| Notes |
- I, Mary Louise (Peterman) Kuester was born November 17th, 1899, about 3 miles North of Luzerne in Benton County, Iowa on a farm. My parents were Henry Cort Peterman and Martha Maria (Rosburg) Peterman. I am the 4th oldest child of theirs. A baby girl died at birth (Emma Wilhelmenia). I had 2 brothers, Edward and Eldo, both older than me. I have one sister, Martha, 10 years younger than me. I was baptized Christmas Eve (December 24, 1899) at my grandparent's home (Grandma Maria and Grandpa Wilhelm Rosburg) in Luzerne, by Rev. Philip Studt. My sponsors were George Peterman and Amanda (Rosburg) Kouba. When I was about 4 years old my parents moved to a farm a short distance East of Luzerne, so my first year of school I attended at the Lutheran school in Luzerne. At that time all the studies were in the German language, but I could understand it as my parents spoke quite a bit of German with us children. I just went one term to the Lutheran school at Luzerne. My parents were just renters, so this farm was sold so we had to move in the Spring. Then we moved to a farm 2 miles North, and about 1 mile west of Luzerne. This farm belonged to my great uncle, John Peterman. Then I attended a public school for several years, until in 1914-1015 I went back to the Lutheran school at Luzerne. During the spring and fall months I walked with some of the neighbor children. Sometimes we got a ride. I had to leave home around 7 o'clock in the morning, but in the Winter months I stayed at my Aunt Mamie and Uncle Martin Studts in Luzerne.
I was confirmed by the Rev. Gottlieb Schroeder March 28, 1915. There were eleven students in my class, 8 girls and 3 boys. I never attended high school. In those days it was mostly children from wealthy families that attended high school, and if there wasn't a high school in the town where you lived, or if you lived in the country, you didn't have a way to get there and back home. I stayed at home and helped my Mother with the house work and other chlores. She taught me how to cook, bake, can vegetables and fruit and make juelly and jam. Also I helped with the washing and ironing. Them days we didn't have electricity, no modern appliances. My Mother also taught me how to sew. She was a good seamstress. Now and then I would get a job helping one of the neighbors for a week or two. I usually was paid $5 a week salary. In those days, that was a fairly good amount.
Them days were horse and buggy days, so we couldn't go too far, so we couldn't go visiting relatives very often. About 2 or 3 times a year my folks and family drove to Belle Plaine, Iowa. But it was just to buy clothing or things we couldn't get in the stores in Luzerne.
The young folks them days had lawn parties where they played games and in the Winter we had parties in the house, played games and sometimes we danced. Some fellow would play the accordion or some times even a mouth organ. But we had lots of fun just the same. Our young folk gang consisted mostly of girls and boys from our church congregation. We also had a young peoples society group that met once a month.
My parents always farmed, they never owned a farm, always rented. In March 1, 1917, the decided to quit farming, so they moved to Luzerne where they had bought a 7 acre acreage, several years before. My Mother didn't get to live there very long. She died on November 17, 1917 of pneumonia. She died on my 18th birthday. That was a very sad shock for us all, especially, for my sister Martha. She was only 7 years old. So the task was up to me to take care of her and take care of the household duties.
So in the Spring of 1918, when the World War I ended, and you men were receiving their discharges from the Army, a young man by the name of Albert Kuester received his discharge in Illinois. He visited 2 of his sisters who lived there. Then he came here to Luzerne, as he had a sister living here too. A niece of his and I were big friends, so that's how I got acquanited with him. After he got back to Wheaton, Minnesota, where he lived, we wrote letters back and forth to each other. During Christmas holidays in 1919 Albert came here to Luzerne, and we became engaged to be married.
In June 24, 1920 Albert's sister, Amelia, passed away, so I went with his sister, Emma Koenig, who lived in Luzerne, to Amelia's funeral in Wheaton, Minnesota.
We were married November 6, 1920 at St Paul Lutheran Church here at Luzerne at 7 P.M. by the Rev. Gottlieb Schroeder. My brother, Eldo Peterman and Albert's niece Hulda Koenig were our witnesses. We didn't have a large wedding reception. Just my family and his sister and family. We had a dinner at my Father's house here in Luzerne. I baked my own wedding cake and prepared the meal before the wedding. My sister in law helped some. She and his sister served the meal. We all sat down together and ate. Quite a number of friends and relatives were at the church to see us get married. I had three bridal showers given for me. We didn't go on a honeymoon, but left for Wheaton, Minnesota in a few days. Albert helped farm with his Father there.
Wheaton was a long way from Luzerne. We rode on a train two days and 2 nights. Wheaton is near the North Dakota border. We lived in Minnesota about three years, then we came back to Iowa. The weather was so dray, hardly no rain, so the crops didn't yield much. When weeds wither and dry up, it's dry. Albert didn't care too much about farming anyway. I didn't like it there either.
Albert got a job on the railroad here when we came back. He worked there 20 years until his sudden death at work. He had a heart attack. Lucille and Eldo were both born at Wheaton, Minnesota. Ardath was born at Belle Plaine, Iowa. The rest were are born here in Luzerne.
I worked hard raising my family. There was cooking, baking, washing, ironing, sewing, mending, cleaning and canning to do. I canned from 200 to 300 quarts of fruit, vegetables, pickles, james and jellies each Summer. Also some meat. We always planted a large garden. I don't know what we would have done if I hadn't planted a big garden every Spring, and that took lots of work keeping the weeds out. But we both loved all of our children that God had given us, so we knew it was our duty to provide and care for them.
I will admit that there were some things I would have liked to have had and I am sure that there were things that Albert would have like to have had too. But we both knew that we couldn't afford them. We didn't believe in buying things on time. If we didn't have the money, we didn't buy anything. We always had plenty of food to eat, also clothes and shoes to wear. There never was much sickness in our family.
There were troublesome and hard times, especially during the depression. After my Father's death in 1935, we bought the acreage from my sister and brother. In 1951 we sold the acreage to Lester Crimm, and bought this house from Don Shedenhelms. We moved here in the Spring. I believe this house is almost as old as I am. My great uncle John Peterman had it built.
On Sept 15, 1950 we received some sad news that our son, Marlyn had been killed at Inchon, Korea. His body was shipped back here in May 1951. He was buried here with military services.
On August 18, 1952 we had some more sad news, our grandson, John Albert Kimm died of leukemia.
I received another sad shock on May 8, 1953 when albert died real sudden of a heart attack at work. It took me some time that I realized that he was really gone. I put my faith and trust in God, and he helped me to carry on. Gerrold, Dale, Lois, and Ardath were still at home, so I had them to care for, so I didn't live alone. I have often wished that Albert were still here, so we could spend our old age years together. But I know that it was God's will to take him out of this troublesome world. We all have to die sometime.
In the forepart of August 1958 Ardath and I made a vacation trip to California. At that time Eldo and family lived in Paramount, which is near Los Angeles. We rode on a train for 2 nights and one day. I was a long and tiresome journey. Seeing the mountains and different parts of the country was interesting. While we were there, we went to the Pike, which is by the ocean. We also went to Marineland, and Knots Berrry farm. We went to Disneyland one morning and got rained out. We had to come home. Went back there the next day. They say it hardly ever rains in California in teh Summer, but it sure poured down that day. We all got wet. One evening we drove to Hollywood. Saw the foot prints of many movie stars in teh cement in front of the Grauman's Chinese Theatre. Eldo, Jean, Pat, Judy, and Dale all showed us a good time. We spent about 2 weeks there. But it was good to get back home again.
On May 2, 1967 we received the sad news that Eldo had passed away of congestive heart failure. Willis, Jean, Lois, and I flew out there to attend his funeral. It was the first time that either of us had ridden on an airplane. I liked it real well, but wished it had been for a happier occasion. We spent several days in California. One day we went to the Farmer's Market. They sell all kinds of fruit and vegetables and other things there. Then another day we went to the Anheuser Busch brewery. Say how they brew beer. Willis, Lois, Pat, and Judy all went to Disneyland one day. Jean and I stayed at home, we didn't care to go.
Willis passed away quite sudden of a heart attack July 17, 1977. So now they are gone, but I have many happy memories of them all, and we all have to live on until our Heavenly Father calls us to be with Him in Heaven.
On November 17, 1979 I reached the age of 80 years. On Sunday, November 18th, my family had a birthday party for me at the Cummunity Center at Belle Plaine, Iowa. At Noon, we had a pot luck dinner with around 45 relatives attending. In the afternoon we held an open house for friends and relatives to attend. Many of my friends came. It was good to see them all. I received many nice gifts, including some 82 birthday cards. I was a very enjoyable day for me.
I believe I have covered most of the highlights of my life. Most of my life I have had good health, which I am real thankful for. I have many pleasant memories of my past life. Also some sad ones.
Albert W. Kuester was a World War I veteran. He was in the Army. Eldo H. Kuester was a World War II veteran. He was in the Navy. Willis A. Kuester was a World War II veteran. He was in the Navy. Marlyn E. Kuester was a Korean War veteran. He was in the Marines. Lyle B. Hoyt was a World War II veteran. He was in the Army.
Baptised in the William Rosburg home, and buried in the Lutheran Cemetery.
per JF Thoma,
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1899 - 1983 (84 years)
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