Frank Tennyson Tennyson Longfellow

From 1980 Taylor County history:

"FRANK LONGFELLOW

Frank Tennyson Longfellow "Slim" born near Platte Branch, rural Gay Township, Taylor County, Iowa, is the voungest child in a family of six boys and one girl born to Joseph P. and Mary Elder Longfellow. Family had migrated from Muscatine County, Iowa and later moved to Platteville where father blacksmithed. Frank attended Platteville school and joined Methodist Church there. Frank remembers he and brother Tom climbed the belfry to toll the bell for funerals. The boys had a six-goat team they hitched to a small farm type wagon built by their father. At an early age Frank started working out by the month, earning fifty cents a day following a walking plow or harrow.

Frank married Eulah Hunter, daughter of Paul and Perthena Hunter, in 1914. They lived on farms in Taylor County until Eulah's death in 1934. Frank quit farming in 1939. During World War II he did defense work at Scottsbluff, Nebraska. He was part of a survey team on airport

construction. Later he carpentered and was custodian of Taylor County Courthouse, retiring in 1963.

Frank and Eulah have three children, Ann died in infancy. Jean Frances, born 1918, completed high school in Bedford, taught rural schools, and worked for Ash Telephone Company. She married Stuart Melvin, Truck driver and mechanic. Jean, LPN, worked in nursing homes and hospitals. Stuart died in 1969. Jean later married Merle Stewart and lived on a farm near Bedford. They have now moved to Missouri.

Donald Jay, born 1922, graduated from high school in Bedford and served overseas in World War II. His entire life has been spent in aviation and he is now with the Federal Aviation Administration at Atlanta. He married Uryth Sparks and now lives at Powder Springs, Georgia.

Frank married (1934) Audra Alleen Gillette, youngest of six children of Henry and Addie Agler Gillette. Alleen born at New Market moved to Bedford in 1920. She graduated from high school in "Great Depression" years and immediately started working as dental assistant to Dr. Karl Paschal. She attended American Institute of Business, Des Moines. After graduation she secured employment as typist-clerk in Taylor County Department of Social Services during WPA and CCC era, when one was lucky to have a job. Alleen continued her education at Clarinda Junior College, later transferrins to Maryville, Mo., majoring in social services. She becarne a social service worker, retiring in 1974 after forty years of public service.

We have five grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Joyce, Mrs. John Slate, Bedford, Texas, is a registered nurse. They have two daughters, Sherry and Debra. Carol, Mrs. Ben Novak, Louisville, Ky, teaches primary grades. Kay, Mrs. David Spain, Memphis, Tenn. does clerical work. They have two daughters, Rebecca and Susan. Jay Longfellow, Powder Springs, Ga. manages meat department of chain grocery. Katherine, Mrs. Gary Vickers, Jackson, Miss. majored in accounting.

We have lived in Taylor County our entire lives and thirty-two years in the present home."

Bedford Times-Press, Wednesday, June 19, 1996 Page 3; Local News column:

"Recent guests of Alleen Longfellow were here grandchildren Kay Spain, Byhalia, Ms, and Jay Longfellow of Patten Spring, Ga.