Stories from Fayette
Stories from the "old days" March 1885 "We find the following local item
telegraphed to the Cedar Rapids Republican from Fayette, Marcy 6,
1885. July 3, 1885 "Mrs. C. and Henry, wife and son of S. Nefzger, of West Albany, returned last Saturday, from a visit to her sister, the wife of Fred HIPP, probate judge of Crawford Co., Ohio, and other relatives and friends whom she had not seen for 28 years." July 12, 1885 "Runaway Accident" "A serious accident , seeming almost a miracle that it terminated without the loss of life, occurred on last Sunday, July 5th. Mrs. C. C. Nefzger, in company with Miss Mary HULVERSON, was returning in a buggy with single horse from the funeral of David THOMPSON. They turned west from the Clermont road just this side of Mr. MABB's farm, thinking there would be less dust. They had not driven more than forty rods when Mrs. Nefzger in looking back noticed a team coming at breakneck speed, having already broken loose from the conveyance they had been driven to. She did not see them in time to get out of the way entirely, although she whipped her horse and turned him out of the road thinking to give the runaways the entire track, but they were coming so fast that she could not get out of the way. One of the horses jumped into the back part of the carriage and the other over the wheel at the side, the first one getting his feet caught in the wheel and spring in such a way that he could not get loose. While in this condition both horses were exerting every nerve to get away. The entire top of the carriage was crushed over the head of Mrs. Nefzger, while her companion was shoved through the dashboard with the carriage top onto the back of their horse. Finally the horse at the side of the carriage broke loose from his mate and ran away. Mr. Dan THOMPSON being just in advance managed to control his team and tied them to the fence, and then returned to the assistance of Mrs. Nefzger, who finally succeeded in crawling out over the front end of her buggy to the ground. Mr. THOMPSON then helped her and her companion into his wagon and they reached home, both very badly bruised. The carriage was entirely demolished, every spoke in one wheel being broken out, both thills broken, the top, seat, and box being literally torn to pieces, and in fact, the entire vehicle was destroyed. We understand that the team was one owned by Mr. Asher SIMER. One of them is an old runaway and the other a blind horse, that is also fond of a race sometimes. It seems that the team had been driven to the funeral by Mrs. SIMER, her daughter, a couple of boys and several children, and that on their return the team became frightened and ran away. Several of the occupants of the wagon were jarred somewhat, but we do not know at this writing to what extent. Mrs. Nefzger is under the care of Dr. DARNALL." January 31, 1896 "A Party of Bold Gentlemen from Growler's Gulch Get Into Trouble" "Simon Nefzger, merchant and postmaster of
Lima, was robbed last Friday night. The thieves took between $20 and
$30 in cash, about fifty pairs of pantaloons, a dozen coats, two sacks
of flour, a bolt of muslin and a miscellaneous collection of
jack-knives and pipes. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Henry Nefzger & wife, Margaret (HAMRICK) Nefzger
August 24, 1938
"GOLDEN WEDDING - HENRY NEFZGERS - -Lima
Couple Will Celebrate Next Sunday; Have Many Relatives - - Mr. and Mrs. Henry Nefzger will celebrate their golden
wedding anniversary next Sunday with a family gathering at the Albany
park, which is owned by Mr. Nefzger. Relatives from Mason City,
Waterloo, Oelwein, Maynard, West Union, Fayette, and Rochester, Minn.
are expected to attend. Mr. and Mrs. Nefzger's anniversary was Aug.
17, and on that day they were guests in the home of a granddaughter,
Mrs. Frank RICHARDS, Fayette. Their two daughters, Mrs. John DOLAND
and Mrs. James McCARRON, and granddaughter, Mrs. Harold Mullins, and
baby were also present.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
June 1946 "DEATH SUMMONS MRS. H.<F.> (should be S.) NEFZGER - SUCCUMBS at NEW HAMPTON HOSPITAL WEDNESDAY; BURIAL AT LIMA - Mrs. Henry S. Nefzger, 74, passed away Wed. evening at the New Hampton Hospital following an illness of several week's duration. Margaret Mae HAMRICK was born Feb. 25, 1872, at Belle Plaine, Iowa, the daughter of James Edward and Ida HAMRICK. After the death of her father, the family moved to
Fayette County, Iowa, where she grew to womanhood and attended the
rural schools. Soon after coming here, her mother married Adolph FAUSER, who was a beloved father to the children. Besides the beloved husband and children she leaves two brothers, Charles HAMRICK of Yacolt, Wash., John HAMRICK of Maynard, a sister, Mrs. Will REID, of Fayette, one half-sister, Mrs. Eugene PALMER of Waterloo, three half-brothers, Arthur FAUSER of Westgate, Lester and Peter FAUSER of Fayette, thirteen grand children, and three great grand children.
Casket bearers were Doyle NEFZGER, Duane NEFZGER, Paul DOLAND, Ralph PIXLER, Harold MULLINS, and Harley CUE.
Interment at Lima cemetery."
The following is information not in the above article which is included in another obituary. ". . . Due to failing health, Mr. and Mrs. Nefzger sold their farm to their grandson, Dale Nefzger, and moved to Fayette so that they might be near their children. . . . Burial was in Lima Cemetery with three grandsons and three grandsons-in-law as pallbearers. . . . One brother and two half-brothers preceded her in death." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Floyd Nefzger (Son of Henry & Margaret Nefzger) July 10, 1980 - "Funeral services were held at Belles-Wright Funeral Home July 17 for Floyd C. Nefzger, 77, Pastor David Poganski of Grace Lutheran Church, officiated, and burial was in the Grandview Cemetery. Nefzger died July 2 in Brookfield, Ill.;
services had been held there Saturday at St. Paul's Lutheran Church. Casket bearers were Doyle NEFZGER of West Union; Duane NEFZGER of Independence; Russell DICKINSON and Scott OSTRANDER of Fayette. Nefzger was a former Fayette and West Union resident. He was a butter maker in West Union for many years." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ (No date on clipping) "Nefzgar Burial Services - Graveside services were held Wednesday morning at Grandview Cemetery, Fayette, for Mrs. Floyd Nefzgar, Brookfield, Illinois, a former Fayette and West Union resident. She is survived by her husband; one daughter, Marilyn, of Chicago; __ sisters, including Martha HOMEWOOD, West Union; two brothers, including Walter PIERCE, Fayette; one sister-in-law, Pearl NEFZGAR, Fayette; three grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews in the Oelwein, West Union, and Fayette area." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Elmer S. & Eva Pearl Nefzger (Son of Henry S. & Margaret Nefzger) No date on clipping: "Fayette couple's 57th anniversary celebrated - FAYETTE - Guests Saturday evening, Jan. 15, in the Elmer Nefzger home in honor of their 57 wedding anniversary, which is Jan. 19, were their children, Mr. and Mrs. Doyle Nefzger and Larry; and Mr. and Mrs. Ralph PIXLER and Dennis West Union; Mr. and Mrs. Duane Nefzger, Oelwein; Mr. and Mrs. Richard Nefzger and family, Independence; Mr. and Mrs. Robert Nefzger and Lisa; and Mr. and Mrs. Gordon SMITH, Fayette." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ June 21, 1973 "Fayette Resident's Rites Conducted Recently - Funeral services for Elmer Nefzger, 80, lifelong resident of the Fayette, Albany area and retired farmer who died June 8 at Palmer Memorial Hospital were held June 11 at 10:30 a.m. at Belles-Wright Funeral home with Rev. James Dale officiating. Burial was at Grandview cemetery. Pallbearers were Gene SINGER, Robert LANDAS and Russell DICKINSON, Fayette; Paul OELBERT, West Union; Wayne EARLE and Alfred HANSEN, Oelwein. Elmer Nefzger was born Oct. 28, 1892, the son of Henry Simon and Margaret (HAMRICK) NEFZGER. On Jan 19, 1915, he married Eva Pearl SCOTT at Independence. They were the parents of seven children. The couple farmed in the Albany area until 194_ when they moved to Fayette. He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Essie (several illegible words) ___ ____ ____ ______ and one granddaughter, Shelly. Survivors include his wife, Pearl, four sons, Doyle, West Union; Duane, (Bud), Oelwein; Robert, Fayette; and Paul (Dick), Independence; two daughters, Opal, Mrs. Ralph PIXLER, West Union; and Jean, Mrs. Gordon SMITH, Fayette; and one sister, Mrs. James McCARRON, Fayette, and one brother, Floyd, Brookfield, Ill.; 15 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ (No date on clipping) "FAYETTE - Eva Pearl Nefzger, 91, of Fayette, died Tuesday, Feb. 20, at Maplecrest Manor, Fayette, of natural causes; survivors include four sons, Doyle of West Union; Duane "Bud" of Apache Junction, Ariz.; Bob of Fayette; and Dick of Independence; two daughters, Opal PIXLER of Oelwein; and Joan SMITH of Fayette; 15 grandchildren; three step grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; two step great-grandchildren; and a sister, Alta COPEMAN of Grundy Center; she was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer, in 1973; a son, Dale; two sisters, Tina and Maude; two brothers, Vern and Bert; two half brothers, Clifford and William; a grandchild; and a great-grandchild; services will be 11 a.m. Friday at Becker-Milnes Funeral Home, Fayette; burial in Grandview Cemetery, Fayette; friends may call after 5 p.m. today at the funeral home and one hour before services . . . . " ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Doyle & Shirley Nefzger (Son of Elmer & Eva Pearl Nefzger) (only date on clipping is 1990) "Doyle Nefzger - WEST UNION - Doyle Nefzger, 71, died Tuesday morning at Palmer Lutheran Health Center, West Union. He is survived by one son, Larry, and a daughter, Mrs. Deanna Miller, both of West Union; one grandchild; two step-grandchildren; a great-grandson; two sisters, Opal Pixler, Oelwein, and Joan Smith, Fayette; three brothers: Duane (Bud) Nefzger, Apache Junction, Ariz.; Robert (Bob) Nefzger, Fayette; and Richard (Dick) Nefzger, Independence. As private services will be held there will be no visitation. Burnham-Wood Funeral Home, West Union, handled arrangements. Mr. Nefzger was a retired Fayette County employee."
(Sun - Aug 13, 1989) "Shirley Nefzger - WEST UNION - There will be no services for Shirley Nefzger, 53, of West Union; she died Thursday night (Aug. 10) at Palmer Lutheran Center, West Union, of natural causes; survivors include her husband, Doyle, of West Union; a son, Larry Nefzger of West Union, a daughter, Deanna Miller of West Union; three grandchildren; her mother, Eva Bailey, of Fayette; a brother, Arthur Bailey, of Huntington Beach, Calif.; and a sister, Dorothy Frommelt, of Elkader; she was preceded in death by her father and a grandson; there will be no visitation; Burnham and Wood Funeral Home, West Union, are in charge of arrangements." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dale William Nefzger (Son of Elmer & Eva Pearl Nefzger) (1969) "NEFZGER RITES HELD AT FAYETTE FRIDAY - FAYETTE - Funeral services for Dale Nefzger, 46, who died suddenly last Tuesday were conducted at 2:30 p.m. Friday from Belles-Wright Funeral Home with Dr. George Carl officiating. Interment was in Grandview cemetery with William Nelson, Jr., Clermont; Robert Loban, Oelwein; Harold Homewood, Russell Dickinson, William Orr, and Robert Steinbronn as pallbearers.
Dale William Nefzger was born on a farm near Fayette on Dec. 6, 1922, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Nefzger. He grew up and went to school at Albany and Fayette, graduating from Fayette High school in 1940. He attended Upper Iowa College, Fayette, and was later employed at aircraft factories at Glendale, Calif., and Omaha, Neb. He entered the U. S. Army in 1946 and served with the infantry in Korea. After returning from overseas duty in the Pacific theater he was discharged with the rank of Staff Sergeant. The past 20 years he engaged in farming near Fayette.
Surviving are his wife, Linda, a daughter, Shelly; two daughters by a previous marriage, Dalyn and Charla, Oelwein; a stepdaughter; his parents, four brothers, Doyle, West Union; Duane, Oelwein; Robert, Fayette; Richard, Independence, and two sisters: Opal, Mrs. Ralph Pixler, West Union; and Joan, Mrs. Gordon Smith, Fayette.
Relatives from a distance attending funeral for Dale Nefzger were Floyd Nefzger, Chicago, Ill., and daughter, Mrs. Jack Laschinski, Wheaton, Ill.; Mr. and Mrs. Larry Harrison, Rochester, Minn.; and others from West Union, Independence, Decorah, Waterloo, Arlington, Clermont, Maynard, and Oelwein."
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