Saturday, November 22, 2014

Ervin John Schultz, Gerald Edwin Schultz and Anna (Kruger) Schultz

Picture of Ervin John Schultz, Gerald Edwin Schultz and Anna (Kruger) Schultz

Picture provided by Ervin Schultz grandson Richard Urbatch
Ervin John Schultz, born 20 Feb 1889 in Worth County Iowa. His parents were Charles J. Schultz and Catharina Margaretha Arzberger, both from Germany.

Ervin Schultz married Anna Kruger who was born 15 Feb 1893 in Worth County, Iowa.

Their son Gerald Edwin Schultz was my maternal grandfather. Gerald was born 13 May 1920, in Worth County, Iowa and married Helen Gwendolyn Tighe who was born 02 Feb 1924 in Nebraska.

Roy Lovell, Morris Sivill, John Howard Brower

This is an old tintype photo surrounded by cardboard frame.



Roy Dorm Lovell was the son of William Andrew McClelland Lovell and Clara Viola. He was born 01 Nov 1906 in Whitebreast, Warren County, Iowa. Roy was married to Ruth Irene Reeves who was born 05 Jan 1910. 

Morris Sivill born between 1902-1903, son of Thomas Sivill and Agnes. Morris Sivill was married to Opal. Morris is no relation to my family, only friends with my grandfather. He is found living near my grandfather's sister Anna and her husband Raymond Crooks in 1940 in Liberty Twp., Lucas, Iowa. 

John Howard Brower (my grandfather) was born 04 Sep 1904 in Liberty Twp., Lucas County, Iowa. He married Edna Lois Lovell who was born 25 April 1914 in Whitebreast, Warren County, Iowa. She was the daughter of William Andrew McClelland Lovell, sister to Roy Dorm Lovell (in picture). 

Vaclav "James" Benesh and Theresa Oplistil

Vaclav "James" Benes married to Theresa Oplistil 
(my maternal 2nd Great Grandparents)
Vaclav Benes who's American name was James Benesh, was born 02 Apr 1880 in Czechoslovakia. His parents were Vaclav "James" Benes Sr. and Aloisia Sila. 



In 1904, departing from Bremen, Vaclav, his wife Theresa and their daughter Marie (my great grandmother) left their home in Czechoslovakia to begin their new life in America. Their last place of residence is listed as Richenburg. Listed on their ship manifest it is mentioned, that their friend/relative was Filip Halda and Filip came from Peraletz/Perálec, which is very close to Richenburg (Reichenberg) Czech Republic and is now located in Liberec PredhradĂ­.


Sailing on the Kaiser Wilhelm II they arrived in New York on June 8, 1904.   


Picture of the Kaiser Wilhelm II 

Although Vaclav and Theresa are listed on the manifest as married with a daughter (my great grandmother) Marie Benesh, I located a marriage certificate for them in Omaha, Nebraska dated 25 May 1905. Their marriage certificate list parents of Vaclav "James" Benes as James Benes Sr., mother Aloisia Sila and parents of Theresa Oplistil are Joseph Oplistil and Catharina Dostal (Katerina Dostal). 

Marriage Certificate for James Benes and Theresa Rosa Oplistil, Omaha, Nebraska 25 May 1905

From 1905 - 1953 they are found living in Douglas County, Omaha, Nebraska. Sometime after 1953, they moved to Los Angeles, California. 


Children of James Benes and Theresa Oplistil are:


  1. Marie Katherine Benesh, born 15 May 1903 in Czechoslovakia
  2. James F. Benesh, born  2 February 1906 in Nebraska
  3. Helen A. Benesh, born abt. 1909 in Nebraska
  4. Anna Benesh, born 26 Oct 1910 in Nebraska
  5. Josphine Benesh, born abt 1914 in Nebraska
  6. Joseph Benesh, born 9 Jul 1915 in Nebraska
  7. Sylvia Benesh, born 1918 in Nebraska
  8. Anton Benesh, born 16 Jan 1923 in Nebraska

Theresa Benesh (Oplistil) b. 1882 d. 1942, James Benes/Benesh b. 1880 d. 1966 and their son Anton Benesh b. 1923 d. 1989 are all buried at Graceland Park Cemetery, next to Theresa's parents Joseph and Katerina Oplistil, Section 5 Lot 393. 


Picture provided by Mary Levesque

Gustav Kruger and Helena (Bruesewitz) Kruger

Picture provided by Sue Walk O'Brien
My 2nd great grandparents, Gustav Kruger & Helena (Bruesewitz) Kruger. Children in order of age are Edwin A. Kruger, Ida Kruger, Anna W. Kruger (my great grandmother), & Alvin Kruger


Sunday, March 30, 2014

William Andrew McClelland Lovell - Obituary







William Andrew McClelland Lovell
The Leader
Chariton, Iowa
August 26, 1941

William A. Lovell, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Washington Lovell, was born in Carbon, Indiana, on December 8, 1863, and died suddently at his home near Lacona on Saturday, August 23, 1941, at the age of 77 years, 8 months and 15 days. Death was due to a heart attack. 

At the age of eight years he came to Iowa with his parents in a covered wagon, and the remainder of his life was lived in this vicinity, with the exception of about eighteen months spent in Missouri. He returned to Iowa with his parents and grew to manhood at the present family home where he had lived the past forty years. 

He was united in marriage to Clara V. Vickroy on Feb. 28, 1889. To this union thirteen children were born, six of whom, with the wife and mother preceded him in death. Mrs. Lovell passed away on October 5, 1931. 

Seven children are left to mourn his passing. They are George W. Lovell, of Chariton; Mrs. Elsie M. Clark, Dennie H. Lovell, Mrs. Gladys Goering and Mrs. Louie B. Williams, all of Lacona; Roy D. Lovell and Mrs. Edna L. Brower, both of Lucas. There are also 39 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren; one sister, Mrs. Elmer Lane, of Des Moines; two brothers, Elmer Lovell and George V. Lovell, both of Millerton, and other relatives and a host of friends and neighbors. 

Funeral services, conducted by Rev. Chas. Mattox of Beacon, were held at his late home Monday afternoon at two o'clock and burial was in Arnold Cemetery. 

Our home will be lonely without him. 

Heaven will be nearer since there he's at rest;
Away from life's cares, it's trials, it's sorrows.
Beckoning, "Come to the land of the blest."


Saturday, March 8, 2014

Edna Lois Lovell-Brower


Edna Lois Lovell was born on April 25, 1914 in White Breast Township, Warren County, Iowa. Her father was William Andrew McClelland Lovell and Clara Viola Vickroy. Edna was the youngest of 13 siblings. 


Edna Lois Lovell and sister Viola Mamie Lovell. Viola was born June 27, 1909 and married Bain Kendall.   

Grandma Edna Lois Lovell on the farm in White Breast Twp., Warren County, Iowa. She was bout 16 years old here. 
Halloween ! Grandma Edna Lois Lovell and her sister Viola Mamie Lovell.  

Grandma Edna Lois Lovell and her friend Mrs. Stover, being silly and pretending to tilt the liquor bottle. 


My father Jack Lee Brower and grandma Edna Lois Lovell-Brower.
Grandma Edna Lois Lovell-Brower in front of her home in Chariton, Iowa. 
Edna Lois Lovell


Vol. 104 NO. 49, Chariton Iowa, Tuesday, Dec. 7, 1971 - The Chariton Leader - "Honorary Shoshonean" 
Mrs. Lois Brower sits amid her toys, dolls, dresses and assorted novelties that will be shipped to Indian tribal reservations in Wyoming and Nevada for Christmas if she can come up with the necessary postage. She is wearing a Shoshonean tribal necklace, bestowed on her by her adopted family in Wyoming, which makes her an "honorary" member of the tribe. 



Edna Lois Brower - Houseful of Goodwill Chariton Herald Patriot Newspaper Nov 9, 1972
Mrs. Edna Lois Brower of Chariton sits in the midst of the clothing and bedding that she plans to personally deliver next month to the Navajo Indians in Arizona. Mrs. Brower plans to leave Dec. 10 if she can find financial support for the journey. Mrs. Brower, a former missionary to the Indians, is also collecting food to take to the Indians for their Christmas dinner. 

Most people who knew my grandmother remember this bus. She made a bus full of toys for the Navajo Indian children in Arizona. Grandma would drive this bus all the way from Iowa to the Arizona reservation and would let the children come on the bus and pick one toy. 
Rest in Peace Grandma. I miss you dearly!


 Edna Lois Lovell-Brower passed away on May 01, 1984

Obituary of Edna Lois Lovell-Brower



Marriage Certificate of John Howard Brower and Edna Lois Lovell



Marriage Certificate 59-08553 from Iowa State Department of Health: Full name of Groom: Howard Brower, Place of Residence: Liberty Township, Lucas County, Iowa, Occupation: farmer, age at next birthday is 29, place of birth is Liberty Twp., Lucas County, Iowa. Father: James Brower and mother is Elizabeth Mills, first time for marriage. Bride full name is Edna Lovell, born White Breast Township, Lucas County, Iowa. Age at next birthday is 20, current residence is White Breast, Lucas County, Iowa, mother: Clara Vickroy, father is William Lovell. This is her first marriage. Witnesses to marriage: John H. Smith and Estella R. Marshell. Marrige date: April 22, 1933, Chariton, Iowa.




This is the only picture I have of my grandmother Edna Lois Lovell and grandfather John Howard Brower together.