Publications

By Elodie Opstad

This is Elodie’s first publication with all earnings donated to the Warren County Historical Society & Museum.

Shedding light on individuals, events, everyday products, and household remedies lost to time but worthy of remembering, these glimpses (short essays) were originally published as a monthly column for the Indianola Independent-Advocate. Gathered together, they form an unbroken line with bolded words ending one title also beginning the next. Leaping and dancing through time and topics from the mid-1840s to mid-1920s, the fact history keeps repeating itself isn’t ignored.

 Bringing forth the forgotten, the influencers and nay-sayers, the believers and non-believers, with their attitudes and perspectives, none were perfect yet all made a difference. While the stories are entertaining, their relevance delivers subtle realization and unexpected clarity to current events and topics.

With the history of Warren County, Iowa, following the same path as most Middle West (Midwest) places, you don’t have to be a local resident to enjoy these glimpses and find hope in history’s repetitive nature.

By Jerry and Linda Beatty

Commemorating the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the Warren County Historical Society has published a 383 page book with over 900 photos, entitled, Women of Warren, “Her Story”. The book summarizes the march toward women’s suffrage and offers a biographical sketch of over 600 women who lived in Warren County, Iowa at some time in their lives. The authors, WCHS volunteers, Jerry and Linda Beatty, collected stories and photos from many sources including: books, articles, obituaries, memoirs, scrapbooks, letters, family histories and personal interviews. For two years the public was invited to submit information about women they have known who have made significant contributions to their families and communities.There have been many outstanding women from Warren County who have performed a variety of tasks such as entertainers, musicians, artists, businesswomen, agriculturists, authors, librarians, gardeners, missionaries, faith leaders, athletes, nurses, doctors, members of military service, volun-teers, public officials, attorneys, teachers, community activists, volunteers and homemakers. The third riches woman in the world, Julia Flesher Koch; oldest woman in U.S. in 2004, Verona Johnson (age 114); the first Lady of the Farm, Ruth Buxton Sayre; and Ilo Browne Wallace, wife of Vice President Henry Wallace were Warren County natives. The book also tells women’s stories that have been unreported and underappreciated. Each woman has a story to tell and the authors know that many worthy Warren County women have not been included.

Windows on Warren County’s Past is a wire spiral book containing over 250 black and white photos of Warren County’s heritage, including the famous photo, “Cadence on the Plow”, which was taken by Don Berry, former publisher of the Record Herold and Indianola Tribune. The book includes pictures of early Warren Cunty businesses, communities, churches, schools, families, sport teams, bands, farm life and other events. The Record Herold and Indianola Tribune and over 100 persons contributed photos and information for this book. It would also make a great Christmas or birthday gift for loved ones.

Compiled by Jerry Beatty

The Warren County Historical Society has published a 400-page book entitled: Patriotism, Courage & Sacrifice: Warren County, Iowa, Responds to WW II written by award winning author, Jerry Beatty. The book lists over 3,200 service members, who lived at any time in Warren County, and includes service and biographical information on most of them.

The book contains over 800 pictures of Warren County service members and others who served the nation on the home front and abroad. The study was based on over 100 taped and in-person interviews as well as memoirs, family histories, and other materials. The index contains over 7,000 names. The book is dedicated to the 102 Warren County men who lost their lives during WW II fighting for freedom. It also honors all veterans who wore the uniform and the people back home who supported their efforts by producing the food and materials necessary to win the war. The study outlines the events leading to WW II and examines the participation, sacrifice, and contributions of Warren County service members. Thirty Warren County servicemen were captured and endured the hardships of German and Japanese POW camps; 2 died aboard Japanese transport ships sunk at sea.

The book highlights numerous activities on the home front including: war bond and stamp sales, rationing, salvage drives, conservation, civil defense, and the efforts of various groups and organizations, including the Red Cross, to provide quilts and other garments to American troops and relief to people living in war torn countries. Warren County farmers and victory gardeners increased production to feed the troops and starving people; many county residents worked at the munitions plant in Ankeny. Books will be on sale at the Warren County Historical Building during the Log Cabin Festival, September 23-24. 2017.

Compiled by Jerry Beatty

Over the past 150 years, thousands of books and articles have been written about the American Civil War.  This book has two principal goals: to honor the soldiers of Warren county, Iowa, who fought in the American Civil War and, secondly, to collect, analyze, and preserve information about the involvement of Warren County people in the historical events surrounding the Civil War.  This book reviews the involvement of WC citizens in events leading up to the war including the Underground Railroad, aiding runaway slaves, and the struggle between slave and anti-slave factions in the Kansas Territory.

Compiled by Jerry Beatty

The book describes the settlement of warren county, the impact of mechanization on agriculture, and the evolving development of livestock, crops, and horticulture in Warren County.  Among the topics in the book are farm-related organizations and youth groups.

The book lists all 142 family farms in Warren County that have received a Century or Heritage designation and the history of many of them.

A delicious assortment from Warren County residents who enjoy collecting, adapting, creating and using remarkable recipes along with stories and anecdotes about Warren County. Compiled by Linda Beatty (editor), Kaye Stewart and Ruth Hall. Published in 2010.

Summerset was first settled in the 1840s. This profile of one of the earliest communities in Warren County was compiled by Jerry Beatty with the help of resource material in the Historical Society Research Library as well as pictures, records, and personal interviews provided by descendants of those original settlers. It is hoped that this book will encourage historical explorations of other Warren County communities.

The year George Washington Carver spent at Simpson College and Indianola was a pivotal year in his life. After leaving Indianola, Carver went on to become a renowned scientist, humanitarian, and Christian. Ed Carty developed this tour guide describing nine sites in Indianola that were a part of his life or dedicated to his memory. Published 1990.

The first balloon flight took place in 1783. Since then many men and women have been exploring and inventing was to satisfy their curiosity and daring. The presence in Indianola of the National Balloon Museum and the U.S. Ballooning Hall of fame, together with the annual nine-day National Balloon Classic draw thousands of visitors to Indianola.

This assortment of cherished recipes has been shared with friends and loved ones over the first 100 years of Center Chapel Methodist Church. Published in 1993.