They Must Like It Here -- They've Stayed!

The Seymour Herald - 23 June 2011

Reprinted from The Seymour Herald of 26 July 1951

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  Many of Seymour's "Old Settlers" have moved away, others have retired from active business life to their homes, but a few have kept up their professional activities through the years.

  Included among Seymour's "old-timers" who still are in harness are H. S. Eckels, R. A. Morrow, Harry Bower, Elvin Owen, J. N. Condra and Roy Cunningham.

  Cunningham started clerking in the grocery store on the west side of the square 43 years ago, but, in partnership with his wife, became owner of the same store he now operates 25 years ago in August. The Cunninghams have one son, Fred, of Kansas City, Mo.

  Condra, who has been in the insurance business in Seymour for the past 31 years always has lived around Seymour. He was a farmer before moving to town to open his insurance agency. And after all those years in business here Mr. Condra says, "I still like "the place."

  Elvin Owen, another insurance man, has been in business here for 27 years. He had offices in the upstairs of the Yeager building and Brenaman buildings before moving to his present location in the east side of the Rissler barber shop.

  More than half a century -- 51 years -- is the business record of Harry Bower, who operates a barber shop on the east side of the Seymour square. His first shop located just north of the Odd Fellows building. Later he moved to a location about where Liggett's furniture store stands, then to the west side of the square. He has been on the east side for about 40 years.

  R. A. Morrow has put in 40 years "more or less" in business in Seymour and he, too, has occupied several locations. His first location was on the east side of the square where the Scott grocery now is located. Then he moved to the west side of the square to occupy a building about where the Perkins gift shop now stands. Later he moved to his present location on the west side. He is in business with three of his sons, Jared, Max and Keith.

  H. S. Eckels has been connected with the lumber business in Seymour for 64 years, starting to work for the Lewis lumber company when he was 13 years old in 1887, when the company was located where the Webb seed store now stands. He served 18 months in the Spanish-American war and returned to work for the Parker lumber company in the same location. In 1907 he bought the lumber yard where he has operated for 44 years.

Harl Family Reunion, Sunday, 10 July 2011

The Seymour Herald - 23 June 2011

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  Descendants of John T. and Christina Rigler Harl will meet at the Seymour Community Center Sunday, July 10, 2011, for the 70th annual Harl Reunion. The Center will open at 10:30 a.m.  A potluck dinner will be served at 12:15 p.m. followed by a business meeting.

Livingston Baptist Church Open House, 10 July 2011

The Seymour Herald - 23 June 2011

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  The Franklin Baptist Church at the former Village of Livingston has been undergoing major restoration and renovation. Construction is nearing completing and an open house has been planned for July 10, 2011, from 2-4 p.m. after Church in the Park and lunch during Seymour's Old Settler's celebration.

  The church is located east of Seymour on J46 about three miles to 135th Avenue then south about three miles.

Franklin Baptist Church 

at former Village of Livingston

  The church building was built in 1880 and dedicated in 1881. The Franklin Baptist Church served as a spiritual and moral guide to the neighborhood of Livingston for many years. Services ceased to be held there in the early 1970s.

  The church has been recognized and listed on the National Register of Historic Places due to the life of Livingston Parker and his involvement and service to this church, community and country. He was ordained as a Baptist minister in this building in a two-day ordination service after he served in the Civil War.

  The empty building began to decay until it was rescued from its demise at the turn of this century. It has now been restored and is ready to be dedicated.

  The renovation features an 8 foot wooden cross on the interior of the church at the east end. The baptistery has been preserved and will be open for inspection.

  Pews, which were a gift from the Numa Christian Church when it closed, are being installed in the sanctuary. A replica of the original bell tower has been constructed and a large melodious bell has been installed in the bell tower. Although the church was not originally wired for electricity, the church building now has electric lights (with period fixtures), ceiling fans and heating panels along the sides of the sanctuary. The vaulted ceiling and walls had to be renovated but the original wainscoting has been preserved.

  It is planned that the church will be used for church services, homecomings, weddings, funerals and other special events.

  Historic Livingston Foundation welcomes everyone to come see this historic building.

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  See earlier articles posted in The Jerome Journal:  Franklin Baptist Church in Livingston and Town of Livingston in Franklin Township.

Lottie Fern Brown, 1919-2011

Schmidt Family Funeral Home

Moulton and Centerville, Iowa
27 June 2011

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  Lottie Fern Brown, 91 of Centerville, Iowa died on Thursday, June 23, 2011, at Mercy Medical Center Long Term Care in Centerville. She was born the daughter of William R. and Orpha (Howe) Ricketts on October 25, 1919 in Spickard, Missouri. She received her education in the Seymour High School at Seymour, 

Iowa and graduating in 1939.

  On February 20, 1940 Lottie was united in marriage to Willis Brown near Seymour, Iowa. She enjoyed helping her husband on the farm and being a home maker.

  She is preceded in death by: her parents; husband, Willis Brown; sisters, Nola Olson and LaVelle Elswick.

  Lottie is survived by: her sons, Bill and his wife, Pat Brown of Plano, Iowa and Larry and his wife, Sue Brown of Jerome, Iowa; sister, Francis McCarthy of Centerville, Iowa; brother, Allen Ricketts of Moline, Illinois; 8 grandchildren; 20 great grand children

  Funeral services will be held on Monday, June 27, 2011 at 10 am at the Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Centerville, Iowa with Rev. Kay Singley officiating. Burial will follow at the South Lawn cemetery in Seymour, Iowa. Visitation will be held on Sunday, June 26, 2011 from 2 pm until 8 pm with family present from 6 pm until 8 pm at the funeral home.

  Memorials can be made to the Aviary at Long Term Care - Mercy Hospital and left at or mailed to the funeral home. The Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Centerville, Iowa is caring for the Brown family at this time. Condolences may be made at schmidtfamilyfuneralhome.com

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James Sidles, 1932-2011

The Seymour Herald - 2 June 2011
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  James Sidles, 78, of Richfield, Ohio passed away peacefully at his home on May 12, 2011.  Proceeded in death by his parents, Selma and Peter, of Jerome, Iowa, wife JoAnn (nee McCord) Sidles of Centerville, Iowa, brother Howard, and brother Harry; he is survived by his daughter, Sherry Downey, of Richland, OH, son, James Paul Sidles, of Litchfield, IL, and sister, Virginia Bay, of Venice, FL.

  Jim, as he was better known to family and friends, grew up on the Peter Sidles farm in Jerome, Iowa, attended the Jerome elementary school through the eighth grade, and graduated from Seymour High School in 1950. He proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy for three years as an officer on battleships, attaining the rank of Lieutenant JG, after having graduated from Iowa State University with an engineering degree. He then relocated to the Akron, Ohio area, and worked as a research engineer briefly for Firestone, and then for B. F. Goodrich, where he spent the rest of his career working in the field of rubber, plastics, and polymer research, with an emphasis on the design and manufacture of commercial jet airliner brakes, passenger tires, race car tires, and many other projects.

  He had a number of patents filed for his inventions. He retired from B. F. Goodrich after 30 years of service, and enjoyed his retirement doing what he loved to do best. He was an avid reader of non-fiction, and was always challenging himself to learn something new. He loved spending timed with his two grandchildren and watching them grow up. They were the greatest joy of his life; along with his passion for music. He sang in the choir at Richfield United Church of Christ for 45 years, rarely missing a Sunday. He was able to participate in his choir's annual Easter Cantata shortly before his death. He was a kind, loving, generous father, grandfather, brother, friend, co-worker, and member of his church choir, who were like family to him. He will be dearly missed by all whose lives he touched.

  Cremation has taken place in accordance with his wishes. A memorial service is planned for Thursday, June 9th at 7 PM at eh United Church of Christ in Richfield.

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Akron Beacon Journal - 19 May 2011

Transcribed from Ohio.com on 7 June 2011

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  James Sidles, 78, of Richfield, passed away at his home Wednesday, May 12, 2011.
  Preceded in death by his parents, Selma and Peter; wife, JoAnn; brothers, Howard and Harry; he is survived by his daughter, Sherry Downey; son, James Paul Sidles; beloved grandchildren, Michael and Justin Downey; twin brother, Peter Sidles; and sister, Virginia Bay.

James Sidles, 1932-2011

  He proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy for three years as an officer on battleships, attaining the rank of Lieutenant JG, after having graduated from Iowa State University with an engineering degree. He worked as a research engineer briefly for Firestone, and then for B. F. Goodrich, where he spent the rest of his career working in the field of rubber, plastics, and polymer research, with an emphasis on the design and manufacture of commercial jet airliner brakes, passenger tires, race car tires, and many other projects.

  He had a number of patents filed for his inventions. He retired from B. F. Goodrich after 30 years of service, and enjoyed his retirement doing what he loved to do best. He was an avid reader of non-fiction, and was always challenging himself to learn something new. He loved spending time with his two grandchildren and watching them grow up. They were the greatest joy of his life, along with his passion for music. He sang in the choir at Richfield United Church of Christ for 45 years, rarely missing a Sunday. He was able to participate in his choir's annual Easter Cantata shortly before his death. He was a kind, loving, generous father, grandfather, brother, friend, co-worker, and member of his church choir, who were like family to him. He will be dearly missed by all whose lives he touched.
  Cremation has taken place in accordance with his wishes. A memorial service is planned for Thursday, June 9th at 7 p.m. at the United Church of Christ in Richfield, 4340 Streetsboro Rd., Richfield, OH 44286. (Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel)

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  Editor's Note:  James Sidles was born 29 June 1932 in Jerome, Lincoln Township, Appanoose County, Iowa, son of Peter and Selma (Johnson) Sidles.  He married on 6 March 1955 in the First Methodist Church in Centerville, Iowa, JoAnn McCord, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Paul McCord of Centerville, Iowa. He passed away on 12 March 2011 at his home in Richfield, Ohio.

James Sidles 

from a picture of Friends of the Richfield Branch Library on the cover of

The Richfield Times Magazine, Volume 31, No. 3 (March 2010)

  James Sidles secured a long list of patents during his professional career.  His first United States patent registered in 1961 related to an Apparatus for Measuring Vibrations of a Vehicle [US 2,995,927]. While nearly all of his patents were related to tires, his final patent in 2002 was for a Rotating Seed Drill [US 6,357,369 B1] in the field of agriculture.