Submitted by Pennie (Zimmer) Irwin - May 7, 2006
Claus Zimmer during
Early's Diamond Jubilee July 4-6, 1957.
Paul and Milt Zimmer 1941.
Front: #10 Lyle Robison, #5 Dick Lashier, #7 Darwin Mason, #11 Tom Engler, #9 Ed Schramm, #6 Leon Moad, Robert Hazen
Back: George Brant, Donovan Mason, Jr. Zadow, Herb Johnson, Ed Lashier, Milt Zimmer
At the Sac County Tournament they had 19 wins and 3 losses.
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These were submitted by Linda (Launspach) Johnston and Marlys (Launspach) Waters
Date received: April, 2006
Family: Elec and Grace Mortenson
Grace and E. G. (Elec) Mortenson moved from Rossie to an 80 acre farm northeast of
Early in 1948 to be near their daughter and husband, Phyllis and Harold Launspach, who farmed
by Nemaha. They also made room for Grace's elderly parents Minnie Mae and C. Wesley
Pierson to join them. Minnie passed away shortly thereafter followed by C. Wesley in 1953.
Elec originally farmed the sandy soil with a team of horses. Roe Frank "Hap" Lashier hauled gravel
from their gravel pit and Nemaha rented the excavation area for their city garbage site. Part of
their land was a non-farmable slew that was later determined to be in the watershed reclaiming
area and has since been bought by the DNR for a wildlife preserve.
Elec was active in the Early Order of Masons and Grace maintained a large garden. They
sold their farm in the late 1960s and retired to Nemaha. After Elec's death in 1971, Grace moved
back to a small house in Early by the water tower where she continued her love of gardening until
her death at age 96 in July 1981.
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Date received: April, 2006
Family: Harold and Phyllis Launspach
Harold Launspach came to Early as a young man in the late 1920s. He bought a house
on Maple street across from the current city park. He was employed as a crane or dragline
operator with Evans and Hartsell Construction and helped built many rural bridges in Sac
County and surrounding area.
Harold married Faye Hartsell in 1929, daughter of Lillian E. and James H. Hartsell.
Harold and Faye bought and moved to a farm near Nemaha. Faye passed away in 1938 giving
birth to their first child who also did not survive. Harold married Phyllis Mortenson, daughter of
Grace and E. G. (Elec) Mortenson, in 1941. They had two daughters - Linda and Marlys while
living near Nemaha.
Harold and Phyllis sold their farm and retired to Early in 1971 where Harold stayed
active, hiring out to farmers and working as a groundskeeper at the Sac Country Club. Harold
and Phyllis were custodians of the Early United Methodist Church for several years. Phyllis
worked at the Kenzy Grocery in Early, and was active in the Methodist Church Women's groups.
Harold passed away in 1996 at age 91 and Phyllis passed away in 2002 at age 86.
End of photos submitted by Linda (Launspach) Johnston and Marlys (Launspach) Waters.
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Submitted by Coni and Carol James - February 2007
Freddie & Amy James
Freddie Ellis and Amy Laura White James moved to Early in June 1937.
Freddie
Ellis James was born on January 20, 1914, in Newell, Iowa to Edwin and Effie
Ellis James. He was the eldest of four, having two brothers and one sister (Ruth
Miller) also of Early.
Amy Laura White was born on January 2, 1915 in Toledo,
Illinois, to Elmer and Stacy Cardinal White. She was the eldest of seven, having
five sisters and one brother. The White family moved to Newell in 1928, Amy 13,
and that is where she meets Freddie!
On September 25, 1933 they were united in
marriage in Storm Lake and this union created a family of five children: Elwin
Merrill, born July 8, 1934; Max Fred, born December 7, 1935 (departed us on July
15, 2006); Bobbie Jo, born July 25, 1937; Carol Ann Story, born July 6, 1939 and
Connie Marie, born June 10, 1948. At some point the “James Gang” became the
family’s nickname. These five children gave to Freddie and Amy 14 grandchildren,
23 great grandchildren and 3 great, great grandchildren.
Upon arriving in Early
in 1937 they worked on the farms of Vaughn Houston and Ed Gard. Freddie also for
many years worked for John Rutledge making hay hoists; drove our school buses;
obtained his pilots license; ran the movie projector uptown; a volunteer for the
Early Fire Dept.; repaired motorcycles out of his garage and at the time of his
passing, March 13, 1963, he was employed at Matt’s Texaco Station north of town.
Amy also worked for Dr. Gauger’s medical office, the law office, Presbyterian
Church; at two café’s (Toomer’s DX and Virgil Freeze’s) and later years at the
Wonder Bread store and a highway café in Storm Lake.
Freddie’s love and hobby
was motorcycles which Amy shared with him, as did the whole family. The town
often saw us riding about and with the sidecar attached we even took it on a
vacation or two. The “James Gang” was on the saddlebags!
In 1965 Amy married
Erval Lenz. This brought many more family members to her life. Unfortunately
Erval died suddenly of a heart attack on January 7, 1973.
Amy loved playing
cards with her card club friends, going to bingo sessions, shopping and going
out to eat and traveling to her children’s homes for visits. Her later years
were spent with long visits to California where she stayed with Carol and
Connie. She also loved planting her flowers and tending to them at her apartment
on Walnut Street.
Amy Laura White James Lenz passed away on May 26, 2000.
Freddie, Amy and Max are at rest in the Early Cemetery.
Many shared stories of
our childhood, the friends and memories, will always keep Early in our hearts.
Early will always be “Our Hometown”.
Congratulations Early on your 125……the
“James Gang”
Coni, Elwin, Carol, Bobbie Jo, Max James. . .The "James Gang"
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