Person Page

     Ella Antionette Burlingham was born on 16 June 1852 in Jamestown, Chautauqua Co., New York.^1,2 She married Samuel Lipton McMasters, son of James McMasters and Eliza Lipton, on 16 October 1872 in West Union, Fayette Co., Iowa.^5,6,7 She died on 16 May 1925 in Decorah, Winneshiek Co., Iowa, at age 72 from kidney disease.^1,2 She was buried on 21 May 1925 at West Union Cemetery in West Union, Fayette Co., Iowa.^1,2,8 In August 1945 her son Edwin moved both her and her husband Samuel's remains to Phelps Cemetery in Decorah, Winneshiek Co., Iowa, apparently without consulting other family members.⁹
     She moved with her parents to Auburn, Fayette Co., Iowa, about 1855^10,11, was educated at the Ainsworth Select School, then taught school for several years.²
     After their marriage, she and her husband Samuel lived in West Union, Fayette Co., Iowa,² until January 1916, when they moved with their son Edwin to Decorah, Winneshiek Co., Iowa.^12,6,13
     In the early morning of 23 January 1917, about a year after arriving in Decorah, their house was destroyed in a fire, thought to have started near the furnace in the basement. They were away at the time, in Iowa Falls with their son Harold. Their son Edwin was home, sleeping on the second floor, but escaped unharmed. By the time the fire was discovered at 2:45 AM, presumably by Edwin, it was well underway. Firemen were hampered by the near-zero temperature, and frozen fire hydrants.¹⁴
     She and Samuel are listed in West Union in the federal censuses from 1880 to 1910, and in the Iowa state censuses from 1885 to 1915. Samuel's widowed father was with them in 1880 and 1885. Also living with them in 1880 were a servant, Elizabeth Fogolson (age 15), and a laborer, Daniels James (12).^{15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23} They are listed in Decorah in the 1920 census, with their son Edwin, age 31, living with them.²⁴
     She continued to live in Decorah with her son Edwin after her husband's death, and they are listed there in the 1925 Iowa state census.²⁵ She spent the winter of 1924-25, however, living with her son Harold in St. Petersburg, Pinellas Co., Florida. She returned home to Decorah with Edwin around mid-March², and fell ill with kidney disease about two weeks later.²

     Clara Burlingham was born on 22 February 1857 in Iowa.^5,1 She died on 16 January 1880 in West Union, Fayette Co., Iowa, at age 22 from consumption (i.e., tuberculosis).^3,5,6 She was buried at West Union Cemetery in West Union, Fayette Co., Iowa.⁵

     Edwin Hale Burlingham was born on 22 October 1863 in Auburn, Fayette Co., Iowa.^6,7,8 He married Anna May Dowse, daughter of Phillip Dowse and Anna Myers, on 19 May 1887 in Fayette Co., Iowa.⁹ He died on 2 January 1926 (his obituary says Sunday, which was 3 January) in Oelwein, Fayette Co., Iowa, at age 62.^4,6 He was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery (Blk. 13, Lot 103) in Oelwein, Fayette Co., Iowa.^4,10
     After their marriage, he and his wife May lived for a time in Ft. Madison, Lee Co., Iowa,^5,11 where he was a pharmacist with George H. Shaffer & Co.⁵ They moved to Oelwein, Fayette Co., Iowa, about February 1900¹², where he and his father-in-law Philip Dowse had purchased the Brown & Ross drug store, changing the name to E. H. Burlingham & Co.¹² They are listed in Oelwein in the 1900 census with their son Robert. Edwin's parents were also living with them.⁷
     In addition to his pharmacy, he also had an insurance business on the side. In April 1902 he sold his drug store, intending to acquire office space and concentrate on the insurance business.¹³ In the 1905 Iowa state census, however, his occupation is listed as druggist.¹⁴
     In October 1908 he and May moved to Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Missouri,¹⁵ where he took a job as manager of the People's Gas and Electric Co.¹⁵ They remained there until at least 1913. By 1915 they were back in Oelwein^16,17,18, and he was again working in the life insurance business.¹⁷ They are listed in Oelwein in the 1920 and 1925 censuses. Living with them in 1920 were May's brothers George (age 55, widowed) and Edwin Dowse (49, single), and a nephew Kenneth Dowse (24, listed between George and Edwin, so probably George's son). Kenneth and Edwin were still with them in 1925, but not George.^19,20
     He served as president of the Iowa Legion of Honor, and was also president of the Equitable Accident Association.¹³

     Samuel Lipton McMasters was born on 14 April 1848 in Snow Shoe, Centre Co., Pennsylvania.^1,2 He married Ella Antionette Burlingham, daughter of Robert E. Burlingham and Adelia Hale, on 16 October 1872 in West Union, Fayette Co., Iowa.^3,2,4 He died from a stroke on 1 March 1924 at age 75 at the Winneshiek Hotel in Decorah, Winneshiek Co., Iowa, where his farm loan business and his son Edwin's optometry business shared office space. When he didn't come home for dinner his wife called twice with no answer, then sent their maid who found him barely alive, but he died a few minutes later.^1,2 He was initially interred on 4 March 1924 at Phelps Cemetery in Decorah, Winneshiek Co., Iowa,^1,2 then later at West Union Cemetery in West Union, Fayette Co., Iowa, after a family mausoleum was built.^5,2 In August 1945 his son Edwin moved both his and his wife Ella's remains back to Phelps Cemetery, apparently without consulting other family members.⁶
     He moved to West Union, Fayette Co., Iowa, with his parents about 1856 ("at age 8").² After their marriage, he and his wife Ella lived in West Union⁷ until January 1916, when they moved with their son Edwin to Decorah, Winneshiek Co., Iowa.^8,2,9
     In the early morning of 23 January 1917, about a year after arriving in Decorah, their house was destroyed in a fire, thought to have started near the furnace in the basement. They were away at the time, in Iowa Falls with their son Harold. Their son Edwin was home, sleeping on the second floor, but escaped unharmed. By the time the fire was discovered at 2:45 AM, presumably by Edwin, it was well underway. Firemen were hampered by the near-zero temperature, and frozen fire hydrants.¹⁰
     He and Ella are listed in West Union in the federal censuses from 1880 to 1910, and in the Iowa state censuses from 1885 to 1915. Samuel's widowed father was with them in 1880 and 1885. Also living with them in 1880 were a servant, Elizabeth Fogolson (age 15), and a laborer, Daniels James (12).^{11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19} They are listed in Decorah in the 1920 census, with their son Edwin, age 31, living with them.²⁰
     He was a farmer early in his life, growing fruit trees.^21,15 Sometime between 1895 and 1900 he began selling nursery goods, and continued in that business until at least 1920. For many years he was an agent for the Allen Nursery Co. of Rochester, New York, and made annual trips to Houston, Houston Co., Minnesota, to buy nursery stock for the company.^{12,16,13,20,22,8} Late in his life he had a farm mortgage business.^1,2

     Francis C. McMasters was born about 1874 in West Union, Fayette Co., Iowa.^1,4 He was married by Rev. E. D. Hall to Lillian Belle May, daughter of Henry H. May and Louisa Poole, on 10 October 1894 in New Albin, Allamakee Co., Iowa.^4,5 He committed suicide on 4 November 1894 in New Albin, Allamakee Co., Iowa.⁶ He was buried on 7 November 1894 at West Union Cemetery (Plot 1 1 7) in West Union, Fayette Co., Iowa.^7,8
     He was hired as a druggist by W. O. Bock & Co. in New Albin, Allamakee Co., Iowa, in January 1894, and left the company on 1 June 1894.⁶
     Newspaper accounts about his death, less than four weeks after his wedding, describe him as having "good habits and a bright future," with an "excellent reputation" and "many warm friends." The wedding itself was "a particularly happy one ... they had the high esteem of all who knew them." However, three days after the wedding he inexplicably left home for three days, during which he was reportedly seen in Chicago and Dubuque. After returning he spent most of his time at home, and didn't seem to want to associate with anyone other than family.
     About two weeks later, on Monday 29 October, he talked his wife into going with him to Chicago, where he intended to take a course, and they stopped at a hotel in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. Having just $8 with him, he told her to remain there while he went to West Union for more money, and that he would return by Thursday. She stayed at the hotel Monday night, then went to a friend's house. Hearing nothing from Frank, she returned home to New Albin on Saturday. Frank's whereabouts during most of that time are unknown.
     On Sunday morning 4 November, his former employer W. O. Bock found two letters at his drug store from Frank, one to his wife and the other to his mother. He went to the home of Frank's father-in-law Henry May, and they returned to the store together, where they found Frank nearly dead. Doctors tried unsuccessfully to save him. Evidence at the store indicated that he had broken in on Saturday night and paced for hours, smoking cigars. He took doses of every opium in the store, including laudanum and morphine, then soaked his handkerchief with chloroform, put it in his hat, and laid down with his hat over his face. The doctors concluded that he was insane, with "dementia resulting from the excessive use of tobacco."
     In the letter to his wife he wrote "I saw you come home Saturday. You looked so angry that I felt you were lost to me. I cannot live without you. I have been home for money and failed to get any." He also implied that his father had refused him money. The newspaper article, however, says that his parents were out of town at the time, and that Frank had probably not been in West Union at all.^6,9

     Mark Gilbert McMasters was born on 1 April 1876 in Iowa.^4,1 He was married first, by J. A. Davis, M. G., to Louise Olson, daughter of Julius M. Olson and Louise Gilberts, on 21 November 1898 in West Union, Fayette Co., Iowa.⁵ They were divorced sometime between 1915, when they were listed as married on consecutive cards in the Iowa state census, and 1918, when Mark remarried.^6,7,8 He married second Jalma Rugroden, daughter of Mathias Rugroden and Jenette (?), in 1918.^9,10,11,12 He died on 12 February 1943 at age 66 from a heart attack while visiting his daughter Donna in Decorah, Winneshiek Co., Iowa.^13,14,15 He was buried on 17 February 1943 at Lake Preston Cemetery (Lot No. 48, Block No. 8) in Lake Preston, Kingsbury Co., South Dakota.^16,17,14
     He was a farmer early in his life, in West Union, Fayette Co., Iowa, where he grew up.⁵ About 1900 he opened a laundry business, probably with his brother Nelson in January 1900, initially in Caledonia, Houston Co., Minnesota.¹⁸ He moved the business to Elgin, Fayette Co., Iowa, about June 1900, then sold it a few months later, in November 1900.^19,20,21
     In 1902 he (and presumably his first wife Louise) moved to Washington state, intending to settle there in the "promised land of Horace Greely" where he would find the opportunity for "growth to wealth and happiness."²² By 1910, however, he was back in Fayette Co., farming on his brother Harold's farm in Union Twp.^23,24
     In the spring of 1911 he again quit farming, and went to work for the Minneapolis Silo Co., where his brother Harold had been a successful salesman.²⁴ He sold building blocks for farm construction, especially silos, until at least 1925.^6,4,25,26
     Around 1917 or 1918 he and Louise moved to Springfield, Greene Co., Missouri,²⁷ and a short time later Mark moved to Hudson, Lincoln Co., South Dakota.^4,28 In 1920 he was living in Sioux Falls, Minnehaha Co., South Dakota, with his second wife Jalma.²⁵ His first wife Louise was also then living in Sioux Falls, on her own with her children.^29,25 Shortly afterward he and Jalma moved to De Smet Twp., Kingsbury Co., South Dakota, where they lived the rest of their lives.^{14,26,30,8,31,32}
     By 1930 he had given up his sales job. He and Jalma ran Lake Henry Park for a time³⁰, and later had a farm.^8,31

     Harold Newton McMasters was born on 19 March 1877 in Iowa.^4,1 He was married by C. Theo Schmidt, J. P., to Harriett M. Schrack, daughter of L. Schrack and Alice Hill, on 15 December 1897 in Elgin, Fayette Co., Iowa.⁵ He died in 1948 in Pinellas Co., Florida.⁶ He was buried at Memorial Park Cemetery in St. Petersburg, Pinellas Co., Florida.⁷
     On 25 June 1885, at age 8, he nearly drowned when he fell into the water while fishing from atop a dam at West Auburn, Fayette Co., Iowa. He couldn't swim, and one of his three friends went to the mill for help. When he was finally pulled out "his heart had stopped beating and he was black in the face." They got the water out of him by "rolling and kneading," and "restored the action of his heart."⁸
     He and his wife Harriett lived in a variety of places during their marriage. Their marriage record lists their residence as West Union, Fayette Co., Iowa,⁵ and they are listed in Union Twp. in the 1900 census.⁹ They were living in Independence, Buchanan Co., Iowa, in 1910¹⁰, in Iowa Falls, Hardin Co., Iowa, from at least 1918 to 1920^4,11, and in Waterloo, Black Hawk Co., Iowa, in 1930.¹² By 1935 they had moved to St. Petersburg, Pinellas Co., Florida, where they spent the rest of their lives.^13,14,15
     He was a salesman much of his working life, selling clay products for farm structures, especially silos.^5,10,4,12,13 He owned a farm himself, in Union Twp., Fayette Co., Iowa, that was run by his brother Mark for a time between 1900 and 1911.^9,16 He also worked as a real estate broker.^11,14
     In the summer of 1911, while vacationing at Lake Minnetonka near Minneapolis, Minnesota, he bought several thoroughbred Holstein dairy cattle (a bull, and 13 cows/heifers), and had them shipped to his farm. A newspaper account at the time viewed this as a significant event for the county, providing a nearby source for other dairy farmers to purchase high-class cows to replenish their stock.¹⁷

     Nelson Hoag McMasters was born on 6 May 1879 in West Union, Fayette Co., Iowa.^7,6 He was married by M. E. Todd, Clergyman, to Sadie Elizabeth Alcorn, daughter of William Alcorn and Elizabeth Montgomery, on 27 June 1900 in West Union, Fayette Co., Iowa.^5,6,8 He died on 8 April 1954 at his home in West Union, Fayette Co., Iowa, at age 74.⁶ He was buried at West Union Cemetery (Plot 2 2 4) in West Union, Fayette Co., Iowa.^6,9
     In January 1900 he moved to Caledonia, Houston Co., Minnesota, to start a laundry business, probably with his brother Mark^10,11, but was back in West Union, Fayette Co., Iowa, by June 1900.^12,11 Except for eight years in Oelwein, Fayette Co., Iowa, he and his wife Sadie lived all their lives together in West Union.^6,8
     After quitting the laundry business he was a farmer for a time^5,13, but spent most of his working career selling materials for farm buildings, especially silos, and later worked in real estate and insurance.^{6,5,14,4,15,16,17,7}

     Edwin Hale McMasters was born on 29 March 1889 in West Union, Fayette Co., Iowa.^1,5,6 He was married first, by J. Theodore Bursett, Luth. Pastor, to Rose Beulah Peterson, daughter of John C. Peterson and Emma Jacobson, on 30 October 1913 at the opera house in Clermont, Fayette Co., Iowa.^7,8 They were apparently separated by 1915 (they are listed separately in the 1915 Iowa state census, Edwin in West Union as widowed and Rose in Clermont as married)^9,10, and officially divorced in September 1916.¹¹ He was married second, by Howard S. Kemp, J. P., to Clara Williams, daughter of John Williams, on 7 July 1934 in Lake Co., Indiana.^12,13 They were probably divorced within a few years; no further online record has been confirmed for her, and he is listed as single in the 1940 census.¹⁴ He died on 21 August 1976 (the Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File says 20 August) at age 87.^15,16 He was buried at Phelps Cemetery in Decorah, Winneshiek Co., Iowa.^15,17
     In early March 1905, when he was not quite 16, he underwent an eye operation in Cedar Rapids, Linn Co., Iowa. A news item noted that it would be several months before he had use of his eye again, and in his 1917 World War I draft registration he claimed an exemption on the grounds of "very defective vision."^18,5 It seems likely that this experience led to his lifelong career as an optometrist.^{19,9,20,21,14,15}
     He lived in West Union, Fayette Co., Iowa, until 1915^19,9, when on 8 December he moved to Decorah, Winneshiek Co., Iowa, due to the large number of his customers there. He had been living with his parents, and they also moved to Decorah the following January.²²
     In 1918 he was called upon by Maj. Lewis L. McArthur of the Red Cross in Chicago to lead the optical work at Base Hospital 14 in France during World War I. He enlisted on 2 June 1918, traveled first to Chicago, then to Battle Creek, Michigan, where the unit was being formed. From there they traveled to Brooklyn, New York, and on 15 July 1918 sailed for France on the ship Port Melbourne. He was discharged on 10 May 1919.^23,24,16
     Except for his service during World War I, and possibly for a short time after his second marriage, he lived in Decorah the rest of his life.^{20,25,21,14,1,15,26} In 1930 his nephews Charles and Gilbert, sons of his brother Mark, were living with him, as was his business partner Arthur Headington, and a servant, Lily Knoke.^21,27 In 1940 he was living as a lodger with Gregory Huinker.¹⁴
     In addition to his optometry business, he invested in various apartment buildings and other properties, and in November 1936 he bought the old Union Hotel in Decorah. It was announced that improvements were planned, possibly with office space on the second floor and apartments on the upper floors.²⁸
     On 10 April 1938 he was involved in an auto accident on the Eldorado hill about six miles north of West Union. The car he was driving, with Glenn Huinker as a passenger, collided with a car driven by H. E. Smith, with Herbert Gee and his wife as passengers. Smith was treated in the hospital for a scalp wound, McMasters and Huinker both had "scalp gashes," and the Gees were only slightly hurt.²⁹
     His obituary says his survivors included a son, but no online record has been found identifying him.¹⁵

     Lillian Belle May was born on 6 November 1872 in New Albin, Allamakee Co., Iowa.¹ She was married by Rev. E. D. Hall to Francis C. McMasters, son of Samuel Lipton McMasters and Ella Antionette Burlingham, on 10 October 1894 in New Albin, Allamakee Co., Iowa.^2,1 She died on 18 August 1927 in New Albin, Allamakee Co., Iowa, at age 54 from inanition (exhaustion for want of nourishment), with dementia as a contributing factor.¹ She was buried on 20 August 1927 at New Albin Cemetery in New Albin, Allamakee Co., Iowa.^1,3
     She worked as a saleslady in a general store.¹

     Louise Olson was born on 24 May 1876 near Postville, Allamakee Co., Iowa.² She was married by J. A. Davis, M. G., to Mark Gilbert McMasters, son of Samuel Lipton McMasters and Ella Antionette Burlingham, on 21 November 1898 in West Union, Fayette Co., Iowa.¹ They were divorced sometime between 1915, when they were listed as married on consecutive cards in the Iowa state census, and 1918, when Mark remarried.^3,4,5 She died on 8 July 1927 in Sioux Falls, Minnehaha Co., South Dakota, at age 51.^6,7 She was buried on 11 July 1927 at West Union Cemetery (Lot 4) in West Union, Fayette Co., Iowa.^8,2
     In 1902 her husband Mark (and she, presumably) moved to Washington state, intending to settle there in the "promised land of Horace Greely" where he would find the opportunity for "growth to wealth and happiness."⁹ By 1910, however, they were back in Fayette Co., farming on her husband's brother Harold's farm in Union Twp.^10,11
     Around 1917 or 1918 they moved to Springfield, Greene Co., Missouri,² and a short time later Mark moved to Hudson, Lincoln Co., South Dakota.^12,13 In 1920 she was living on her own with her children in Sioux Falls, Minnehaha Co., South Dakota. Her ex-husband Mark was also then living there, with his second wife Jalma.^14,15

     Jalma Rugroden was born on 18 October 1891 in Hartland, Freeborn Co., Minnesota.³ She married Mark Gilbert McMasters, son of Samuel Lipton McMasters and Ella Antionette Burlingham, in 1918.^4,5,6,7 She died on 13 May 1961 at age 69.⁸ She was buried at Lake Preston Cemetery (Lot No. 48, Block No. 8) in Lake Preston, Kingsbury Co., South Dakota.^8,9
     She and her husband Mark were living in Sioux Falls, Minnehaha Co., South Dakota, in 1920.¹ Shortly afterward they moved to De Smet Twp., Kingsbury Co., South Dakota, where they lived the rest of their lives.^{10,11,2,12,13,14}

     Harriett M. Schrack was born on 1 February 1879 in Iowa.^1,2 She was married by C. Theo Schmidt, J. P., to Harold Newton McMasters, son of Samuel Lipton McMasters and Ella Antionette Burlingham, on 15 December 1897 in Elgin, Fayette Co., Iowa.² She died on 5 December 1973 in Pinellas Co., Florida, at age 94.¹ She was buried at Memorial Park Cemetery in St. Petersburg, Pinellas Co., Florida.³
     She and her husband Harold lived in a variety of places during their marriage. Their marriage record lists their residence as West Union, Fayette Co., Iowa,² and they are listed in Union Twp. in the 1900 census.⁴ They were living in Independence, Buchanan Co., Iowa, in 1910⁵, in Iowa Falls, Hardin Co., Iowa, from at least 1918 to 1920^6,7, and in Waterloo, Black Hawk Co., Iowa, in 1930.⁸ By 1935 they had moved to St. Petersburg, Pinellas Co., Florida, where they spent the rest of their lives.^9,10,11

     Sadie Elizabeth Alcorn was born on 5 July 1878 on a farm north of West Union, Fayette Co., Iowa.² She was married by M. E. Todd, Clergyman, to Nelson Hoag McMasters, son of Samuel Lipton McMasters and Ella Antionette Burlingham, on 27 June 1900 in West Union, Fayette Co., Iowa.^1,4,2 She died on 9 December 1963 at age 85.² She was buried on 11 December 1963 at West Union Cemetery in West Union, Fayette Co., Iowa.²
     Except for eight years in Oelwein, Fayette Co., Iowa, she and her husband Nelson lived in West Union, Fayette Co., Iowa, all their lives together.^4,2

     Rose Beulah Peterson was born about 1894 in Clermont, Fayette Co., Iowa.¹ She was married by J. Theodore Bursett, Luth. Pastor, to Edwin Hale McMasters, son of Samuel Lipton McMasters and Ella Antionette Burlingham, on 30 October 1913 at the opera house in Clermont, Fayette Co., Iowa.^1,2 They were apparently separated by 1915 (they are listed separately in the 1915 Iowa state census, Edwin in West Union as widowed and Rose in Clermont as married)^3,4, and officially divorced in September 1916.⁵