Our Yesterdays

Fourteen freight cars were piled up and several hundred feet of track were ripped up as a result of a train derailment Friday afternoon on the Milwaukee railroad about a half-mile west of Rubio. No one was injured. Railroad officials said they hoped to have the line temporarily open for traffic again late Saturday or Sunday. Four of the derailed cars were hopper cars, each loaded with 200,000 pounds of soybean meal. Three of the big heavy cars were laying on their side on the north side, parallel to the right of way. Another was on its side across the mainline and a side track at that point. Don Fritchen, who operates a farm store in Richland, was taking the soybean meal from one of the cars by vacuum pump and hauling it away in trucks. Other cars in the pileup were loaded with steel and wax according to rail officials. A train crew and derrick from Savana, Illinois arrived at the scene early Friday and had righted the first car. Another crew with a larger derrick arrived at the scene from Kansas City Saturday. Charles Gould, Ottumwa, was the engineer; and Jim Gray, also of Ottumwa, was the conductor. Company officials said the accident took place about 3:30 p.m. in an area where new ballast was being applied to the right of way. No cause for the accident has been determined yet.

Mrs. Lola Bowersock, age 66, was killed instantly Saturday by a slow-moving Milwaukee freight train which had started to leave Hedrick. The four-engine diesel with 102 cars was being routed through Hedrick because of a train derailment Friday at Rubio. Mrs. Bowersock was walking east, one block north of the main street railroad crossing. The train engineer, Jack Corr of Ottumwa, said she was walking with her head down, apparently deep in thought, and did not see the train. He said the train whistle was blown several times to warn her, but she apparently didn’t hear it in time. Other witnesses said Mrs. Bowersock looked up just as the engine struck her. There were no signals at the crossing and a small tree may have obstructed her view. The train was delayed about two hours. Keokuk County Deputy Sheriff Keith Bryant of Sigourney and the Hedrick Marshal, Dave Moore, investigated the accident.

Lola Louise Bowersock, age 66, was born Nov. 30, 1901 at Hedrick, the daughter of Elijah and Suisie Hart Fuller. She had been a resident of Hedrick all her life. Her marriage to Martin S. Bowersock took place Dec. 28, 1949. She was a member of the Hedrick Christian Church. The funeral was held at the church with the Rev. John g. Brinkman officiating. Interment was made in Brooks Cemetery.

Mr. and Mrs. Irvin A. Sievers of Richland announce the marriage of their daughter, Kathy Marie to Ross J. Huff, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Huff, of Garden City, Kansas. Vows were spoken on July 6 in Fort Morgan, Colorado. Attending the couple were the bridegroom’s twin sister and her husband of Fort Morgan. The new Mrs. Huff is a 1967 graduate from Patricia Stevens Career College and Finishing School in Chicago. The bridegroom is a 1965 graduate of Garden City High School and of Garden City Junior College. He has attended Illinois College of Optometry in Chicago one year and will resume his studies in the fall. A reception will be held in Richland for the newlyweds before they return to Chicago in September.

Packwood News: Mr. and Mrs. Jim Tuttle of Culver City, California were honored at a picnic at Chautauqua Park in Fairfield. Attending were the Clarence Book, Bill Hadley, Bill Sasseen, Kenneth Tarrence, and Kay Book families.

Mr. and Mrs. Ed Herrin of San Diego, California visited recently with Velna and Lila Adams.

Patti Gross of Clairmont, California arrived Wednesday to visit her uncle, Jay Cowguill and family.

Ollie News: The Reinier reunion was held in the Ollie Park Sunday with a large attendance. Glen Reinier of Illinois is president; Rex Reinier of Ollie, vice president; O.E. Reinier of Ollie, treasurer; and Mrs. Lee Reinier of Ottumwa, secretary; for the coming year.

Mrs. James Wallis returned to her home Thursday after having ear surgery at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City, the first of last week.

Mrs. Charles Wonderlich and Lucinda, and Mrs. Iona Brolliar, called on Mr. and Mrs. Frank Bottger at Richland Sunday afternoon.

Blue Point News: Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Nordyke and family were hosts at a birthday party for Clyde Gardner Friday, July 12. A picnic supper was served at the Nordyke home. There were 35 relatives and friends present including Mrs. Verl Gardner and Mrs. Leonard Walski.

Mrs. Harold Neece was hostess to the Woolson Missionary society Wednesday afternoon at the Woolson Church. The hostess read the Scripture and Mrs. Raymond Pickard gave the lesson. At the close of the meeting, Mrs. Wilfred Lock was surprised with a birthday cake and a number of gifts. Guests present were Mrs. Jean Letts, Mrs. Cecil Clark, Mrs. Elizabeth Hoskins, and Mrs. Mildred Hadley.