RONALD AND SUSAN SCHILLING
Ronald Henry Schilling, son of John and Emma Schroeder Schilling, was born
April 26, 1937, at the family home in Aspinwall. He attended the Aspinwall
School, and after graduating from the eighth grade, he began to work for Frank
Ehrichs at the Aspinwall Store. Ron also worked as a farmhand for the Ivan
Genzen and Walt Dammann families, and drove truck for Ed Hinners.
June 12, 1956, Ron enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, and he was discharged April 12, 1958. After his military service, Ron drove truck for Wayne Schroeder and Ramsey Transfer in Manning. He worked at the Modern Gas Company (now Uniongas) in Manning for eight years, the Manning Creamery for two years, Bud Friedman Trucking in Templeton for five years, and has been an employee of the Aspinwall Co-op for the last six years.
April 12, 1964, Ron was united in marriage to Susan Grundmeier, daughter of Marcellus "Sal" and Evelyn Frahm Grundmeier, at the Zion Lutheran Church in Manning. After their marriage, Ron and Susan purchased the former Hugo Kuhl residence in Aspinwall, and still live there today.
Susan Carol Grundmeier was born July 26, 1942, at St. Anthony's Hospital in Carroll. In 1957, the Grundmeier family moved from Manning to Aspinwall, when Sal took over the Ehrich's Garage. Susan attended all 13 years of school at Manning, graduating with the class of 1960. This was the last Aspinwall group to graduate from Manning; the school districts were reorganized, and in 1961, all Aspinwall students began attending the Manilla Community School. In 1958, Susan began working as a Nurse's Aide at the Manning General Hospital. She still maintains that job today, on a part time basis.
Ron and Susan are the parents of three children, David John, born February 4, 1965, Mary Evelyn, born December 30, 1968, and Christian Marcellus, born December 21, 1973. All three children attend the Manilla Community School.
Ron, Susan and family are members of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Manilla. Ron is a Life Member of the V.F.W. Post in Manning and is also a member of the Manning Fire Department. He has served on the Aspinwall town council and on the Board of the Aspinwall Community Club. Ron is also a member of the Aspinwall History Book Committee, and is in charge of Family Histories. Susan is a member of the V.F.W. Auxiliary in Manning where she served three years as president, The Manning Fire Sirens, and is secretary for the Aspinwall Centennial Committee. She is also organizer of the Centennial Band, and is in charge of the General History Section of the Aspinwall History Book.
Ron has lived all his life in Aspinwall, and Susan has lived here for 25 years. Both are very proud to be called citizens of Aspinwall.
ROY SCHILLING
Roy Gene Schilling was born at the family home in Aspinwall October 6, 1933,
the third son of John and Emma (Schroeder) Schilling. He attended the Aspinwall
School and graduated from the eighth grade. He then began working for Frank
Ehrichs at the Aspinwall Store. From the job at the store, he went with his
father to do carpenter work around the area, and later ran a feed grinder for Roy Soll.
In 1954, Roy went to work at the Aspinwall Co-op, a job he held until he was drafted into the Army in 1956. After his military service was completed, he returned to the Co-op. In 1961 he began working for Tommy Wolfe at the Manning Welding shop, and after 4 1/2 years, he opened his own business in the basement of the Sal Grundmeier Garage in Aspinwall. In 1970, he purchased the Sal Grundmeier residence and converted it into his own welding shop. Along with his welding and general blacksmith business, Roy also ran a corn sheller until 1980. He also has a wrecker service.
For many years, Roy has had a band, entertaining a great number of people with his old-time polkas, waltzes and country music, played on his "ever present" accordion. This Centennial year Roy also became a member of the Aspinwall Centennial Band, and his many talents have helped to make it a big success.
ODDS AND ENDS
The first settlement of West Side, which originated in
1869, was distinctively American and was made up quite largely of veterans of
the Civil War. At one time, with not more than 300 population,
West Side had a Grand Army post of 30 members. While the settlement around Vail
was largely by those of Irish descent, West Side became more and more
Germanized, this element gradually becoming ascendant in the community.
History of Crawford County, published in 1911
Page 280
ALFRED SCHROEDER
Alfred Schroeder and Alma Nissen were married May 21, 1913. For many years they
made their home on a farm 1/2 mile north of Aspinwall.
They had four sons: George of Omaha, who passed away in 1968 at the age of 54; Alfred of Aspinwall; Merle, who farms north of Manilla; and Roy, who makes his home at the east wing, Manning Plaza, Manning General Hospital.
They moved to the town of Aspinwall in 1948. Alfred Schroeder Sr. passed away in 1956. Alma now makes her home in the east wing, Manning Plaza, Manning General Hospital.
CHARLES SCHROEDER
Charles Schroeder, son of Henry and Wiebke Schroeder,
was born November 7, 1877 near Manning. He lived in this area all his life. His
father bought a farm in Iowa Township, Crawford County, and when he retired
from farming Charles moved to the farm.
February 22, 1905 Charles married Margaretha Schultz. She was born at Stolp Pomerania, Germany September 22, 1881, to William and Wilhelmina Schultz. She and her mother came to America in 1892, and they first stayed in the home of her mother's uncle near Wall Lake.
After Charles retired in 1919, he, Margaretha and their family moved from the farm to Aspinwall, where they bought an acreage from Chris Hollander on the east end of town. The acreage included three acres of pasture, so Charles bought some cows and the children did the milk chores, selling milk to a number of families in town.
The family included three children, Wilhelmina Amanda (Mrs. Art Fuss), Marceline, Missouri, born December 18, 1905; Henry Wilhelm, Manilla, born May 6, 1909; and Gertrude Viola Mork, Irwin, born June 5, 1912.
Charles lived in Aspinwall until his death in 1959. Margaretha lived there a few more years and, because of failing health, moved to Eventide Nursing Home in Denison, where she passed away in 1970.
ODDS AND ENDS
Aspinwall, located near the center of Iowa Township, was established at the
time of the construction of the Chicago and Milwaukee Railway. For a time it
was quite a flourishing trading point and it still has considerable business as
it is located in a very rich territory. Manning to the east and Manilla to the
west have proven formidable rivals. It contains a post
office, a good general store, blacksmith shop, elevator and creamery. It has
always been noted for its excellent school.
History of Crawford County, published in 1911
Page 281
HAROLD SCHROEDER FAMILY
Harold Schroeder, oldest child of Mr. and Mrs. Hermuth Schroeder, was born near
Aspinwall October 26, 1914. In 1940 he was married to Bernice Karsten of
Manning, daughter of Emil and Caroline Karsten. They farmed near Manning and the Aspinwall area.
They are parents of two sons. Thomas graduated from Iowa State University at Ames, and is now living at Laurel, Maryland, where he is manager of Safeway Dairy Division of Landover, Maryland; he is married to Peggy Lensing of Colorado Springs, Colorado and they are parents of two children, Thomas and Tamara. David is a graduate of Arizona University, Tucson, Arizona; he is now farming the Karsten farm near Manning.
HARRY AND MARIE SCHROEDER
Harry Schroeder, son of Louis and Mary (Lemster) Schroeder, was born in Iowa
Township January 3, 1903. Harry and his three sisters live in Aspinwall; a
sister Margareta and a brother William are deceased.
Marie Schwiesow, daughter of John and Bertha Schwiesow, was born August 6,
1906. She is the only survivor of the Schwiesow family.
The Schroeder family moved to Aspinwall in 1908 and the Schwiesow family moved to Aspinwall in 1913.
Harry and Marie were married March 22, 1928, and they celebrated their Golden Wedding in 1978.
Harry was an employee of the Milwaukee Railroad for 39 years; he retired in 1958. He has seen many changes through the years and the one that was least expected was that the last train service through Aspinwall was in March, 1980.
Marie is the clerk in charge of the local post-office as well as sales clerk at the Schroeder Grocery.
They have two children. Wallace taught school in Missouri and Iowa for 11 years, and since 1965, he has operated the Schroeder's Grocery in Aspinwall. Carol Ann, who makes her home with her parents, attended the Iowa School for the Deaf at Council Bluffs for 13 years.
The Schroeder family are members of the Zion Lutheran Church. Carol Ann is a member of Calvary Lutheran Church for the Deaf, Des Moines.
HENRY SCHROEDER
Henry Schroeder, son of Charles and Margaretha (Schultz) Schroeder, was born May 6, 1909 northwest of Aspinwall. In 1919 his
parents moved to Aspinwall and Henry graduated from the Aspinwall School in 1924.
In 1936 he was married to Hertha Petersen of Denison. They made their home northwest of Aspinwall for nine years. In 1945 they moved to a farm one mile north of Aspinwall and lived there for 26 years. In 1972 Henry sold the farm and moved to Manilla, and for nine years worked for Boyd Merrick.
They have three children, Margaret, Deloris and Roger.
Margaret graduated from the Aspinwall School in 1951 and from Manning High School in 1955. She was married to Howard Kuchel, and they had three sons, David, Don and Mike. Howard and son Don are deceased. Margaret works at L.R. Nelson in Manning.
Deloris graduated from the Aspinwall School in 1953 and from Manning High School in 1957. She is married to James Neuland and they have one daughter, Susan Marie. Jim is a truck driver. Deloris and her husband live in Woodbine.
Roger graduated from the Manilla School. He is married to Ellen Thraen, of Harlan, and they have two children, Jerry and Gail. Roger lives in Clear Lake and works for the Leigh Cement Company of Mason City.
Page 282
JURGEN SCHROEDER FAMILY
Mr. and Mrs. Jurgen Schroeder were born in Germany,
migrated to the United States, and settled in the Aspinwall area. They farmed
north of Aspinwall until retiring, when they moved to Manning and later to the
Long Beach area in California. They had five children, Hermuth and Alfred of
Aspinwall, Elmer of New Jersey, Lillie and Ella of California.
Hermuth married Hilda Sievertsen and they had three children. Alfred married Alma Nissen and they had four children. Lillie married Merle Ball. Ella married Robert Boettger and they had three children.
LaVERNE W. SCHROEDER FAMILY
LaVerne was born in Aspinwall April 29, 1922, the
eldest of three children born to William J. and Rosie Schroeder. LaVerne grew up in Aspinwall and attended the
Aspinwall School, graduating in 1936. He had the distinction of being one of six boys,
who for the only time in Aspinwall School history, attended their freshman year of high school in Aspinwall.
He completed his high school education at Manning in 1940.
LaVerne began his career with the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad in May, 1940, as a section laborer. During this time he played baseball with the Manning semipro town team. In October, 1942, he enlisted in the United States Navy; after his discharge in 1946, he returned to Aspinwall where he resumed his career with the Milwaukee Railroad as a section laborer. In 1947 he enrolled in Boyles College School of Railroad Telegraphy and Accouring in Omaha, Nebraska, and he returned to the railroad in 1948 as an agent and operator.
July 11, 1948, LaVerne was married to Rozora Kuhn, who was born December 4, 1922, in Carroll County west of Manning. She is the daughter of Emil and Margaret Kuhn of Manning. LaVerne and Rozora have two sons. Kyle, now 26, graduated from Mankato State University in 1977 with a degree in computer science and is currently employed by Control Data Corporation in Bloomington, Minnesota; he is married to the former Barbara Roehl of Bloomington, Minnesota. Kurt, now 23, is a 1981 graduate of Concordia Teachers College in River Forest, Illinois, also with a degree in computer science, and he is presently employed with the Audio Development Company of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Kurt was married in July to Laurie Harms of Washington, Michigan.
After LaVerne and Rozora's marriage, they lived for 14 years in Council Bluffs where he held various positions with the Milwaukee Railroad. LaVerne continued his railroad education while living in this area by attending night adult education classes.
In 1963 the Milwaukee Road transferred LaVerne to Seattle, Washington as District Representative-rail-highway sales. In this position he was responsible for "piggy-back" sales for the railroad in the Pacific Northwest.
They were transferred from Seattle to Des Moines in 1966, where LaVerne was regional manager-sales for the Milwaukee Road. In 1972 he was transferred to Minneapolis, Minnesota where he was also regional manager-sales with jurisdiction over sales for five states and two provinces in Canada. In 1975, the last move occurred when he was transferred to the corporate headquarters of the Milwaukee Road in Chicago, Illinois as assistant to the vice-president sales-special projects. His primary duties are the analysis of various railroad mergers and making recommendations for a course of action.
LaVerne and Rozora currently reside at 704 Ford Court, Elgin, Illinois 60120, where they are active in church functions. LaVerne is also an active member of the American Legion.
ODDS AND ENDS
My sister Shirley and I often talk about the jail and how we would run very,
very fast past it, especially after dark.
Dorothy (Ehrichs) Kusel
Page 283
LEWIS SCHROEDER FAMILY
Lewis, son of Herman and Amelia Rowedder Schroeder, was born April 9, 1914, on
a farm five miles north of Manning.
Alma, daughter of Charlie and Emma (Grau) Pfoltner, was born June 6, 1919, on the farm place 1/4 mile north of Aspinwall. Alma attended school in Aspinwall up to the eighth grade, and then went through ninth grade in Manning.
Lewis and Alma were married November 22, 1939. After their marriage, they lived on various farms around Manning, and then in 1949, they purchased the farm of Frauke Pfoltner, Alma's grandmother, and they moved there in 1950. They resided on this farm until 1975, when their son Lowell took over the operation of the farm, and Lewis and Alma retired to Manning. The farm place is located 1 1/2 miles west of Aspinwall.
Lewis and Alma are the parents of two children. Lowell and his wife, the former Betty Davis, live on the home place with their three daughters, Julie, Janet and Jennifer. Judy married James Boysen and they have three children, Debra, Linette and Ted; Judy and Jim operate their own business in Holstein.
The family are members of Zion Lutheran Church in Manning.
ODDS AND ENDS
We raised pet rabbits and whenever a casualty arose we
made sure there was a funeral. Burial would be under one of the many evergreen
trees surrounding our house, and the closest rock we'd find would serve as a
tombstone.
Lucille (Lamp) Boell
LOUIS SCHROEDER FAMILY
Louis Jochim Schroeder, son of Jochim and Christine (Hansen) Schroeder, was born July 31, 1871 at Center
Township, Clinton County, Iowa. He came with his parents to Crawford County, northwest of
Aspinwall, and stayed continuously around Aspinwall to farm.
He married Mary Lemster, daughter of Johann and Catherine Lemster, February 24, 1893. She was born March 6, 1873 in Remmels, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, and came to this country with her parents at the age of two years.
Louis and Mary were the parents of six children: Margareta (deceased); William J. (deceased); Harry L. Schroeder, Amanda M. Clausen, Emma C. Schilling, and Florence M. Thomssen, all of Aspinwall.
They farmed the first years of married life. In 1906 he bought the combined Aspinwall Opera House and Tavern, and after 12 years, he sold that and they moved into another home two houses to the south. Later he fixed one room into a hardware store and managed that for a while. He also bought and tested cream, which was sold and shipped to the Manning Creamery by train.
In 1910 he was appointed secretary of the Aspinwall Independent School, an office he held for 35 years. In 1914 the town of Aspinwall was incorporated; he was appointed the first mayor, and he held that office for five years.
Louis also did carpenter work with the Carl Otto crew for a number of years. In 1939 he became manager of the Aspinwall Lumber Yard, held that job for nine years, and then retired.
Louis and Mary were married 57 years. Mary passed away August 17, 1950, and Louis passed away August 21, 1963.
Page 284
LOWELL SCHROEDER FAMILY
Lowell Schroeder was born January 28, 1944, to Lewis and Alma Pfoltner
Schroeder near Westside. The family moved south of Manning and lived there
until 1950, when they moved to a farm 1 1/2 miles west of Aspinwall. Lowell
attended rural schools until the eighth grade and then the Manilla Community
School. In his sophomore year he was transferred to Manning and graduated in
1962. After graduation he worked at various jobs in Exira and Atlantic.
Lowell was married to Betty Davis, daughter of Dallas and Marie Blue Davis, February 9, 1964 in Anita. Lowell worked at the pork plant in Harlan for 13 years and the family lived there for two years. In 1966, they started farming with his father, and moved to an 80 acre farm two miles west and 1/4 mile south of Aspinwall. In 1975, when his parents retired to Manning, Lowell and his family moved to the home place where they live today.
Lowell and Betty are the parents of three daughters, Julie Lynette, 15, a sophomore; Janet Leigh, 14, a freshman, both attending the Manning Community School, and Jennifer Laine, two, at home.
Lowell has been a director of the Aspinwall Co-op for the past six years, and was on the board of the Aspinwall Community Club for three years.
The family are members of the Zion Lutheran Church in Manning.
ODDS AND ENDS
When I was a young girl, from about 1908 until 1912, I would ride to Aspinwall
to take piano lessons. The lessons were given by a Mrs. Charles A. Best from
the Manilla community. She held lessons in the homes of John Ehrichs, Bertha
(Schroeder) Ehrichs, and Peter Roggendorf.
When I was finished with the lessons, I would have dinner with my grandparents,
the John Lempsters of Aspinwall. I remember well their elderberry soup and fried chicken.
Adele (Jahn) Mordhorst, Cheyenne, Wyoming
ORREN AND GERALDINE SCHROEDER
Orren Schroeder was born January 5, 1917, at the farm
adjacent to Aspinwall at the north. His parents, Hermuth and Hilda Sievertsen
Schroeder, were also both born in Iowa Township of Crawford County. Orren, his brother and his sister attended
the Aspinwall School, and Orren graduated from Manning High School in 1935.
Geraldine Lamaack, daughter of Hans and Lizzie Kai Lamaack, was born April 2, 1922, in Iowa Township. She, her two brothers and two sisters received their education at the country schools, and Geraldine was then graduated from Manilla High School in 1939. She took the Normal Training course at Storm Lake and taught school until her marriage.
Orren and Geraldine had one daughter, Karen, who died in 1950 at the age of seven. Geraldine died suddenly August 13, 1979, and Orren retired but continued living on the farm until his death September 17, 1981.
Orren and Geraldine were both baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran religion. They were active in community affairs, and enjoyed fishing and traveling. They helped support the Aspinwall Community Club, and Orren served on the school board of the Aspinwall School.
ODDS AND ENDS
I remember walking the train tracks, swinging in the depot, helping to push the
mail carts, waving at the train crews (often the engineer would greet us with a
"short" whistle).
Dorothy Kusel