Highlights from pages of The Herald-Times, Yoakum Daily Herald and The Yoakum Weekly Herald.
Transcribed by Carla H. Ratcliff
January 29, 1942
Weddings: Miss Mary Smahlik and Mr. Henry Heger were united in marriage Monday morning at 6:30 at the Sweet Home Catholic Church.
Births: Mr. and Mrs. Jim Mikulenka Jr., of Prairie Hill, are the proud parents of a baby boy.; Mr. and Mrs. Louis Stary, of Pilot Grove, are the proud parents of a baby girl, Jo Ann, born to them on Saturday, January 10th.
Deaths: Mrs. Sarah Roda Hawkins Long, 76, passed from this Life at the family home on Saturday.
A shadow of sorrow was cast over Yoakum today with the passing of another pioneer, Mrs. Elisa Kaiser, aged 86 years, On January 26th. Mrs. Kaiser was born at Frelsburg, Texas, where she was united in marriage to C.F. Kaiser on November 21, 1884. The happy young couple soon moved to the Woods Ranch near Moulton, where they resided until about 50 years ago, when they moved to Yoakum. Mr. Kaiser became one of the pioneer merchants of Yoakum before the railroad was built through here. Their first home was located where the present Blaine Wrecking Co. plant is located and for the past 25 years, the family home has been at 705 Nelson Street.
Mrs. Virginia Rader Fink, daughter of Jackson and Sarah Rader, a pioneer family of Virginia, was born at east Bernard, Texas, November 3, 1873. She passed away January 23. When seven years old, she was taken by her mother to New York to begin her education. When her older brothers had completed their education, her mother moved south again, built a home in Yoakum and put Virginia in Stuart Seminary at Austin, Texas, the outstanding school for girls in Texas at that period of time, to complete her education and study music. After finishing school, she came to Yoakum and married William A. Fink.
February 5, 1942
Births:The first twins at the local hospital in the past nine years were born to Mr. and Mrs. Walter Squires of Route 3, Sunday morning. Both were girls and mother and babies are reported doing nicely. The mother was the former Gladys Garrett, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Garrett, pioneer resident of the Tonqua community.
February 12, 1942
Weddings: Miss Emma Mae Squyres left today for Yuma, Arizona where she will be met by her fiancé, Mr. Otis Outlaw, of San Diego, California. Miss Squyres expects to arrive in Yuma Thursday, at which time she will be united in marriage to Mr. Outlaw at high noon. Mr. Outlaw is connected with the Consolidated Air Craft Corp., in San Diego, where the happy couple will make their home. Due to the war time measures, Mr. Outlaw was unable to secure leave of absence from his post to make a trip to Texas.
Deaths: Friends of the Smith family (Formerly of Yoakum) will be saddened to know that Mr. and Mrs. F.A. Miller received the message that Edison Smith was killed in action in the Philipines on January 21. Edison was the youngest brother of Landis and Elbert Smith formerly of Yoakum.
February 19, 1942
Weddings: Miss Leah Kathrine Browning became the bride of Mr. Troy Theron Stokes of Houston on Saturday evening 8:30 at the Yoakum Methodist Church. As the bride entered on the arm of her father, W.T. Browning, the choir in surplicas began the impressive words of the Bridal Chorus from Wagner's Lohengrin, and continued until she reached the altar. The bride never looked lovelier than in her bridal gown of ivory satin with a full circular train. It was a Victoria model built on Princess lines with heart shaped neckline. Her long veil in halo style was of ivory illusion with cap in halo style. The overdrape was of exquisite Brussels lace, an heirloom, brought from France by a relative and used in other weddings in the immediate family. She carried a Honiton point lace handkerchief made by her grandmother nearly 50 years ago. After a brief wedding trip, the young couple will reside, in Houston, where Mr. Stokes is practicing law as a member of the Able and Stokes firm.
Miss Irene Vahalik of Hochheim became thc bride of Pvt. Raymond Meyer on Sunday afternoon at 5:00. A delicious wedding supper was served to only close relatives. Immediately after the supper, Pvt. and Mrs. Meyer left for Galveston, where Pvt. Meyer is stationed at Fort Crocket.
Miss Ruby Mae Fissler was married to First Sergeant, Garner L. Davis on February 7th, in Brownwood. Texas.
Miss Sara Frances Moss became the bride of Mr. Roger D. Ledbetter on Saturday, January 31, in Jacksonville, Texas.
February 26, 1942
News of the Day: Friday will be the last issue of the Daily Herald for the Duration of the War. The Government is asking for the conservation of paper and is asking for help of all available men to help keep out the invaders that threaten us on both the east and west coast.
Weddings: Miss Ester Haynes and Mr. Jack Weldon Munson were united in marriage on February 14th.
Births: Mr. and Mrs. Henry Herbst announce the arrival of a baby girl, Saturday morning at 11:00.; A baby girl was born to Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence DeBault Sunday at 7:15.; Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Schroeder are the proud parents of a baby girl.
Deaths: Mrs. Misouria A. Neely, 75, passed away February 24th. Mrs. Neely was born in the state of Mississippi on June 5, 1866, and moved to Texas at the age of two years. She was united in marriage on November 19, 1893 to Rev. Neely in Yoakum, and has resided here for the past 32 years.
Mr. David Edward Pitts, 65, passed away February 19th. He was a retired conductor for the Southern Pacific Lines. He was born in Atlanta, Ga. in 1876, and came to Texas when he was very young. He came to Yoakum in 1910, and started in the services of the old S.A.A.P. railroad. He was married to the late Mrs. Pius n June 9, 1901 in Hillsborough, Texas.
March 5, 1942
Weddings: Announcement has been made of the marriage of Mrs. Felton Ramsaur of San Antonio, formerly, Miss Felton Mack of this city, to Lieut. McCollum of San Antonio. The marriage took place Friday in San Antonio at the Methodist Church parsonage. They will make their home in Abeline where Lieut. McCollum will be stationed at Barkley Field.
Births: Mr. and Mrs. Johnnie Polasek are the proud parents of twin girls that were born Saturday.
Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Hermes are the proud parents of boy, Emil Anton, which was born to them Friday.
I
Deaths: Funeral services for Sgt. Eugene John Sanders, 26, were conducted from the Beck Chapel at 4:00 p.m. and from the Joseph Catholic Church March 1st.
John William Bums was born in Scotland and came to America in 1874 and located Philadelphia. In 1882, he came to Galveston and took employment with the S.A.& A. P. Railroad and in 1912 he was transferred to Yoakum and, was employed with that company until 1921, when he retired. He was united in marriage to Miss Annie Trippet 59 years ago, and served in the army in the Franco-Prussian war. Mr. Burns passed away February 27th.
March 19, 1942
Weddings:
Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Steen announce the marriage of their daughter, Lucille to J.B. Goodwin, which took place Sunday, February 22nd at Gonzales. Mr. and Mrs. Goodwin are residing in Gonzales.
Births
Mr. and Mrs. Will Placke have announced the arrival of a son, William Timothy, who was born Saturday in the Huth Memorial Hospital, weighing 8 pounds.
Mr. and Mrs. Leon Herring of Henrietta, Tex., announce the birth of a daughter, Carolyn Lee, at the Bethania Hospital in Wichita Falls, Monday evening, March 9th. Mrs. Herring is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank D. Holster of this city.
A baby boy, 8 pounds and 15 ounces was born to Mr. and Mrs. Henry Crawford Thursday night.
Mr. and Mrs. Joe Boone of Cuero are the proud parents of a baby girl. Mrs. Boone is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Roe Henry.
Deaths:
Henry Elbert Haynes, 66, passed away March 17th. He was born January 29, 1876 in Beeville, Texas where he spent his boyhood and early manhood. On May 31, 1898 he was united in marriage to Miss Malinda Jane Keith in Belmont, TX. In 1918 he moved with his family to Yoakum where for 17 years he was employed by the ice plant.
March 26, 1942
Engagements: Mr. and Mrs. Albert Springs of Seguin, Texas have announced the engagement of their daughter, Isabelle, to Harry Wright Burns, son of Mr. and Mrs. C.L. Shaw of Yoakum. The wedding is scheduled for late spring.
April 2, 1942
Births: Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Buster Burns of San Angelo, Texas, who are the parents of a baby girl born on last Thursday.
Deaths: The death of Willie Hy Meier, 53, of Sweet Home thinned the ranks of the Legionnairs of that section. He served overseas in the first World War in 1918-1919, and was gassed and wounded. Born January 4, 1889, in Moulton, he moved with his parents to Shiner about 1892, and lived in this vicinity until 1937, when he moved to Sweet Home. In 1922, he married Miss Annie Stachlich.
Rev. George C. Baumgarten, 69, passed away March 20th. He was ordained minister at Heidelberg College, Ohio in 1895 and was pastor of several churches during his lifetime. He was united in marriage to Miss Carrie Messer on April 21, 1896.
April 9, 1942
Deaths: John Parsons Woolsey, born in Georgia on August 30, 1852 passed away April 2. With his parents he moved to Texas when he was just a small boy, the family settling in Colorado County, near Oakland. His education was obtained at Concrete College, DeWitt County, under the tutelage of Professors Covey & Thomas, founders and operators of this school. Mr. Woolsey later taught in this school. Returning to Oakland, after his marriage to Miss Bettie Morris, he engaged in the mercantile business and remained there several years. He then went to Gillette, in Wilson County and near the turn of the century he came to Yoakum for a few years sojourn. From Yoakum he moved to Waco where was engaged for a few years in a Life Insurance venture. Returning to Yoakum he joined with his sons and operated a Grocery store for a number of years.
John Edward Thornell, for more than a quarter of a century a citizen of Yoakum, passed away recently. Mr. Thornell was born in Fayette County, Texas on August 14, 1870. In later years he acted as an Agent in Yoakum for some city newspapers. In 1897 he married to Miss Mathida Kettel.
Mrs. Theodosia Elizabeth Smith Neel, 84, passed away April 6th. She was born in Georgia on May 6th, 1857, but moved to Texas with her parents at the age of 2 years. She was married to Mr. Wm. Jordan Neel on September 22, 1875 at Old Thomas Prairie which is now known as the Friendship Community.
Little Miss Margaret Janik, 13, passed away Sunday, April 5th. She was born May 18, 1928 in DeWitt County, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Steve Janik.
April 16,1942
Births: Mr. and Mrs. Walter Knezoe are the proud parents of a boy born Thursday, April 9th in the Renger Hospital in Hallettsville.
A baby boy was born to Mr. and Mrs. A. Ulhman Friday afternoon.