(Members of BVGS are happy to work on queries that involve information from the Pottawattamie County Iowa area particularly around the town of Oakland.  A donation of $10 per hour is asked plus cost of copies made and postage to mail.  If driving is necessary, a donation of 50¢ per mile is requested.  Donation must be received before materials will be sent.)

< < < SOME QUERIES > > >

Phyllis Fleming was looking for obituaries in our area for her Harvey and Dau relatives.  We were able to find and email her seven requested obits from "The Oakland Acorn" and "The Carson Critic."  The obits included Mrs. B. Ed. Harvey, Elizabeth Harvey, Rolla G. Harvey, Charles A. Harvey, Ellen Harvey, Mildred Dau, and Dennis H. Dau.

We recently found some Leopold obituaries for Karen Hansen's family research.  

Frank Potter, (nickname at the time “Pepper”) is seeking information about members, friends, and events of the First Congregational Church UUC of Oakland, Iowa. The church existed from 1881 through 1999.  Frank was a member in the 1950s and early 60s. He has copies of four-anniversary documents through 2006 but nothing after that. Frank has a tentative goal of turning over his gathered document to the Nisha Heritage Museum in Oakland by the end of February 2022. His email is bewhouchoose@gmail.com

Karen Palmer stopped at the Avoca Cemetery looking for the graves of Robert & Mary Kearney who died in 1898.  She had an old letter written by a Robert Kearney to his mother Mary Kearney which talked about land the family owned among other things.  Karen is in hopes of finding descendants to give this letter to.  In further research, this land was near Oakland, Iowa.

David White was interested in the section of land and its owner in Valley Township where Levi Rucker rented/lived around 1920.  He was also wanting Rucker's obituary.  We were able to supply all the information he wanted.

Tom Hotchkiss was looking for an obituary for Grace D. (McCall) Everett who was born in Laclede County, MO on October 6, 1913 and died January 7, 2004.  Her parents were W. S. and Ella (Coffman) McCall, and she was married to Charles L. Everett.  We were able to locate the desired obituary.  Grace was buried at Carson, IA.

Kaye was trying to locate where Giles & Ann Guessford Springer were buried.  We found death notices that showed both services were held in Oakland, IA.  We also located Ann's death certificate where the burial information said Oakland, IA.  We found no listings in the Oakland Cemetery Index book for either Springer, so we are assuming that IF they were buried at the Oakland Cemetery then perhaps they have no stone.  Can any of our readers help with this query?

James Redman is trying to determine with proof if Claus Petersen whose executrix (Anna Hipsher) was appointed in May 1931 is his ancestor.  We were able to send him the will and probate records from the courthouse records for this case, but do not know if this Claus is a match yet.  So many Claus and Peter Petersen's in the area.  A real challenge!

Kathy Griffis-Bailey is interested in finding newspaper mentions for her ancestors during the 1918 Spanish Flu epidemic.  They include Frank G. & Nellie Scofield, Charles W. Parks, Vera Scofield Parks, and Mary Louise Parks.  We have sent her some special news clippings!

Karen Hansen is looking for obits for Williemae Whitsitt who died in 2000 and Floyd E. Whitsitt who died May 7, 1992.  We have sent her Floyd's obit and notes from Williemae's obit.  Does anyone have the 2000 obit for Karen?

Don Evelan is planning a trip to our Genie Room to do some research on his Eckels family.  His great grandmother was Lily Eckels who lived from 1875 to 1971.

A recent call from Geoffry Bishop showed that he is interested to find out if there was an article in the Oakland newspaper in March of 1986 about a group coming through Oakland with the "Great Peace March for Global Nuclear Disarmament."

Jim Phillips is working on his wife's line trying to find for sure where Samuel J. Brown and Samuel's parents Moses & Hannah Brown are buried.  I believe Hannah's maiden name to be Luff.  From information we have found, we believe they are in the Avoca Cemetery but do not have a gravestone.  The surname Pierce (married sister to Samuel) is also connected with this query.

Scott Lindwall is working on a genealogy project trying to find some information on Charles H. and Mary A. Harlow Wright who at one time resided in the Avoca area.  Their family included Ida, Annie, Lenora, Charles L., Havilla, Hack, Henry, David and Alice.  They are listed in the 1885 Iowa census.  By the 1895 Iowa census all the kids had their own households and Charles and Mary had disappeared.  Can anyone help with their whereabouts, etc.?

Bruce/Joanne Arentson would like to find out the names of the parents of Bertha Jane Chapman.  Bertha was born in 1853 and died in 1888.  She is buried in the Belknap Cemetery in Pottawattamie County Iowa.  She was married to Henry J. Leader.  The researchers have numerous records from their searching, but they have found nothing with Bertha's parents' names on it.

Bob Jackson wants to find out what happened to Mary Jane Rust Jackson.  Mary Jane was married to George Jackson in 1866 in Illinois.  In 1867, George married Mary Jane's sister Phebe Rust.  Can anyone help us with this mystery?  We did find a really nice obituary for Phebe Rust Jackson.

Aileen Brown is trying to find out if Elmer & Nola Clark had twins boys born August 24, 1916 in Oakland.  We did not find the answer to that question, but we did supply her with copies of obits for William H. Clark, Lilly Tallon Clark, and Elmer Clark.

Susan Frazier would very much like to have an obituary for Joseph C. Losh formerly of Carson, Iowa.  He was instrumental in the Losh Mill located there.  Joseph died March 11, 1896.  We were unable to locate an obit for her since we do not have any Carson newspapers between 1891 and 1910.  Can anyone help us out with an obit?

Betty Walters is looking for obituaries for Charles and Eliza Casson who lived in the Macadonia, Iowa area.  We were able to find the obituary for Eliza in 1909.  However, we did not have any Macadonia newspapers for the year 1906 except one issue in June.  Charles died February 27, 1906.  We did find information for Betty about a couple of Charles's daughters contesting his will.  If anyone has an obituary for Charles Casson from 1906, please let us know.

Chuck Rhodes is looking for obituaries for the following:  Olathe Sebring Archer, 1996; Bonnie I. Roberts Archer, 1988; Leslie Carl Archer, 1997; and Hattie Adella Woodruff Archer, 1965.

Linda Linn was hoping we could find an obituary for Civil War Veteran Bowen Brewster Harkness who is buried in the GAR section of the Carson Cemetery.  No obituary was found, but we were able to supply her with a short news clipping stating he was quite ill and a clipping when he died the following week. 1889.

Shirley Shanno would like to figure out who the parents of Sidney Shanno are.  Sidney was born about 1862 and died 23 May 1895 in New York City.  He was married to Jennie Gardner who was born about 1865 and died 27 November 1893.  Their two children William & Lawrence Shanno came to Oakland, Iowa on the Orphan Train in the early 1900s (probably 1904).  After much research, we have a possible set of parents in Anthony and Caroline Shanno.  If you connect to this family, we would love to hear from you.

Jeremiah Duersch is trying to locate where Mary Crookston (born Young, 1782-1851) is buried.  From the autobiography from her son Robert Crookston Sr. (1821-1916) it reads:  "We arrived safely at Keg Creek where there was a branch of the Church (Mormon church) presided over by Lilis T. Coons at a place called Glenwood.  Here we were counseled to remain until spring as it was too late in the season to cross the plains.  Here I built a good log cabin and corral, thinking that I would be able to sell it for what it cost me as the place was expected to become the county seat, but I was disappointed and only got twenty dollars for the house, lot and corral.  Here my mother (Mary Crookston born Young) was very ill and died."  Any help would be appreciated.

Dakota Winters has been doing some research on his ancestors in our Genie Room with assistance from Member Mary.

Lawrence Thompson was trying to find a house address in Council Bluffs for Ella Nanette Smith and R. Wulfert during 1876-1880.  We referred him to the Pottawattamie County Genealogy Society at Council Bluffs.

It is truly amazing what tidbits of information can be found in the old newspaper microfilm rolls we have available in our Genie Room.  While looking for information to use to help get a military gravestone for Civil War Veteran Joseph Porter buried in the Avoca Cemetery, I found an article where the Porter home was destroyed by fire and a grandson lost his life in the fire.  John Beatie was buried near his deceased grandmother, Ellen Porter.

Jim and Karen Hansen stopped in the Genie Room searching for information on Samuel Welty, a Civil War Veteran buried in the Walnut, Iowa Cemetery.  They are trying to get a military gravestone for him.  We found some information on his family.  (Added Note:  They were able to get the military stone!!)

We were able to find an obituary of Louanza Brown requested by Diane Moore.  We have in our collection only one roll of microfilm from "The Botna Valley News" from Macedonia, Iowa; and it just happened to have the issue in 1914 that Diane needed.

Member Reid Cooper wanted obituaries hopefully with cause of death given for Clara Alice Palmer Moore and Alma Kathryn Piles.  We found obits for him but no details on cause of death.  Any help would be appreciated.

Member Barbara Butcher was interested in finding an obit for Fritz A. Huskamp who died in 1924 in Avoca.  This was in connection with a court document found at the Sweet Vale of Avoca Museum.  Obit located.

David White's were back in the area and were again researching their White and Clark families among others. 

We had a follow-up email from "Karen" who was interested in newspaper obits for David Venton Booton, Ella (Ryan) Booton, Flora Belle Booton, James A. Booton, and William Earl Booton.  These obits from 1928, 1924, 1967, 1936, and 1927 were all located for her.

Member Gary Keast was interested in a newspaper obituary for Helen L. Forristall who died in 1969.  We were able to locate this for him.

Jack Armstrong would like someone to try and find a newspaper article about his Armstrong ancestors attending the World's Fair in the summer of 1893. 

Diane Heesch Fell would like to know where her great grandmother Mariane Pedersen Jensen was buried.  Her info shows she died January 6, 1912 around Avoca, Iowa but she can't find a burial place.  Hopefully someone out there knows where her final resting place is and will tell us.

Eleanor Thies Vandeventer is interested in finding out any information about Peter Ruckle who lived in Avoca and died Jan. 9, 1901.  We have located death announcement and obituary for him plus some other family information.  If you have info to share, please let us know.

Linda Townsend from Texas stopped in at the Avoca Library looking for information on her Denton and Lemmon family connections.  These names were also from the Oakland area, so we tried to help her with info from our resources.  If anyone has information on Samuel & Mary Lemmon Denton, please let us know.

David White's were back in the area from Texas and were once again researching their White and Clark families among others.  Always good to have them stop back in to see us!

John & Deann Clark would like to find information on Dines Petersen and Albert Petersen.  We found them some death records for Christian, Christina, Christians, and Thomas Petersen in the early 1900's.

Joann Hattig is looking for information on John Hattig who lived in the Avoca/Shelby, Iowa area around 1893 before moving to Nebraska before 1900.

Virginia Copenhaver Way is interested in locating a resource compiled by Roma Smith on the Copenhaver genealogy.  If anyone knows of this resource, please let us know as we did not locate it in the Genie Room.  We have five binders of research by Roma with surnames including Brown, Purcell, Lawrence, Barker, Russell, Annable, Fowler, Ford, Hatch, Humbert, Reynolds, McReynolds, Kinzer, Huffman, Gillespy, Caplinger, Smith, Honeker, Bosshart, Wilson, Sall, Bartram, Lambert, Brashears, and Goff.  (Local Copenhaver's include Carlin & Diane in Treynor and John in Oakland.)

Chuck Rhodes is interested in locating an obit for Daniel Warner Hayes who is buried in the Belknap Cemetery in Pottawattamie County.  He lived from January 18, 1819 to September 10, 1906.  We did NOT have newspapers available on microfilm for the early 1900's period so were unable to help him.  We were able to supply him with obits for William Lewis Hayes and his wife Barbara.  We have also sent Chuck obits for Louisa Hayes (1911), Grover Hays (1977), and Minnie Hays (1978).

We have successfully helped Sandra Mullens of Florida reconnect with a classmate who were juniors together in high school in 1961.  The Foster family had lived in the Oakland area, and we were able to get in touch with a brother to the searched-for individual.

Sandy Olofson of Minden, Iowa is doing some Civil War Veterans cemetery work.  She is trying to determine if Alexander M. Tague who died in 1868 served in the Civil War.  I found a member-submitted family tree on www.ancestry.com with a link to a Civil War Draft Registration for him in Shelby County, Iowa.  Does anyone know if he actually served in Civil War??

Norma Sikes of Odessa, TX called for some obits from our area.  We were able to send her obits for James and Texie Peck, James and Mary Jane Killion, and Nellie (Mrs. Ed) Henderson.  We were not able to locate an obit for Ed Henderson, but think he died Sept. 19, 1936 and is buried in the Rose Hill Cemetery in Missouri Valley.  Can anyone help us locate an obit for Ed?  These ladies are all daughters of Benjamine Gard who is buried in Oakland, IA.

Gary Keast of Des Moines, IA is interested in information about his ancestors with the surnames Keast and Summers from the Macedonia, IA area and Forristall, Durham and Steele from the Carson, IA area.  We were able to supply him with some obits, family history writeups, marriage and burial year from his recent visit to our Genie Room.  We welcome Gary as a new member to the Botna Valley Genealogical Society!  We have since supplied him with some wills and probate records from Pottawattamie County!!

Connecticut and California visitors Rich Rapp, Ann Rapp, and Stuart Rapp are researching the Rapp family in our area.

John Graham would like to find obits and burial records for Christopher C. Graham and Elizabeth Thomas Graham.  We have located an obit for Elizabeth but did not have the newspaper that Christopher's would have been in.

Dan Harlow of Indiana is interested in information about his grandfather Daniel E. Whitehead.  His father was George Leo Whitehead who married Elizabeth Freeman.  We are waiting on a reply back from him.

John Landers of Illinois has requested information on his great grand uncle Charles B. Landers' wife and who she married after his early death.  I believe we answered that question with a marriage record showing Mrs. Mary Landers married Nolan Swafford on August 1, 1917.

Doug Boleyn of Oregon is interested in any information concerning his ancestor Oliver H.P. Shoemaker who was a doctor with a practice in Avoca between 1869 and 1878.

Kristin Way of Virginia stopped in looking for info on family members Thomas B. Way, William Jefferson Way, George Putnam, and Carl Head. 

Marilyn Rehling is looking for information (obits) on members of the Mullen, Fitzpatrick, and Dermody families.

Lynn Watson is looking for information (obit) on his grandfather Abraham Watson.  We have sent him some probate information concerning who was named in Abraham's will.

We have mailed obits for Robert/Catharine Harrison to Julie Christensen.

We have been able to help member Darlene Ross locate obits and burial place for William Whitsett and wife!

Frank Health of Grinnell, IA was interested in a photograph of an Oakland Town Band.  We found him one taken in 1910 with identifications of the members.  He is interested in any other Town Band photos.

We have located obits for Kenneth Riley of Robert Graham and his wife and daughter. 

Dee Boldra of Wisconsin is interested in finding info on G. Ferd. Dethlef and his bowling alley in Oakland possibly in the 1930's.  We sent her an obit and a newspaper advertisement for "Oakland Recreation Center" started in 1936.

Rachel Rising of Oakland is researching Perdue and Harris.

Marvin/Kay Scott of Ames are researching A. Lincoln Clark, Bertha Perkins Clark, and Serilda Perkins.

Carl Deal is researching the Colwell and McSweeney surnames.

John Dumonceaux of Minnesota stopped in our Genie Room looking for information on the Carse name. 

Doug Beezley from western Nebraska stopped at the Genie Room June 25th for information on his Beezley family.  We found numerous obits for him plus other information on his Beezley family.

Recent research done by Loree Hamilton has been with the DeVOLD surname.  Barb Butcher has located a probate record for the HOTZE surname.

Gary Lane was interested in an obit for Samuel M & Julia HILDEBRAND who died in 1913 and 1927.  We found good articles and obits on both of them.  We also found two lengthy articles on the 3rd great grandfather of Samuel plus three photographs which Gary was happy to receive.

We have located quite a bit of information for Carrie Sauter on Anthony & Mary Jane (B/Lake) Orr who are buried in the Belknap Cemetery.  We were unable to locate an obit for Anthony Orr who died March 16, 1898 because we do not have copies of The Oakland Acorn for that time period.  If anyone reading this can help us, we would be most appreciative.

Susan Vance has spent a couple Thursdays recently researching in our room and has found a number of CARSE family items among other things.

Belma Dorsheimer is researching Mary Jane LaFOLLETTE who married Rev. Abraham STANLEY.  Any information on these people would be greatly appreciated. 

Tommy Biehn stopped by our genie room looking for some REYNOLD and WILSON obits and is interested in Wheeler Grove. 

Sheryl Fritz continues to work on her HUNDT/ECKERT families.  We are trying to find an obit or newspaper item for little William Frederick Hundt who died in February 1909.  We are also trying to place his parents Ernest & Christina Fritz Hundt in the early 1900's.

Member Jeff in Hayward, CA is researching the ATKINSON line in Iowa and would love to exchange information with you.  Please email Jeff at jeffreyvaillant@hotmail.com .

Rita Lafferty is looking for the German town of birth for Henrietta KIRCHOFF and Herman W. FROMMACK who lived in Lewis, Iowa and died there.

Email query from Richard KINKEAD.  He is looking for information on the family of William Davis KINKEAD specifically his grandson William Judson KINKEAD who lived from 1882-1948.  He is also interested in information on Chester Merrill CLARK.  He plans to visit us during Memorial Week.

Letter query from Mili GERKEN.  She is interested in the BIRD and ETCHISON (ATCHISON) families who lived around Oakland.  Her great grandmother was Mary Emaline (Etchison) Bird.  We have sent her some information, but also know we have members who are connected to the BIRD/ETCHISON lines. 

Letter query from Allen OHRT.  He is interested in finding information on Georgiana MARQUARD who married Frank C. RINEHARDT. 

If any of you have connections to any of these people being searched, please check the letters in our Query File for specifics.  If you do not have access to our Library, please send us an email or regular mail.  We would love to help these people in their research!

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