Wesley, Kossuth County, Iowa 1934 Highlights as printed in the newspaper Legion Day, Bank's 50th Anniversary "Baby Week" 1934 Highlights Here The year of 1934 was more than just another year in Wesley. Things really happened. For instance, there was Wesley Day, the gigantic celebration sponsored by the local American Legion on August 28. It was an affair of which any town this size could well be proud. Bank's 50th Year And by no means was the observance of the Golden Anniversary of the Exchange State Bank of little importance. For any one institution under the same family leadership to serve a community for 50 years is indeed a worthwhile achievement. Then there was "baby week", so called for the number of births occurring in the seven day period between April 19 and April 26. Nine babies were born in and around Wesley in that time. Of the nine, six were boys including a set of twins, and three were girls. 39 Babies in '34 But between November first and eighth, second "baby week" came, when the population was enlivened again by two baby boys and a like number of baby girls. The total for the year, as reported in the News-World was 39, 22 boys and 17 girls. And 26 marriages for Wesley cannot be ignored, according to those who recall the many ceremonies in which Wesley young folks were participants. In fact, several believe the number is an all time record. From the year's report they will be happy marriages too, for three golden wedding and two silver wedding anniversaries took place in 1934. Mr. and Mrs. Anton Goetz, Mr. and Mrs. Will Maertinek and Mr. and Mrs. John T. Knapper celebrated their 50th wedding anniversaries. Mr. and Mrs. Herman Carlson and Mr. and Mrs. John Richter observed their silver wedding anniversaries. [Kossuth County News 1934, submitted by a Friend of Genealogy] Two Reach 90 At least two Wesley inhabitants reached the 90 year mark. They were Mrs. Nettie Torgeson and W. P. Giddings. A dozen others, reported in the News-World, attained the age of 70 or better. No serious disasters were encountered here in the past 12 months. A wind storm, May 12, did considerable damage, but not to any great extent. The fire department was called five times, once to the Kouba Food Market where a motor had become overheated. [Kossuth County News 1934, submitted by a Friend of Genealogy] Wesleyans Honored Wesley persons came in for their share of honors bestowed the past year. Paul Engen, manager, and Ralph Flehler, assistant at the Creamery here, each won three major buttermaking awards. Both won prizes at Algona and Sioux Falls, SD. Engen received awards from Portland, Ore, and Flehler won in a contest at Des Moines. Marjorie Ann Bleich was named healthiest baby of Kossuth County at the fair in Algona; Clare Wolf was an honor student at Conception College at Conception, Missouri; and Frances Kunz received a penmanship award at the CCCC school at Des Moines. Ben Studer's stock carried away 25 prizes and ribbons from the Kossuth County Fair at which he exhibited Shorthorn cattle, Duroc and Poland China pigs. [Kossuth County News 1934, submitted by a Friend of Genealogy] Appointments Appointments coming to Wesleyan citizens were three. Mrs. I. A. Gerdes was appointed acting postmaster; John Hutchison was made Kossuth county investigator for the old age pension; and Guy M. Butts was named town treasurer to complete the unexpired term of the late Henry Kunz. [Kossuth County News 1934, submitted by a Friend of Genealogy] Commerce In the commercial field, the Farmers' CoOperative Society booked 120000 bushels of corn in two days last summer as the price reached 50 cents. In that two weeks following they shipped out 67 carloads of grain. Two new businesses were begun in Wesley and three changed managers. The Bahrends Produce and the Benton Service Station started during the past summer. And this fall W. W. Sturdivant, 21 years the News-World publisher, and C. S. Guy for 17 years café manager, sold their interests. A. L. Kleinpeter, for 40 years a Wesley merchant, retired and turned the store over to his sons, Leroy and Vincent. [Kossuth County News 1934, submitted by a Friend of Genealogy] ©2007 Genealogy Trails