From the Journal of an Early Settler

It was so long ago and they are not here to correct us or explain what was happening in their life at the time these notes were written, but the following are excerpts from Miss Phoebe Mumm's journal entries and from notes that Ella O'Conner kept. These notes were written in the margins of the pages of an old history book. So by including these notes maybe some names they mention will be of a time, a place, or a name of someone that you remember. [The spelling is as it was printed in the book]. Thank you to Bernard and Jo Auten for sharing these wonderful old pictures and these journal entries with our homepage of Coalville, Iowa. .

"Today is 25 July 1919, Papa is down to Gypsum with me and Anna helping Ida with Thrashers today. All is well."…. "On November 11 was the day the Armistice terms was sent in to Fort Dodge, we all went to town and the old town was winded, Fort Dodge streets never had such a noise before, had box firs in the main streets. And being it was 2:30 in the morning no stores was opened up on Monday and there was hardly any thing to eat. The restaurants and Hotels had to do with what they had on Sunday. Morre was just coming home from a show and he never went home till noon. Lawrence surely had a good time Medie Rob and Robbie, Jim Lawrence and myself (Phoebe) went to town in a auto. And stayed till dark. We don't want any of the bacon , we don't want any of the bacon, we just want a piece of the Rhine."

Nov. 22 1918 "Will as war is truly over. Lawrence Francis Cotter is well and helthy and fat. And at this moment is cracking hickernuts. For his Uncle Charley's Christmas box which will have to go to Finance. He just said I believe I'm eating more than I am saving. His papa has made him a fine big, cross gun he can hardly get through the door with it. Rob and him have a great time hunting Rabbits, today is our first snow storm this year."

Here it is, July 22, 1919 and Robbie and Lawrence are jolly well and are marching in the street of Gypsum making aful noise. Mark Munn has just came home. Mr. and Mrs. Cotter and Lawrence gave New Year dinner at Coalville, Iowa on January 1, 1921. For: Mr. Tom Scott, Mr. James Munn, Mr. Moffet Nelson, Mr. Francis Scott, Miss Anna Munn, Miss Edna Scott, Mrs. Grace Munn, Mrs. Ida Nelson, Mary Nelson, Clide Nelson, Mark Nelson, Mrs. Phoebe Cotter, Mr. James Cotter, Lawrence Cotter, Collers, Jordison, Lena Barnett, Blanch Loyad, Alfred Peart, Pattie Lunn, Fr. John McEwen, Fred Crouse, Jennie Sharp, Annie Sharp, (Left Vergel home with Gramma she wound let her boy go)

Settled at holiday creek. Iowa Webster County, pleasant valley. Grandpa and Grandma Phoebe Kilem Mericle was the first white settlers in Webster County, while the indians was so thick, they had to hide all food. And had to go to Coon forks, or Kuakut, belowe Des Moines for things to eat. The way was long and he used an oxen team which made thing slow. The indians was a fraid of a culbert or large role of galvinized pipe which they thought was a large gun, in this way was the way he got home with food for the family. And while the savage would watch, but never came nere, Grandfather has told lots of tails to us kids when we was small.

Went to frens ways for a ice cream and cake [15th] July 23, 1919. 17 of us went in a lumber wagon. Lots of otaus, (?oats?) but what did we care. We all had a good time. Mrs. Philip, Mr. Philep and children, Rex, James and Rose. Mr and Mrs Jim Wilson and children and Arthur and James ana LoVone, Mrs. James Cotter, and Lawrence and Susie Perchie, Miss Nora Miller, Con Glopie and Mrs. Con Glopie.

(If you will notice: go back to the 1870's Village and Coalville map on the homepage, the one labeled Pleasant Valley & Otho). Now compare some of the names on the map, you will find several of these old names listed that attended these parties. The distance back then was traveled by foot or by horse, so some of the guests traveled a ways).

Miss Phoebe Mumm has a surprise party held for Suggie and Tom Hay before they left Coalville and list who came. Mrs. Almra Jordison, Mr. Almra Jordison and two children, Mr. Ames Jordison, Mrs. Ames Jordison and two children, Mr. Wilber Himple, Mrs. Ella Hemple, Fern Hemple, Mr. Wilam Hemple, Mrs. Wilam Himple, Mr. Abe Ham Sinkion, Mrs. Madie Barnett, Clifred Barnett, Mabel Barnett, Mr. Henry Collins, Mrs. Annie Collins, Mr. Willie Mochevec, Mrs. Annie Mochevec and two children , Mr. Tom Scott, Mrs. Mary Scott, Mr. Fred Crouse, Mrs. Jennie Crouse, Mr. Ed Anderson, Mrs. Jessie Anderson, and Baby Mrs. Eva Mericle, Mr. Allen Mericle, Mr. Joe Jordison, Mrs. Annie Jordison, 3 boys, Mr. Jim Sharp, Mrs. Hanna Sharp, Mrs. Beatle, Mrs. Sara Anderson, Vera Anderson, Mr. Albert Endfield, Mrs. Albert Endfield.

Party at Mr. and Mrs. Oprie Reedys Saturday Feberuary 26, 1921, George Clark, Billie Clark, Mr. Bill Suer, Mrs. Abbie Suer, Frances Suer, Mr. Bill Hemple, Mrs. Bill Hemple, Mrs. Link Barnett, Clifered Barnett, Mr. Amois Jordison, Mrs. Jennie Jordison, and 2 children, Mr. Dan Riordian, Mr. Arie Reedy, Mrs. Florence Reedy, Edna Reedy, Mrs. Beatle, Mrs Clarence Jordison, Mr. Tom Jordison, Mrs. Hessie Jordison, Carl Jordison, Mrs. Ralph Brooks, Eva and Claton, Mr. Ed Anderson, Mrs. Jessie Anderson and baby, Mr. Jim Sharp, Mrs. Hanna Sharp, Mr. Ed Reed, Mrs. Lusigie Reed, Mr. Knool, Mrs. James Cotter, Mrs. Phoebe Cotter, Annie Buckeye a total of 46.