David Owens: The Trip to Mount Vernon...South Dakota

I would direct you to the various stories about David Owens, my third great grandfather. His story wormed its way into my heart and he has been of special interest in my genealogical work. The summer of 2023, I had the pleasure of going to the place he went after he left Iowa. The place where he raised his second family - Mount Vernon, South Dakota. 

Our trip was for the pleasure of the entire family - mostly. Little did my familial traveling companions know, but I had designs on our itinerary that would take us to genealogical wonders (for me, not them) along the way. 

Downtown Mount Vernon 25 years after the Owens arrived

As just a brief summary to those who do not want to read all of my stories, David Owens married my 3rd great grandmother, Sarah Holler. They pioneered through Indiana and Illinois, until arriving in Poyner Township, Black Hawk County, Iowa, where they were part of a group of the earliest settlers. They were baptists. Sarah died shortly after having her son Joseph in 1864. Joseph also died. David almost immediately married Elizabeth Brown, who died in 1866. Finally, he married Eliza Barker in 1867. They stayed in Poyner Township until 1884, when they made the big move to South Dakota where they hoped to homestead. They ended up homesteading two different adjoining properties outside of Mount Vernon, South Dakota.

We had left Mitchell, the Davison county seat, early one morning as I had an appointment with the sexton at the cemetery where David and Eliza were buried. No emails involved - only the phone.  Dale Kroupa, who had lived his entire life in Mount Vernon and knew who lived at every single property in the County, met us at the cemetery. By that time, I had already found the stone in question. We chatted a bit and I told him of my interest in the Owens family. He grabbed his phone, made a call, and said, "Follow me."

Milwaukee, Chicago, St Paul Station

Off we went to the nearby historical museum (housed in what was formerly a church). Dale had called the woman who masterminded the museum, Roberta Olsen, at home. She told him to give her a minute, but she'd be right down to open up the museum.  Now, that's service! She knew every person to a one who settled in the area and how they connected to each other. I poured over tons of resources, books, and plat maps. Dale had tracked the properties down and so we were off again to see the property.  On that day, I got to see the place where they had farmed over 100 years ago. The place did not look much different from it had then. I felt a real connection to David, which just further insinuated him into my heart.

Really, all that racing around was great, but man, I've got to tell you, the kindness of strangers. Am I right? Mrs. Olsen and Mr. Kroupa so clearly loved and were proud of their place in the world and so very willing to share it with others. It moved me very much.  

I delayed telling this story so now I have to dig through my phone for the photoes. So, I shall return - with pictures and some other stuff.

Mount Vernons Historical Museum

Munson Tales: New England Slave Owners

Revelations out of Yale relatively recently brought the public’s attention to the fact that slaves contributed to the building of several early Yale buildings (1747-1752). Called out specifically was the slave of Captain Theophilus Munson, who went by “Dick.” He provided significant labor in building, courtesy of the Captain. The last slave in New Haven was sold on the New Haven Green on March 8, 1825. This despite many other New England states having abolished slavery, some states even before they became states. There was a policy of gradual release of slaves, so the last New Haven slaves were not freed until 1848, just 13 years before the Civil War. 

Connecticut Hall (Yale), built with slave labor

In fact, abolition in most northern states had gradual release rules or the inhabitants just didn’t follow the laws of the land at all. New Jersey, a bastion of Munson progeny, never abolished slavery until the end of the Civil War. Joseph Tuttle (b. 1692), grandson of Thomas Munson’s daughter Hannah, was also a slave owner with eight slaves. Deacon Captain Stephen Munson (b. abt. 1733), who was joined to the 1st Church at Hanover, New Jersey, was named “ruling elder” in 1765 and later deacon. 1st Church published a series of Rules for the Regulation of Families in 1782, of which Stephen was the second signer. One of those rules was: “13. As we suppose all human creatures have a natural right to freedom, so when they have done nothing that forfeits their liberty, and when they do not voluntarily submit to bondage, we cannot but look upon their being held in slavery, as an unnatural evil and one of the greatest injuries to mankind. Therefore we will not use this slavery ourselves, and will prudently endeavor to prevent it in others.” This despite owning a slave named “Caesar.” I guess perhaps “Rule 13” was just a guideline for Stephen.

Munson Tales: Puritans Turned Polygamists

 Mary Elizabeth Potter (Clan Elizabeth) and Burr Frost married as teens in 1835 in Connecticut. Just seven years later, the couple was baptized in the growing church of the Latter Day Saints, led by Joseph Smith. It had been just six years since the Book of Mormon was written. 

The Frost’s moved west first to Nauvoo, Illinois. Joseph Smith and his followers had originally gone to Missouri, but were ejected by the State of Missouri. In 1844, Smith and his brother were later to be tried for treason in Missouri, so turned themselves in only to be killed by a mob at the jail. There was a power vaccuum, but it appeared that Brigham Young would be taking the lead. 

He organized the first Mormon Vanguard Company. In 1847, 14 groups of 9-14 people were assigned to a leader, an ox, and a wagon. They walked or road over 1,000 miles to the Salt Lake valley in what is now Utah. Burr was included in this first set of settlers in Group Seven, led by James Case. Amazingly, the group arrived safely in July of 1847. It was some time before Burr brought his wife and kids out. 

Though the Mormons were split as to whether polygamy should be allowed, Burr dipped his toe into the multiple-marriage pool by marrying Eliza Morris in 1852, the first year polygamy was out in the open. She was also still married to her first husband, Isaac Nash, with whom she had four children. She and Burr had no children together. However, that changed when Burr married 22-year-old Caroline Triplett in 1864. They had at least eight children together. Burr was a reliable and hard-working member of the LDS church. 

He was an effective proselytizer who was called upon to do mission work as far away as Hawaii and Australia. In March of 1878, Burr died. At the time of his death he was one of the Presidents of the Seventy, a significant leadership position. 

All of his wives outlived him. His first wife, Mary Elizabeth, outlived the younger wives, dying in 1904. Polygamy was banned by the church in 1890.

Munson Tales: Larry Welch, Chief of Staff of the Air Force

Young Larry

Thomas Munson > Samuel Munson > Solomon Munson > Samuel Munson > Ruth Munson > Mary Van Cleef > Ruth Ryker > Polley Hillis > John S Welch > Arthur Welch > Oliver Welch > Larry D Welch

Larry Deane Welch was born in a little town called Morningstar in Oklahoma smack in the middle of the Great Depression in 1934. Three kids had come before him and one would follow. His parents, Oliver and Nina (Stewart) Welch spent most of their lives in Kansas but during the Depression moved wherever there was work both north and south of the panhandle. Larry ended up attending a number of schools, but at least he was getting an education. The two country high schools he attended in no way prepared him for college. But, athletics helped him fit whenever he moved. Between junior and senior year, a recruiter for the local national guard battery came through the high school and Larry signed up. It was an honor to be part of the Guard in town. His skill at calculus allowed him the job of fire control. After graduation, he couldn’t decide on what he would do in college, but thought he’d try a degree in Texas. He transferred his Guard membership to Texas. In the meantime, his draft number was closing in on him. He took a test to enlist and though the Army was offering two years, the Air Force was offering three and Larry hedged his bets and went Air Force. 

Joint Chiefs of Staff under Colin Powell (Larry in blue)

There he would spend the next 38 years, rising to the pinnacle position before he retired. After basic
training at Lackland Air Force Base (AFB), Texas, he was on casual duty, waiting for his advanced training. His main chore was helping training staff get their recruits from one place to the next. One day, he was tasked with taking the recruits to the base theatre to be briefed on the Aviation Cadet Program. On the way out, he filled out an interest slip and dropped it in the box. Next thing he knew, he was selected for officer pilot training. He had the same three year commitment, so it was a win-win. The program was like Officer Candidate School, but wasn’t. After the 13 weeks at Lackland for military training, Larry was sent for his six months of flight training. He completed that near the top and was picked for one of three fighter slots. That’s where Larry really wanted to be. Then, the training command decided that the top eight pilots would stay and train future pilots. Among some of these pilots were Majors and Lt. Colonels. The 2-star general for the base called Larry in one day and that he couldn’t have Lieutenants running around telling senior officers their business. And, he pinned on Larry’s Captain bars. This promotion was called a “below-thezone” promotion, which meant it was ahead of schedule. He was thrilled and went home and walked around the house not saying a word about the giant Captain bars sitting on his shoulders. His wife carried on her conversation about going downtown, which was to be their destination, totally unaware, until Larry became frustrated and said he couldn’t go until she noticed something. She finally noticed! 

As any career military member knows, the spouse is what keeps it all together. He married the former Eunice Ellis about a year after he finished flight school in 1956. The were married for 66 years prior to her death in 2022. Larry was then operations officer of the 366th Tactical Fighter Wing He would be promoted to Major below-thezone as well. There was one slot and four candidates. He was told that he was selected because he went to night classes working towards his undergrad degree. He completed it with 170 credits. Then he spent a tour flying F4C Phantoms in Vietnam. He was back to school upon his return, going to Air War College to get his master’s. Like all career officers, he then spent some time in a headquarters environment. He ascribes much of his success to date with luck, but it was not luck that got one of his analysis papers in front of a bevy of generals and altered military policy. 

Larry is known for only
flying left-seat

His skill analyzing a problem and writing it up to have the greatest impact was now revealed. By 1974, he was a Colonel and Vice Commander of the 35th Tactical Fighter Wing at George AFB. From there, movement was swift. He went on to other analysis positions at the Pentagon. He built battle plans for Iraq and analyzed optimal weapons planning. He received a first and then a second and then a third star. He served as Tactical Air Command as Director of Operations and got his fourth star serving as Commander of Strategic Air Command. In 1986 he was promoted to Chief of Staff of the Air Force. This had a required four-year term. The end of that term would come in 1990, the end of the Cold War. 

The Soviet-Bloc countries got their independence and the Soviet Union collapsed. His charge was challenging. He had to implement the Goldwater-Nichols Department of Defense (DoD) Reorganization Act, which basically upended the way the DoD did business. He and the Chiefs managed to get the DoD through the process successfully. 

Where do you go after you’ve reached the top? You retire. Not Welch though. After leaving the service, he chaired the advisory committee to the Homeland Security Agency’s Science and Technology Division. He then some time on the Rumsfeld Commission, which reported to Congress on the ballistic missile threat. In 2009, he retired as president of Institute for Defense Analyses. In 2014, he was asked to work on the Independent Review of the Department of Defense Nuclear Enterprise. He is truly retired now and living in Virginia. His three children includes one son who attended the Air Force Academy and was a career officer, retiring as a colonel in 2024. 

Munson Tales: Capt Charles Butman Munson Family: U.S.S. Merrimac to Munson Island

Captain C B Munson

C.B. Munson (Clan Daniel), born in New Haven, Connecticut in 1852 on terra firma, would spend 47 years of his life on the water working his way to captain. He’d sailed clipper ships in Asian waters and steamships in the coastal waters of the United States. His story is one of adventure, but ultimately, his favorite spot was at home, with his family. Not terribly tall and thin as a rail, it’s hard to think of this man living a life of seafaring daring-do, but he did. 

Along the way, he found the love of his life, Fanny Gilbert Taylor. Fanny was born in Nassau, Bermuda in 1857. Her father brought her family to the United States, and started work as a crewman on a whaler. Once he had a few children, he worked on land as a carpenter. Fanny and Charles married in 1877 in Florida. The couple settled in Miami, Florida, during his oceangoing years and in later life settled in Jacksonville. They had one son, Charles Newton Munson, called Newt by those who knew him. Newt grew up at the shore as his father spent most of his days at sea. The family spent their time between New Haven, Connecticut, and Florida. 

Newt & Ruth Ellison

Captain Munson gained a reputation as an expert seaman who had served as shipping clerk, boatswain, quartermaster, lieutenant, second officer and first officer, until he ultimately became a captain who mastered every port between Shanghai and Virginia. He was also an expert of ports through Mexico and South America. His expertise was well-known, which is why he was urgently called by Admiral C. T. Sampson on the very day the Spanish-American war began in 1898 to pilot the Atlantic Fleet to Cuba. Battles ensued and Munson would be shifted from ship to ship. Finally, on 1 Jun he was ordered aboard the Merrimac to captain with instruction to let the Admiral rest until 2 am on 2 Jun. At 3:30 am, the crew, save a band of seven volunteers, were removed from the Merrimac and left in the charge of Lt Hobson, who had instructions to block the harbor entrance with a sunken Merrimac. The skeleton crew of seven improvised torpedoes which were placed strategically on the Merrimac. Then, the Spanish fleet damaged the Merrimac’s steering disallowing it to be put firmly in its blocking space at the harbor entrance. Then, only three of the ten torpedoes exploded, but a Spanish mine put a hole into the Merrimac and finally, the continued gunfired and torpedoes sunk the Merrimac in the wrong poistion. The ship was lost for naught, as the harbor was not blocked. Though the ship was lost, the Spanish were defeated in Cuba a month later. 

Captain Munson had many adventures over the course of his career. In old age, he retired to
Jacksonville, where he died in 1933. In 1923, Newt purchased four small islands in the Keys of Florida - Little Munson Island, Big Munson Island, Cook’s Island, and Carrier Island. He barged a building down from Jacksonville to start his winter get-away on Little Munson. He sold one island was sold to Capt. Percy Cook. He gave Big Munson Island to his secretary, Ruth Ellison. It’s not known who Carrier Island was sold to. 

On Newt’s death, just a year after the death of his father, Ada did not go back to the island. She never cared for it. When she died, Little Munson went to Ruth Ellison as well. Ruth sold off Little Munson Island to a Chicago manufacturer in 1936 and then to another owner during the Truman administration. Its greatest claim to fame was being the site for locations shooting for the movie, “PT-109,” which was based on former president John F. Kennedy’s WWII experiences in the Pacific. The island would go through many owners, including drug kingpins and Homer Formby (of refinishing fame) until being sold to a resort club. It is now known as Little Palm Island.

Munson Tales: Another Sherman Brother; Hoyt

Hoyt Sherman

Last issue, we talked about the tormented brilliance of General William T. Sherman. His father, Judge Charles Sherman, and his wife, Mary Hoyt, had several boys who would rise to the top of their spot in the world. Hoyt was the youngest son, born in 1827, just two years before Judge Sherman died of typhoid. Along with brothers John and Charles, he worked in a printing office of the Cincinnati Gazette under the tutelage of publisher Charles Hammond in Cincinnati and studied some law in Mansfield, Ohio, until his majority. 

 In 1848, brothers Hoyt, John, and Charles headed west for Fort Des Moines. At this time, Fort Des Moines was still frontier. Settlers met with Sioux raids and harsh conditions. Des Moines, the city, wasn’t founded until 1850. Hoyt Sherman was there as the area blossomed. Brothers James and Lampson would join him. 

Hoyt began his career selling school land grants out of the office of School Commissioner Thomas McMullen. In 1849 he became assistant postmaster to what was then called “Raccoon River.” When the postmaster left, he was named postmaster. The post office had been in an old building on Fort Des Moines, but Hoyt had a new post office built and then a second location. He held that job until 1852. In 1849, he was admitted to the bar and became a top attorney in the area. 

By 1850, he had turned his attention to the buying and selling of real estate. There was a particular piece of property he wanted to build his home on that was going on auction. He had $100. Unfortunately, others wanted that 5-acre plot as well, and bidding kept hedging up, with him out of money. Then he decided to use his day’s wages, all of $5, to make the winning bid of $105. That plot would eventually hold the Hoyt Place, a large home that would later serve many purposes for the citizens of Des Moines. 

Things kept moving along for Hoyt in Des Moines. In 1852 he was named Clerk of Courts and in 1853 he built the Sherman Block which included a bank and amusement hall as well as executive offices. In 1854, he decided to build a safer, bigger facility to process money from the huge number of land sales. 

He opened his first bank, Hoyt Sherman & Co. Its careful management and the integrity of the firm allowed its immediate success. Feeling pretty good, Sherman went east to Ohio and married Miss Sarah Moultin on Christmas Day of 1855 in Mansfield. He whisked her home and they lived together in Des Moines. In 1856, Sherman was responsible for building the new statehouse on Grimmell Hill after a skirmish of words between those near the “Fort” and those on the east side of Des Moines. That edifice still stands today on Grimmell Hill. 

The original Hoyt Sherman Place

In 1858, the State of Iowa had its new consitution which allowed for the formation of the State Bank of Iowa. Sherman was named the first cashier of the Des Moines branch and he merged his Sherman & Co. bank into the new bank. While his brother William was deeply involved with the Civil War (1861-1865), Hoyt did his part, too. He had been granted the rank of Major and named paymaster of the army, dispensing millions of dollars in funds over the course of the war. And, of course, the post-war audit found not one penny missing. 

In January 1867, the Equitable Life Insurance Co. was becoming quite the firm out West. Sherman was named its actuary. Over the next several years, he moved through the ranks and eventually became president. He made his mark outside of business as well. He was president of the Old Settlers Association and helped start the Des Moines Water Company. In 1866 he served a year as an Iowa state legislator. That lead him to the Pioneer Law Makers of Iowa, where he served as president in 1898 for a term. Things didn’t always go his way, though. 

In 1871, a fire broke out on the west side, wiping out several blocks. One of the buildings completely lost was the Hoyt Sherman place at 6th and Locust. He would go on to build a brick home at the land purchased for $105 at 15th and Woodland In 1887, Hoyt lost his wife, who was mother to his five children. Sarah Moultin had been ill for over a year, but expected to recover. She took a turn for the worse in late February and died in early March. He never remarried. 

 Hoyt’s brothers who had also made Iowa home, John and Lampson, did well too. John became a U.S. Senator and Lampson was founder of Des Moines’ second newspaper, the Des Moines Gazette, and served as Des Moines’ third mayor and as City Treasurer. 

All of his ten siblings died before Hoyt’s death in 1904. Hoyt and Sarah’s five children included: Frank (1856-1902), an attorney who died at age 45 of a stroke. He got his law degree from Columbia University. He practiced privately and served three years as county attorney. Additonally, he organized the first street railway company in Des Moines. He was married with a daughter. Adeline (1859-1917) married ink baron Frank Wiborg and lived her married life in the Hamptons and NYC. She died in NYC in 1917 and had three daughters. Charles (1861-1911) married Bertha Bartlett, daughter of General Joseph Barlett of Baltimore. Charles practiced law in Chicago and New York. He died of a stroke. Arthur (1869-1945) worked in insurance and real estate and retired with his wife to Beverly Hills, California. He was married and had five children. Helen (1873-1961) married W.O. Griffith and lived primarily in Philadelphia. She was a best-selling children and youth author. She had two boys and two girls. 

Hoyt Sherman Place spent time as the Women’s Club and is popular today as a music and arts center and theatre.

Hoyt Sherman Place in Des Moines, Iowa

Munson Tales: Why Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman Moved to Late Night

Ruth Elizabeth Wood

Ruth Wood Pflager (1917-2008) (Clan Obadiah) lived in several locations throughout the U.S. as her
husband Miller “Dan” Pflager built his career. Dan and Ruth married in 1940. They had four children that Ruth was charged with raising: Sandy, Charlene, Bill, and Jessica. She took her charge seriously. Television was just becoming common during those early parenting days. She believed that not all shows should be seen by children as they were incredibly violent or had inappropriate content. She started the Radio-Television Council of Greater Cleveland and served as its president. She spent time working with parents and children and broadcasters to educate all parties in responsible viewing. Parents were encouraged to watch TV with their child, monitor viewing, and limit viewing time. They were also encouraged to write to broadcasters with a critique of shows via a postcard program. 

The organization’s most well-known success was having the 1970s controversial TV show “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman,” moved from the 7:30 timeslot to the 10:30 timeslot. Mrs. Pflager was, however, against censorship. “Broadcasters say they give people what they want, so, if you disagree, turn off the set, tell them you have, and why. Citizens have a right and the responsiblity in the law. Many don’t realize it,” Mrs. Pflager said. 

She was a member of Christ United Methodist Church, Waynesboro, where she served as Chair of the Church and Society Committee. She was also a member of the American Association of University Women, Parent Teachers Associations, Church Women United, Daughters of the American Revolution, Radio/TV Council of Greater Cleveland, United Methodist Women, National Telemedia Council, Cultural Environment Movement, Lamda Delta MU, and she was founder and chairperson of the “TV Tune-In, USA.” Mrs. Pflager received numerous awards from Radio/TV Council, and Church Women United. In 1991, she received the Public Education Partners and Promoters Award from WAEA.