I.N. Woods, Woodburn Postmaster

(Thanks to great-great grandaughter Julie Bradley (Woods) Garrett for the photos and poem).
I.N. was postmaster from at least 1899-1906.

(The reference to Pike in this poem is thought to be a letter he was waiting for from his Civil War friend, William Ford). 

     Isaac Newell "I.N." Woods was born in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, on May 29, 1841, to John Sears and Mary Ann “Polly” (Hazen) Woods. He came to Pike County, Illinois, with his parents in 1843, where he grew to manhood. I.N. enlisted in the Civil War in 1861 in Company I, 28th Illinois Volunteers. He was later promoted to Corporal of Co.B, then Lieutenant of Co.F. He was wounded in the Battle of Shiloh in April, 1862, and mustered out of service on April 6, 1866.

     I.N. settled on a farm in Lucas County, Iowa, in 1868. He married Augusta A. Miller on March 24, 1869. She was born in Brown County, Ohio, in 1841 and came to Iowa with her parents in 1853, settling on a farm in Lucas County where she grew to womanhood. They had six children, and Augusta passed away on February 7, 1989. Augusta united with the M.E. Church over twenty years before her death. She is buried at the Woodburn Cemetery.

     For many years, I.N. was engaged in the hardware and implement business at Woodburn, and was also a postmaster there for several years. After leaving Woodburn, he traveled to Ohio for some time, and later made his home with his sons, F.M. Woods of Ottumwa and J.L. Woods of Cedar Rapids. He spent his winters in Florida. I.N. died at his son’s home in Ottumwa on May 12, 1912, and was laid to rest in the Woodburn Cemetery with Masonic honors.

  (from Woodburn, Iowa: Life in a Railroad Town)

“The Carsons and Cockleburs
took over Jackson Township”

     This is one of the variations of an old saying known to many Clarke County natives, due to the numerous descendants of early pioneer Abraham Carson.   The original homestead properties, two 80 acre tracts, purchased in 1855 and 1869 by Abraham are still in the Carson family today. 

Abraham Carson was born in 1813 in Pennsylvania, the middle child of twelve.   His father, Thomas Carson, was said to have either been adopted or a runaway who took the name of Carson.  He married Anna Layton after settling in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, and they spent the rest of their lives there in the area of Perryopolis. 

      Abraham married Elizabeth Chambers, a West Virginia native, before 1834. In 1854 they left Pennsylvania for the rolling hills of southern Iowa, first setting in Henry County for a few months.    They then set their sights on Clarke County, which had been formed only nine years before and larger scale settlement started only four years before, in 1851.  The original 80 acre government issued land of their 1855 log cabin homestead is in Section 11, Jackson Township.   Early settlers entered land at the office at Chariton at a price of $1.25 an acre.  Their only method of communication was the Western Stage Company, which ran three times a week until the coming of the railroads and its dissolution in 1870.

     The Carson land was located only a few miles from the town of Ottawa, which was founded in May, 1855, on land deeded from the Benjamin Coppock family.   When Benjamin and his brother, Lindsey, arrived in 1854, there was only one house between their land and Osceola.   The Coppocks had also been in Henry County before moving here, so it is possible the families made plans together.  Members of the Carson family attended the United Brethren church at Ottawa and Methodist Episcopal churches at Ottawa and Woodburn.  

 Eight of the Carson children were born in Pennsylvania, the ninth and last, Caroline, was born in 1857 in Clarke County.    The second and third sons, Thomas and James, served in the Civil War.    Most of Abraham and Elizabeth’s children remained in Clarke County, their grandchildren numbering fifty.    

     Asa, the eldest, married Sarah Abrams (topping the number of children at twelve), Thomas married Mary Coppock (Lindsey’s daughter) and moved to Missouri in middle age, James married Sarah Tedrow, and after her death, Martha Chambers.   Mary married Jacob Arnett , Ellenor married John Reese (early stagecoach line driver).  Sons Ephraim and Jobe both married daughters of Rev. Jacob Delay Clark, Sarah and Martha respectively.  Nancy married Daniel Johnson, and Caroline’s spouse was Eli Crowl, they were Indiana residents.

Some of the families who married into the Carson line were:  Chambers, Heston, Weaklend, Wiley, Powell, Waugh, Page, Porterfield, Mackey, Thornton, Penick, Phillips, Jones, Lingle.   If your family has deep Clarke County roots, there is a good chance someone in your family has ties to them.  

                                                                                                           Lynnette Davis

(Sources referred to besides personal family research were genealogies by Marjorie Carson and Clarke County histories).  

Abraham and Elizabeth Carson

(Marjorie Carson files)

A Tribute to Horace Oliver

Who we consider to be the first chronicler of Woodburn history

Horace Staley Oliver

Born July 18, 1905 in Osceola, Iowa.

His family moved to Woodburn in 1910, when they purchased the telephone exchange. Horace was educated in the Woodburn Schools and graduated there in 1924.

Horace never forgot his roots and regardless of where he lived, he came back to Woodburn often to visit family and to participate in the Woodburn High School Alumni banquets, Woodburn Homecoming events, etc. It was his love for his hometown of Woodburn that prompted him to write two books, “Boy Life Along the Burlington” and “Spring in Autumn, or the Hills of Home”, which were published in 1969 and 1972.

His parents 

Jasper Eddley "J.E." or "Ed" Oliver and wife, Emma Staley

 The family moved to Woodburn in 1910 where Ed became the owner of the Woodburn Telephone Company. Later he engaged in farming, real estate, and other business. The telephone office was in their home, which set back from Main Street (Vine). They were members of the Woodburn Christian Church, where Ed served for many years as Chairman of the Board, and as an Elder and Sunday School teacher. He also served as clerk of the Modern Woodmen of America Lodge and Insurance Company for a period of 50 years.

sister, Eugenia with Horace

Emma, Ed

Eugenia and Horace

Kenneth Moore and Horace Oliver, abt. 1911?

Kenneth's parents, Clarence and Fannie Moore, owned a general store in Woodburn and Horace's parents ran the telephone office.

Horace, standing at back left, with friends playing leap-frog, probably at the Woodburn school.

(What a great picture!)

8th grade graduation, Woodburn, 1919

wife, Charline Cline

Daughter of E.E. and Nettie (Wiard) Cline

He married Charline Avis Cline on June 15, 1929, in Cody, Wyoming, where he was employed. Charline was born June 14, 1907, at Woodburn. She grew up in Woodburn where she attended school and graduated from high school in 1925.  Her father had the harness shop in town.  She attended summer school at Iowa State Teachers College extension and began her career as a teacher in the Lewis rural school near Woodburn. She taught four years. Charline had further teacher training through Iowa State Teachers College and after she married, taught at the East Concord school.   

Her siblings were Ferol Cline, Jack Cline, Dorothy (Cline) Evans, Glida (Cline) Boor, Wanda Ruth (Cline) Rogers, Ona (Cline) Powell and Leland Cline. 

Charline and Horace

They returned to Woodburn where their son, Gary Lew, was born in 1933. Horace was a school teacher so the family lived in several Iowa towns before moving to Des Moines in 1947. Horace had many experiences as railroad worker, student, one-room rural school teacher, truck driver, bus and taxi driver, school principal, salesman, school superintendent and finally retirement. 

Horace taught at a small rural school near Woodburn for one year, 1925-1926.  He taught 7th and 8th grade in Woodburn from 1927-1929. He stopped teaching for two years and was hired as Woodburn HS Principal for six years, 1930-1936.  Horace was Woodburn HS Superintendent 1936-1938.  He was also superintendent at Shannon City, Runnells, and Saydel, also Assistant Polk County Superintendent of Schools for seven years. Charline was an active member of the Des Moines Women’s Club and the Eastern Star.  She did volunteer work at Blank Children’s Hospital in Des Moines and was an active volunteer of activities during World War II. She was a member of the First Christian Church in Des Moines. They became members of the Glendale Christian Church in 1993.

His former students were always very special to him and he always looked forward to the opportunity to meet and visit with them. He will always be remembered as a strong supporter of Woodburn.

1940's

1972

1992

Horace died on October 17, 1994, in Phoenix, Arizona, and Charline died August 11, 1997, in Phoenix, Arizona. They are buried at the Woodburn Cemetery.

(Information given to us by his son, Gary Oliver, and his niece, Barbara Mason for the books Woodburn, Iowa: Life in a Railroad Town and later photos sent by Gary and his wife, Barb).  

I remember them coming back to visit Woodburn, where they would come to Woodburn Christian Church, a gentle and kind couple, always smiling.  Very enjoyable and so interesting to listen to his tales of the past days of Woodburn.   

Woodburn Alumni Banquet 2015

Mother-Daughter Tea

1964, Mother-Daughter Tea. 

Wanda Ewoldsen, Margaret Mason, June James.

Methodist church, Christian church, Catholic church.

Every year the three churches would have a
Mother-Daughter Tea.
A Mother of the Year would be chosen from each church.

(Thanks to Dee Ewoldsen Schelker for this photo
and information above about the teas
and where they were held). 

Wanda Ewoldsen's necklace given to her when she was an
honored mother in the photo above.

courtesy of Dee (Ewoldsen) Schelker

SEVENTH ANNUAL MOTHER-DAUGHTER TEA
(Osceola Sentinel, May 7, 1964 page 7).

The Seventh annual Mother Daughter tea was held on Sunday afternoon, May 3 at the Woodburn Methodist church with the two other Woodburn churches, the Catholic and Christian participating.  Mrs. Glida Boor was program chairman and Mrs. Fern Underwood of Osceola, the guest speaker. Each year a mother from each of the churches is chosen and honored as mother of the year.

Those chosen Sunday were Mrs. June James, Catholic church, Mrs. Margaret Mason, Christian church, and Mrs. Wanda Ewoldsen, Methodist church. Each mother was presented with a lovely corsage and a necklace. Mrs. Underwood also received a corsage.

Mrs. Juanita Cunningham was in charge of the guest book and approximately 150 guests were registered. Refreshments of cake, nuts, punch and coffee were served from a beautifully decorated table.

 May, 1963 "if you don't have a daughter, borrow one and plan to attend"

(We also had these teas for 4-H in the 70's and later and also during these years). 

MOTHER- DAUGHTER TEA

(Osceola Sentinel, May 7, 1959)

The Willing Workers Sunday school class of the Woodburn Christian church held its third annual Mother-Daughter Tea on Sunday afternoon, May 3 in the church with between 115 and 120 signing the guest book.

Mrs. Mary Linderman and Mrs. Mary Lou Mason, the program committee, presented a very nice program.

Mrs. Nettie Cline received a very lovely corsage for being the mother with the most daughters. Mrs. Cecile Boyd of Lucas also received a corsage for being the youngest grandmother present.

An honor mother for 1959 was selected from each of the following churches: Mrs. Rebecca Duree, Catholic church; Mrs. Hazel Lewis, Methodist church; and Mrs. Juanita Woods, Christian church. They each received a lovely corsage and a bracelet with the words, "Honor Mother of '59" inscribed on each one. Refreshments of cake, coffee and punch were served. A nice time was had by all attending.

Excerpt from 1961 tea - 
The annual Mother and Daughter Tea sponsored by the Willing Workers Class of the Woodburn Christian Church was held on Sunday afternoon May 7, at the Church with one hundred and twenty-four people signing the guest book.
Miss Peggy Frlzzell and Mrs. Thelma Davis who were in charge of the program, presented a very interesting one which was enjoyed by all.
A lovely corsage was presented to the mother with the youngest daughter present which was given to Mrs. Joan Trumbo and her seven-week old daughter who live in Des Moines. Another lovely corsage was presented to the mother having the oldest daughter present which was received by Mrs. Josie Mason and her daughter, Mrs. Mable Frizzell. As in the past an honored mother from each of the three churches in Woodburn was selected.
They were Catholic church, Mrs. LaVera Cottrell; Methodist church, Mrs. Mable Oehlert; and Christian church, Mrs. Nola Ewoldsen.
Each honored mother was presented with a lovely corsage and bracelet.

MOTHER-DAUGHTER TEA AT WOODBURN CHURCH 

(Osceola Sentinel, May 17, 1962, p.5)

The annual Mother-Daughter Tea was held Sunday, May 6 at the Woodburn Methodist church. The purpose of the tea was to honor the mothers in the community and to give special honors to an outstanding mother chosen from each church.

Mrs. Dorothy Davenport was toast-mistress to the following program:

Welcome, Ronda Ewoldsen; Invocation, Mrs. Fern Boyles; Exercise, Mothers We Honor You, Sheryl Poths, Emily and Kathi Oehlert; Instrumental Number, I Surrender All, Karen Oehlert, Lloydene Ewoldsen and Jennie Lynne Davenport; Reading, Her Occupation, Annie Laurie Davenport; Tableau, Mother's All, Cast of sixteen, plus chorus; Honoring mothers in audience, Mrs. Wilma Jane Davenport.

A corsage was awarded to the mother who came the greatest distance, Mrs. Ruth. Tomlinson from Manley, la.; Mrs. Grace Danner received a corsage for being the youngest mother present. Mrs. Juanita Woods received a corsage for being the mother with the most daughters present. Honorable mention was given to several 3rd and 4th generatlons present. The three special honors went to Mrs. Theresa Patterson from the Catholic

Church for her active work in her church; Mrs. Helen Stearns from the Christian Church for her faithful devotion to her family and church; Mrs. Fern Boyles from the Methodist Church for her years of service to her church and especially for her work with the teenagers In her Sunday School class. Corsages and lovely bracelets were given to them.

"A Goodby" given by Elizabeth Oehlert closed the program. Refreshments were served from the tea table consisting of punch, coffee, cake, nuts and mints. Mrs. Glida Boor and Mrs. Jean Oehlert poured. One hundred and seventeen signed the guest book.

Excerpts from the 1925 Clarke County Farm and City Directory

This is an interesting booklet, not a plat book, not a census.   Somewhat of a combination of the two, listing the city or township where they lived and children.   * By the names indicate they were under 21 years of age.  Right click on the image and you should be able to save it to view larger.   This is as large as I can post on the blog.

A lady gave it to Harold Fitzpatrick who asked his sister, LaVera Cottrell, if she knew of anyone who would be interested in looking at it.   She said, I sure do!   Thanks, Harold and LaVera for sharing.

Woodmen of the World, Oak Camp #97, Woodburn, Iowa

Woodmen of the World is a fraternal benefit society based in Omaha, Nebraska, that operates a large privately held insurance company for its members.

Its history includes the erection of numerous distinctive tombstones depicting tree stumps across the country prior to 1930, a program to donate flags, and broadcast interests.  It was founded by Joseph Cullen Root in Omaha in 1890, who had founded the Modern Woodmen of America in Lyons, Iowa, in 1883.

The Woodburn camp was chartered in 1909 and was most active before the 1920's.   

http://agraveinterest.blogspot.com/2011/06/woodmen-of-world-and-tree-stone-grave.html

These items are stored at the Clarke County Historical Building
in Osceola, Iowa (except for the group photo of the drill team).  

Woodmen and Woodmen Circle (women) Drill Team

In front of the Woodburn Bank

Had another photo with Circle named and sashes more visible 

Back - woman with large hat (unknown), ?, Mrs. William Lewis, Mrs. Rudiger, ?, ?, Mrs. John Cochran, ?, Irene Rudiger Mackey, Mrs. Mary Lamb, ?, ?, Mrs. Eliza Crowley (Power), Mrs. Frank Fox (Love), Ann Carson (Wisdom), Mrs. Sweeney (Remembrance), Bessie Voris Hootman (Second Leader), Corda Cochran Stacy (First Leader), Mrs. Mary Westbrook (Captain).

5th man from left - Seth Hootman, man front dark suit next to light suit Ferol Cline, man in front of 4th lady from right - round face I think is J.A. Voris.