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One Hundred Years Ago
(From the Mount Ayr Record-News,Thursday, July 30, 1924.)
Reminiscences of Pioneer Days in Ringgold County by F.W. Johnson~
During the saloon days in Mount Ayr in the 70’s we had a regular wild west town.
During one 4th of July when Mount Ayr was infested with saloons, we had so many fights that when the police arrested all of the combatants it filled the jail full.
It was the first jail Mount Ayr had and it stood on the same ground as the present brick jail. That night they all broke jail and skipped and a few of them were never seen in town again.
Early in spring of 1872 there was a man died in Mount Ayr by the name of Tommy Ross and he ran a harness shop near where the Snow White Bakery is now located. The Odd Fellows hired me to go up to what is known as the Davis ranch located close to Ellston or Wirt as it was then called, to tell another Odd Fellow when the funeral was going to be held.
I started one morning on a pony but got off trail a number of times. I did not get there until a short time after noon. I was very hungry as I always was in those days.
The gentleman asked me if I would not stop and have some dinner, but I told him I was not caring very much for any dinner. I supposed he would ask me again, but he did not do so, and I rode back to Mount Ayr without a bite to eat and almost starved to death.
That trip taught me one good lesson that I have never forgotten. Ever since then when I have been asked to partake of a good meal, I have never waited for a second invitation.
The Odd Fellows gave me a dollar for making the trip.
Marriage: July 21, Margaret Barnes and Francis Flynn; July 23, Ezra Groves and Ava Wallace.
Births: July 21, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Elgie Drake…July 24 a son, Walter, to Mr. and Mrs. Roy Brownlee.
Obituaries in this edition were: Andrew Jackson Moulton, Martha Shill Teale and Arthur Arlo Mason.
Seventy-Five Years Ago
(From the Mount Ayr Record-News,Thursday, July 28, 1949).
A total of $11,475 in cash has been turned in, an additional amount of $4,000 has been pledged and is immediately available, leaving a balance of $5,525 to be subscribed if the goal of $21, 000 for the Ringgold Co. hospital fund is to be reached.
A Boy Scout camp has been in progress at Griswold for the past six weeks and four local boys participated in the camping activities last week. They were Richard Tyson, Joe Cunning, Bob Clarke and Frankie Clemons.
Marriage: July 18 Georgia Livesay and Eardley Scaden Jr.
Births: July 20 a son to Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Carr…July 25 a daughter, Linda, to Mr. and Mrs. Laverne Worthington…July 25 a daughter, Janis, to Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Parker…July 14 a daughter, Sharon, to Mr. and Mrs. Marvis Wilson…July 18 a daughter, Carole, to Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Jones.
Obituaries in this edition were: Clarissa Lucille Billett Vanderflught, Ray David Nickle, Pfc. William Raymond Cox and Ida May Chasey Tapscott.
Fifty Years Ago
(From the Mount Ayr Record-News,Thursday, August 1, 1974.)
A Tingley woman has been choosen as the outstanding senior citizen in Area 14, which includes seven counties.
She is Mrs. Delta Nichols, who was selected by a special committee who screened all nominees of local areas. Mrs. Nichols will be a special guest at the Iowa State Fair on August 21 when she will be given recognition from Gov. Robert Ray.
Happy winners of the jackpot bingo game Saturday night were Gladys Louden and Mrs. Lyle Swank. The two women split the $5 prize and also shared the $100 jackpot, when they bingoed at the same time.
Marriage: June 1, Annie Taylor and Clark Jensen.
Births: July 26, a son to Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Marshall…July 26, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Mark Hudson…July 27, a son to Mr. and Mrs. Bill Porter…July 28, a daughter, Angela, to Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Wimer…July 29, a daughter, Carrie, to Mr. and Mrs. Paul Kendle.
Obituaries in this edition were: Richard L. Holland, Rowe Thomas Denney, John William Main, Paris William Graves, Walter Alexander McKinstry, Kenneth Claude Hagans, Charles Robert Grose, Pearl Wurster Haley, Fred E. Shields, Gloria Vivian Preston.
Twenty-Five Years Ago
(From the Mount Ayr Record-News,Thursday, July 22, 1999.)
Police Chief Todd Jackson resigned his position to take a position with the Creston fire department.
Six new stained glass windows have been installed at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Mount Ayr this week by Chris Dieter from Bovard Studio Inc. of Fairfield, IA.
The grandson of Mount Ayr resident has graduated from the University of Iowa College of Medicine recently. Dr. Jeremy Irving received his MD degree at graduation ceremonies in Iowa City in May. Dr. Irving is the son of Dr. and Mrs. Patrick Irving of Davenport and the grandson of David and Darlene Irving.
Top commercial heifers at the Ringgold County Fair have been named, champion shown by Landon Jobe and reserve champion shown by Chelsea Campbell.
Births: July 13, a son, Travis, to Shawn and Sondra (Shields) Shannon…June 5, a daughter, Grace, to William and Hope Hall.
Obituaries in this editioin were: Helen Gertrude Martin Kaestner, Alice Mae Shelden Defenbaugh Keplinger, Myrna Mae Driskill Kettle, Burnell Oliver South and Cleo Sweeney.
Ten Years Ago
(From the Mount Ayr Record-News,Thursday, July 24, 2014.)
Brad Elliott to receive NWMSU award. Brad Elliott, a member of the Mount Ayr class of 2000 and 2004 graduate of NWMS, will receive the university’s Young Alumni Award during ceremonies to be held September 19.
The Iowa Sec. of State’s office provided county auditors information from the Social Security Death Index regarding possible deceased voters. Ringgold County was notified of possibly eight deceased people registered to vote.
Five exhibitors were named outstanding juniors at the Ringgold County Fair. They are as follows: Emmalee Schafer, Chloe Saville, Brady Bickel, Adalyn Reynolds and Kerrigan Mobley.
Birth: July 5 a daughter, Peyton, to Joe and Rachael Rumple.
Obituaries in this edition were: Anita Joyce Hayworth, and Dorothy I. Holmes McDowell.