'A CENTURY OF MEMORIES'
1880 - 1980 |
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Carrie (Smith) Redman - December 12, 1880 |
Carrie Ann (Smith) Redman: Peter
Smith (Carrie's grandfather) was born in Yorkshire, England, May 13,
1795. He married Martha Ellison of Sutton January 26, 1819. In 1836 with
the declining prospects of business, and large family, Peter decided to
immigrate to the U.S.A. In April 1835, they left Liverpool, landing in
New York, having several places in mind. Mr. Smith heard of the
"Blackhawk Purchase" in Iowa, so they came by teams in August, 1835.
They crossed the Mississippi River and settled southwest of Burlington.
These times the Sac and Fox Indians were in large numbers and needed
food. In the year 1839, Carrie's father, George Smith, was born, being
the second white child to be born this side of the Mississippi River.
Times were hard, not much food, and furniture was scarce. He married
Margaret Jane Sharp May 3, 1855. Three children were born at Burlington.
Mr. Smith decided he wanted to move on west and so he and two brothers,
Jim and Ed, came by horseback to Decatur County and bought land around
Van Wert, George buying south where Clifton Redman lives now. He later
bought where his granddaughter, Margaret Watson, now lives. Later he
bought the farm north of the east side of the road known as the Strong
Farm.Mr. and Mrs. Smith had six more children of which Carrie was the seventh child. Carrie married George Castle Redman and now lives in the Leisure Manor in Osceola. Carrie attended Hawkeye Country School and the Van Wert High School. At the time that Theodore Roosevelt came through Van Wert by train, stopping at the depot for a political speech, Carrie had the honor to wait on tables at the Raf Porter Hotel. In 1904, Carrie married George C. Redman who lived just west of her folks' home. George and two brothers lived on his farm. His home was a two-room home. In 1908, they built a new home, with seven rooms, this being where Roland now lives. Seven children were born to this couple, the youngest, Hazel Virginia, dying when three months old, Margaret Watson, George S. Redman, Louise Perry, Harry Redman, Viola Chastain and Roland Redman. George and Carrie had a happy life together. George passed away in December 9, 1953. They traveled to many places and Carrie now can recall many things of the past. In 1939, they built a new home which was a short distance from their old home, where she lived alone until 1978. She raised cattle for several years with George J. (Jack) and Roland, farming the ground. When she was 10 years old, she went to Danville to live with her aunt, Allie Sharp, which was her mother's brother's wife, they not having any children. She attended the Danville School for 17 months. She, with her parents, made several trips by team and covered wagon from Van Wert to Danville to visit their parents, taking three days and nights to make the trip one way. They camped along the road. Carrie and friends went for eleven years on bus trips which she enjoyed and she has the honor of visiting all states except Delaware, also going into Canada and Old Mexico. Carrie's mother lived to be 92 and her grandmother, l0l. Her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Smith, celebrated their 50th anniversary in January, 1869. Carrie's parents, the George Smiths, celebrated theirs in May, 1915. Carrie's daughter, Margaret, and husband celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in February, 1974.  Will
E. (Bill) Pelsor:Will E. Pelsor, known to all as "Bill", was born in Ellsworth County, Kansas, on May 16, 1882 to George and Alice (Warner) Pelsor. Bill came to Van Wert when he was 8 years of age. Farming and carpenter work were his livelihood. On March 15, 1922 he was married to Cecile Irving, daughter of William and Alice Edmondson Irving. Cecile was born in Van Wert on August 13, 1890 and is the granddaughter of James Irving, a prominent pioneer of Van Wert. Cecile and Bill have two sons, Max and Merlin (resides with parents). Bill had one brother, Frank, and one sister, Carrie Ramsey. Cecile had one sister, Mae, and five brothers, Cordell, Ora, Fred, and twins, Vernie and Ernie. Bessie (Young) Glenn:  Bessie
was born on July 13, 1887 in Decatur County, near DeKalb. She was the
youngest child of Andrew Jackson Young and Rachel Jane (Wilson) Young.
They had nine children, with Bessie being the only one still living
today. She married David Steward Glenn in Decatur County on December 25,
1903. To this union four children were born, Emmett, Madge, Eldon and
Lois (now a resident of Van Wert). Bessie's grandparents were both born
in Kentucky, John Landis Young on May 9, 1775 and Judha (sic)
(Goldsmith) Young on December 25, 1800. In 1829, they moved to Indiana,
later to Missouri, and then to Iowa. Bessie now resides in the care
center in Leon.Lillie M. (Fierce) Corsbie: Lillie was born July 2, 1891 on a farm 2 1/2 miles southeast of Van Wert. Her parents, John C. and Emma Fierce, bought this farm and moved there on March 1, 1891. She attended school at Popcorn and has been a member of the Van Wert Methodist Church since childhood. Lillie married Ivan S. Corsbie on August 12, 1914. The newlyweds made their home on the farm where she was born and were partners in farming the 60 1/2 years they were married. Ivan passed away January 5, 1975. Lillie still lives here and loves to work in her flower garden. Their children are Mrs. Emmett (Mamie Gordon) Craig, Mrs. Bernard (Mildred) Adams, Mrs. James (Mabel) Horney, all living around the Popcorn corner, and Merlyn Corsbie of Des Moines. Mary Ellen Palmer: Mary Ellen (Collins) Palmer was born August 29, 1892. Her father, Luke Collins, and mother, Clarinda Jane (Hall) were married October 12, 1891. To this union besides Mary Ellen, were sisters, Maggillone, Jessie Millie, Dolly, Olive, Ivah, Myrie, and Beulah and brothers, Earl, Frank and Myron. On July 2, 1919, Mary Ellen married Robert Anderson Palmer, born October 24, 1860, son of Minus Palmer. When Robert was three weeks old, his mother passed away and his grandmother McJimsey raised him. His stepmother was Evie Palmer. Ellen and Robert had three girls, Waneta, Vondean and a twin who died at birth. Ellen was born west of Van Wert. At the age of one year she accompanied her parents to Hamilton County, Nebraska. When she was 9 years old, they returned to Van Wert. She has lived most of her life in Van Wert always busy with rug making, quilting, crocheting and gardening. Robert was a farmer and had a mill. Robert, being married previously to Sarah Palmer, had the following children still residing near or in Van Wert: Flossie Leath (Palmer) Ramsey was born November 11, 1891, daughter of Robert Anderson Palmer and Sarah Christine (Stout) Palmer. Flossie married Willie Marion Ramsey in 1918. Willie was born November, 1894. They had two daughters, Louise and Evelyn. Clair Sherman Palmer was born March 27, 1893. In 1917, he married Hettie Ermal Euritt, daughter of William and Cora Euritt. They had three daughters, Atha, Ruth and Ermal and one son, Lawrence. Clair was a farmer. Carroll "Vern" Palmer was born March 17, 1899 and married Sarah "Olive" (Collins). Their children were Carroll, Robert, Raymond, Harold, Wayne and Christine. Vern was a farmer. William "Dewey" Hatfield: Dewey was born February 3, 1899, Decatur County, son of Ulysses Grant and Elizabeth (Collins) Hatfield (family mentioned in other section of pioneers). Dewey married Beulah (Perks) Stanford, March 29, 1954. Dewey farmed and drove a school bus before retiring and moving to the town of Van Wert. Vernie C. Grimm: Vernie was the second son of George and Lula (Foland) Grimm, born October 5, 1899. His brothers and sisters are Elba, Opal, Orma and Clifford. Vernie married Nellie Reed, eldest daughter of W.E. and Effie (Fleharty) Reed on February 24, 1924. Nellie passed away Sept. 9, 1975. They had eleven children, two of which died in infancy, Ina and Nina, and Dale, Orvetta, Vernice, Clara, Orma, Merna, Dean, Carol and Estell. Clarence M. (Bud) Fry: Bud was born July 28, 1900, Decatur County, son of William E. and Rebecca Mae Fry. He married Edna Young and to this marriage four children were born, Billie, Deloris, Eilene and Ricky. Bud worked on the railroad. Willie Elwood DeVore: Willie was the son of William Spencer and Sapharona Mae DeVore. He was born September 25, 1900 in Decatur County. Bill married Martha (Fry), born November 20, 1904, on March 28, 1923 and to this marriage two sons were born, Raymond and William. Willie had brothers, Harry, Clyde, Clair, John, Spencer, Ernest and Leo. Martha had three brothers, Charlie, David and Donald; three sisters, Ruby, Helen and Addie. Pages 7 - 10 |
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