorists may get free safety checks Saturday courtesy of the Washington Jaycees.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Iowa
Washington County
American Red Cross Chapter
Odd Fellows Hall
Beatrice Streit
Miss Streit
The
American Red Cross
Wmt-Tyv
Washington Area
Washington Jaycees
Rural eighth graders graduate at Washington County court house
Fourteen eighth grade students received diplomas at the Washington County Rural Schools ceremony held at the courthouse. Honorees include Mary Bender, Shirley Bontrager, Gordon Brenneman, Eldon Beachy, and others from Maple Grove Pleasant Hill Snake Hollow and more. Teacher Eulalia Benson received an orchid for her teaching career. Merwin Swanson was named head resident at Hemstead House, Cedar Falls, and was on the Dean's list.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Washington County
Court House
Mary Bender
Maple Grove
Shirley Bontrager
Gordon Brenneman
Middleburg
Eldon Beachy
Pleasant Hull
Sarah Borntreger
Pleasant Hill
Larry Gingerich
Joy Hershberger
Dale Marner
Snake Hollow
Monroe Miller
James Ropp
Samuel Swantz
James Yoder
Miriam
Merwin Swanson
Marion Swanson
Washington
Hemstead House
State College of Iowa
Cedar Falls
Merwin
Washington High DECA Banquet Highlights Education Ties
Washington High School DIS distributed education students held an employer employee banquet at the Captain's Table. Bryce Woods presided. Mr Houstman welcomed and awarded certificates. Richard McCleery spoke on Free on Board Port of Entry and was named honorary DECA member.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Washington High School
Bryce Woods
Houstman
Richard McCleery
McCleery
DECA
Hospital activity highlights by attendance and births
Daily hospital ledger lists admissions on Saturday and today including Lauren Kafka Ainsworth Frank Hodson Dorothy Volks Stella Palmer and other patients. Birth announcements note a son for Albert Nicola and a daughter for William Tobias and others. Dismissals include Ralph Greenlee Avis Busby and several others with surgical or medical statuses.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Lauren Kafka
Ainsworth
Medical
Frank Hodson
Brighton
Dorothy Marie Volks
Columbus Junction Surgical
Stella Palmer
Washington
Albert Nicola
Columbus Junction
William Tobias
James van Auken
Letts
Ralph Greenlee
Avis Busby
Louis Sexton
Iowa City
Myron Kurtz
Esther Palmer
River Poem Honors in Local High School Contest
Bonnie Miller’s poem The River earned honorable mention in the district high school poetry competition. The piece contrasts longing for the sea with the river’s cold current and eventual despair, ending with crushed hopes.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Bonnie Miller
Local Residents Noted in Friday and Tomorrow Listings
Friday listings include Mrs Byron Snider of Washington Dorothy Volks of Columbus Junction and Gilbert Mitchell. Tomorrow entries show Alicia May of Columbus Junction Mrs Donald Johnson and daughter of Washington and William Crayne of Washington.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Daryl Owen
Columbus Junction
Gilbert Mitchell
Washington
Ed Weber
Sigourney
Thomas Berdo
James Blodgett
Morning Sun
Alicia May
Byron Snider
Dorothy Volks
Donald Johnson
William Crayne
Deaths: Mrs. John Linnenkamp and John E Bell
Mrs. John Linnenkamp 87 died Sunday at home 310 North Avenue D after a year and a half of failing health. John Edward Bell 71 of Columbus Junction died Saturday at 5 30 p m in University Hospital Iowa City after sudden illness Friday night.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Robert Roberts
John Hughes
Columbus
Ohio
Evan Rees
Columbus Junction
John Linnenkamp
North Avenue D
John Edward Bell
University Hospital
Iowa City
Five Local Residents Die Sud- tene Thursday May 1963
George William Manassier 76 died suddenly today at his home 305 South Avenue. Mrs W D Booth 80 died during the night at 320 South Iowa Ave. Leslie J Brecht 62 died Tuesday May 14 at Washington County Hospital, home 433 South Eighth Avenue. Mrs Myrtle Bower 80 died Tuesday in Regina Saskatchewan Canada. She had lived with her daughter Mildred Hansen in Regina since her husband’s death in 1956.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Frankie Sutherland
San Diego
Calif
Frank
Willard Elston
Frank Elston
Kate Elston
Davis City
Iowa
George William Manassier
South Avenue
W. D. Booth
Iowa Ave
Leslie J. Brecht
Washington County Hospital
South
Eighth Avenue
Keota
Myrtle Bower
Regina
Saskatchewan
Canada
Francis R. Snyder Dies Suddenly in Chicago
Francis R. Snyder age 58 of Chicago Illinois died very suddenly on Thursday. The obituary notes the unexpected nature of his passing and lists his residence. Details on service arrangements were not provided in the readable text.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Francis R. Snyder
Chicago, IL
Marriages of Parcell Clark and Wieland Heitzman Wieland
Two wedding ceremonies were held on Saturday May 11 with the Rev. William Andre and Rev. Fr. W F Boeckmann officiating at West Chester Methodist Church and St Marys Church. The West Chester bride is Karla Joan Parcell daughter of Karl and Mrs Parcell of West Chester. The Cedar Rapids groom is David Clark son of Mr and Mrs Harry Clark. In Riverside Jolene Heitzman daughter of Mr and Mrs Herman Wieland and Lester F Wieland were married at St Marys Church.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Karl Mohr
Jimmy
Park Falls
Wisc
FD. Goodin
Viola Marek
V.F. Marek
Cedar Falls
Miss Marek
Iowa State Teachers College
Basil McBee
Arla
Betty
Albia
McBee
A.M. Malcolm
Red Cross
Lawrence Barth
St. James School
West Chester
Karla Joan Parcell
Karl Parcell
David Clark
Harry Clark
Cedar Rapids
William Andre
West Chester Methodist Church
Riverside
Josephine Kathryn
Jolene) Heitzman
Lester F. Wieland
W.F. Boeckmann
St. Mary’s Church
Herman Wieland
Route 1
Also Mentioned on This Page
Washington History
Fern Hershberger
John Hershberger
Upland
CE. Hershberger
Miss Hershberger
United States
Mennonite Central Committee
Phillipine Islands
India
Formosa
Kalona
la Junta
Colo
Mennonite Hospital
Lou Jean Spessard
Winfield
Robert Patterson
Colorado Springs
James F. Harrison
Fern Murray
New York
T. F. Murray
Murray
Iowa Industrial Loan Company
Ste. Paul J. Murray
Ft. Belvoir
Washington Public
Dave Masson
American Legion Post
M.M. Sewell
F.C. Klein
Carl Klein
St. Luke's Evangelical Church
Daughtery Brothers
Cuddy
Ode Ferguson
Ode
Miles Shelton
Nate L. Black
Chicago
Henry Campbell
Pullman
Rock Island
Sally
George Black
Helen Livingston
Ralph Livingston
Phi Beta Kappa
Atlantic Monthly
Etna Steck
H.F Steck
Jay Sproatt
Brundage
Legion
Treasury
Lions Club
J.M. Lytle
B.F. Beitel
B.F. McChesney
Hugh Arthur
J.A. Harley
Lewis H. Wallace
Jesse Harvey
D.C. Kyle
N.L. Long
Col
D. J. Palmer
J.A. Dawson
D.A. Boyer
Dr. J. C. Boice
Joseph Reiner
J.C. F. Wead
A.N
Harold Boyd
Clarence P. Carris
Maybelle Fleming
Charles Lytle
Marion D. McLaughlin
Mary Edna O'Connor
Helen Louise Reister
Irma Vivian Waymack
United Christian and Baptist Church
Prairie Flower School
Joe Spradley
Wappello
YWCA
Pat
Mike
Mary Gilpin
Fairfield
Marie Bush
Keokuk
A.J. Gilpin
Sadee McAvoy
Marion McAvoy
McAvoys
Mrs. McAvoy
Melba Buckwalter
Leo Mangold Sr
Mercy Hospital
Paul F. Nelson
Cathy
Portsmouth
George W. Nelson
West 8Th St
Nelson
Portsmouth Times
Sharon Hough
Ray Hough
Near West Chester
Clarence Locke
State
Waco
Locke
Mr. Locke
Don Stutsman
E.E. Stutsman
Don
Williamsport
Lycoming Indicator Company
Rosamund Harrison
London
England
Marr Schell
Naomi Kephart
Miles Stout
Jake Earnest
Roger Stout
Shelly
Karl Robertson
Mark
Anne
Dean Schmitt
Gary
Sherri
Des Moines
Schmitt
Olive Watson
Ralph Zeck
Okeene
Oklo
Branson, Mo
Y Building
Washington Bowling Association
Melody Lanes
ST. James
Paul Gebhardt
St. James Home
Donald McClure
Robert Swift
Hazel Pease
Karl Kneen
Letitia Busbee
Phil Kneen
Tom Pollock
Fred Gettert
Muscatine
Keith Vetter
Tammy Jo Pollock
Andrea Zeck
George Zeck
Roger Stafford
G. B. Farrell
Mt. Pleasant
Minnesota
Bob Farrell
Mason City
J.A. Conger
Long Beach
Fred Grosscup
William H. Jensen
New Orleans
Jensens
M.L. Brown
William W. Brown
West Des Moines
William
West Des Moines High School
Bill
Washington Coin Club
Fairgrounds
Crawfordsville
Wesleyan
Iowa Wesleyan College
David
Dennis Hult
Olds
Betty Pease
Wesleyan Chapel
Mary Anders
Suzette Graber
Wayland
Beth Stevens
Mt. Union
Julie and
Elaine Scott
Evening Journal
Washington, Iowa
Thespians
National Thespian Society
Washington County Saddle Club
First Southeast Trail Riders Association
Luers
R. Dean Luers
Leslie Altenhofen
Tracy
Denver
Duane Krotz
Theresa Adam
Adam
J. Edward Nelson
Karen
Debbie
Marion Griffin
Chuckie
Cindy
Marsha
Pam
Burlington
Wilbert Adam
Louise
Janet
Joey
Tom
Julie
Steven
Harper
Maurice Altenhofen
Doug
Danny
Jim Altenhofen
Lisa
John Bender
Arthur Campbell
Trenton
Earl Booth
Myral Smith
Jim Rossen
Jeff
Joe
Duane Johnson
Randy
Dale Booth
Bradley
Booth
Harold Booth
Connie
Leonard Slagle
Barnes City
Dora Wilson
Mrs. Slagle
Round Grove
Clarence Benson
Pella
Ray Gidley
Fred Reid Jr
Sara
Mary
Johnie
Davenport
Earl Eldridge
Indianola
Jack Reid
Hot Springs
Ark
Rose Reid
Robert Lowe Sr
Merlyn Edwards
Kathy
Ruth Lowe
West Branch
Washington County Television Servicemens Association
Keiths Radio and TV
Demons
Demon
Ron Halverson
Art Swift
Swift
Helen Foster
Bob Foster
Jeffrey
Bill Foster
Matthew
Beth Ann
Marion Avenue United
Calhoun City
Miss
Ellen Rebecca Fenn
Civil Defense
William Jensen
M. Nelson
S. W. Easter
Washington Civil Defense Staff
State House
Janice Thies
Duane H. Thies
Ottumwa Beauty Academy
Janice
E.L. Leslie of
Ted Meyer
Mae Rothlisberger
John Knotek
David Flading
James Altenhofen
Ed Knotek
Joe Knotek
al Lawandowski
Ed Wasselik
Harold Cumming
Irene Ofelt
Frank Greenwood
Cherokee
Wayne Barnes
Sioux City
John Wittaker
Perry
Barbara Lorbiecki
St. Paul
Paul Horak
Gerald Nebel
Rolland Dunbar
Robert McDonald
Rex Stout
Som
John Baldrige
Marian Owens
Wiliam McGinnis
James Coon
Laurence Kafka
Daryl Owens
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!