Books

Along the Troy Road
Pioneer Living in Iowa

By: Hazel Phillips Stimson
with Additions and annotations by Harry Stimson

Along the Troy Road is a compilation of the four books below by: Hazel Phillips Stimson and Harry Stimson.

100 Years "Along the Troy Road"
(A chronicle of Iowa pioneers and their descendants covering 1853 to 1953.)

In the time period of the 1850's there occurred a massive migration to the newly opened State of Iowa. Settlers poured into the newly surveyed state. This is the story of a small area along the Troy Road, a stretch of road between Troy Mills and Coggon, Iowa. Each of these families involved came from the settled areas of northeastern United States.

READ INTRODUCTION

Almira

By: Hazel Phillips Stimson

Jim and I both came here from the East, from Vermont. We had never met in Vermont but cam to Iowa to meet each other. I came in a covered wagon with Seth and Ethel in the summer of 1852. Jim came first in the spring of 1850. This part of Iowa was just an open prairie as far as we could see. A few lines of trees followed the creeks but the grass was high as the was wheels in all directions.

READ

The Good Old Days!

By: Hazel Phillips Stimson

The Creek Place

I call it the Creek Place to distinguish it from other farms on which we have lived. It is the original 120 acres, bought by my Great-grandfather, David Phillips and his wife Julie, (Faulkner) when they came to Iowa from Newark, New Jersey in 1955.

READ

More Good Old Days
A Memior 1922-1939

By: Hazel Phillips Stimson

Out of School

There were only seventeen graduates in my class, May of 1922, at the Center Point High School, thirteen girls and four boys. I received a scholarship as Valedictorian, which was good for the tuition for four years at a state school or one year at a private school. At that time, tuition was thirty-three dollars a quarter at the state schools and I chose the University of Iowa, which was the most convenient.

READ

Additions

By: Harry Stimson

Harry extends the family history to 1953 with our move to the Liberty Farm.

READ

Kim's Story

By: Kim Stimson

Born in Taiwan, moved to Miyoko island, moved to Okinawa, moved to Tokyo, moved to the US.

READ

The Change Decade 2

By:Harry Stimson

Our life on the Savage farm between Troy Mills and Coggon came to an abrupt end in the spring of 1953. We had some warning as Father and Mother visited several farms with the intention of relocating.

READ

The Marine Corp

By:Harry Stimson

As I have mentioned before, at the time we were all subject to the draft. At some point, in order to stay at Iowa State, I had to get deferments from the local draft board. This was easy but of course, the draft board had my name and seemed to be extra vigilant in making sure that I was going in the service. Even before I graduated, a group of us went on a bus to Camp Dodge in Des Moines for your draft physical. Of course I passed and there was no escape.

READ