Sunday, January 15, 2017

Early Days in Lyman #20

EARLY DAYS IN THE TOWN OF LYMAN
by Bela Foster


Continuing . . .
George P. Lyman was one of the first hardware merchants in Roberts. He and George Thompson were partners. Both had taught school in Lyman township. George Lyman had taught the Marston district (Now No. 36). The last time he visited Roberts I took him around the northeast part of the township. After he was married he lived on the southeast corner of the farm Elza Kelley now lives on. A few trees still stand there. It was a beautiful building spot sloping to the south, high and dry.
Mr. Lyman told me of his first experience in applying for a teacher's certificate. John R. Lewis of Piper City was assistant county superintendent. He went to see Mr. Lewis and found him absent from home. He left a note telling him the purpose of the visit. Mr. Lyman said, "In the course of about a week I received my certificate.." He taught two winter terms, 1865-66 and 1866-67.
George H. Thompson sold his interest in the store to Myron Rice, a farmer who lived on the south side of section 28. The house stood near the road northwest of where Otto Seng now lives. Byron Lisk bought out Mr. Rice and soon after Allen Lisk bought out Mr. Lyman. After having spent nearly thirty years in the confines of this township 25 N Range 9 E, Mr. and Mrs. Lyman went to spend the remainder of their lives in the sunshine and shadows of the Pacific Coast. They did not leave for lack of friends. So far as I could ever learn every body who knew them were their friends.

Shortly after Roberts was laid out two brothers and their families came from Kentucky to make their homes here. These were William and Thomas Newman. William Newman ran the hotel. He had three sons and three daughters. The sons were E. O. Newman, Richard and Frank. The oldest daughter became the wife of W. B. Flora. He later sold the hotel and moved to Piper City where he and his two younger sons ran a meat market. Mrs. Newman died in 1887 and Mr. Newman in 1889.
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Newman had several children. Five sons and three daughters grew to manhood and womanhood. Ida and Mayme were school teachers. Ida taught the intermediate room in Roberts in 1890-1891. She died in 1892. Mayme married L. L. Boyle. She died about 1900 leaving one son, Royce, who grew up with his grandparents. Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Boyle.
Samuel Newman, oldest son of Mr. and Mrs. William Newman married Mahala Shaffer, daughter of Abraham Shaffer one of the early settlers here. Her mother died in 1868 when she was about three years old.
J. V. King was station agent here for many years. His first wife was Nannie Newman, oldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Newman. She died in 1886 leaving one son, Clyde. Mr. King later married the youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Newman. Mr. King owned the farm where Tobias Gimbel now lives. The lived there for a time. In the nineties they sold out and moved to Indiana. He died many years ago leaving a wife and two sons.
Daniel Boyle married Lizzie Burns who when a girl lived with her parents on the farm where Otto Bleich now lives. Mr. Boyle died several years ago. Mrs. Boyle lives with her daughter (Eva) Mrs. Andrew Koestner near Webster City, Iowa.

Samuel s. Newman was village marshal in Roberts for many years and is well remembered for the faithful work he did in that office. He was by trade a carpenter and took part in the erection of many houses in Roberts. Mr. and Mrs. Newman made a home for his younger brothers and sisters after the death of his parents. He died in 1919 leaving his wife and two daughters. Mrs. Newman died in 1927. One daughter Edith (Mrs. Roy Fitzpatrick) died in Chicago in 1930. The other daughter (Belle) married Dr. W. J. Gonwa, who is a practicing dentist at Chrisman. They have a son.
Harry Newman, a stock buyer here for many years, now lives at Rensselaer, Indiana. William Newman taught school here for several years. He want to Texas for his health many years ago. Carl Newman conducted a meat market her several years. He married Nora Yackee. They later moved to Champaign. He died a few years ago. He left his wife and one daughter and two sons.
Bert V. Newman, the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. William Newman, married and lived in Chatsworth. He died a few years ago.

 
--Roberts Herald. 13 March 1935. Bela Foster.

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