A Map Of Henry Gurr’s Sarah Vinke Biography Field Research Travel: From Grinnell College (Our Sarah’s Undergraduate School), To Dallas Center IA (Our Sarah’s Home Town): The Red Circles With Numbers, Are “Stop Points”, Which Are Explained in the Listing Below.
… The Map And Stop Point Listings, Were Made Using The Resources Of Tripline.Net

Stop 1: ~10:00 am Monday May 16, 2016, Grinnell College
1115 8th Ave, Grinnell, IA 50112, USA • (641) 269-4000 • www.grinnell.edu/

Stop 2 (hidden under stop 3 in this photo): ~11pm, Tues 17 May 2016, Walnut Woods Stat Park
3155 Walnut Woods Dr, West Des Moines, IA 50265, USA, (515) 285-4502,
For more information > Do > Google Search For > The Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

Stop 3: Walnut Woods Park Ranger office
This stop is the same number, address, and website as the above, causing the overlap

Stop 4: ~10:00 am Wed May 18 2016, Roy R Estle Memorial Library
1308 Walnut St, Dallas Center, IA 50063, USA • (515) 992-3185 • www.dallascenter.lib.ia.us/

Continued Sight-Seeing Travel => After Finishing Sarah Vinke Field Research In Dallas Center IA => Henry Gurr’s => Side Trip To Hanging Rock Park, Along The South Raccoon River, Redfield, IA
…(Not Shown On Tripline Map Above. )

Stop 1a: Dallas Center, IA

Stop 2a: Dallas County Courthouse
801 Court St, Adel, IA 50003, USA • (515) 993-5816 • www.co.dallas.ia.us
With Lorna Grow helping Henry Gurr earlier, we had gone to the Adel County Courthouse, to find much good and useful information for the Sarah Vinke Biography Field Research.

Stop 3a: Hanging Rock Park
Hanging Rock Park, Redfield, IA 50233 • (515)-465-3577 • https://redfieldia.com/hanging-rock-park/
But at this time of early evening, Henry goes thru Adel on his way to Redfield IA, to see the Dramatic & Steep "Overhanging Rock County Park". What seems to be called also the Raccoon River (a western branch?), here cuts a deep, to make a very high vertical wall of rock.
…EXPLANATION: On Henry's way to Hanging Rock Park, Redfield, IA, he traveled South on US 169, and just before Adel IA, crossed & photographed the North Raccoon River, which is the major river flowing South, from areas North and going by Sarah’s childhood farm, just ~3 miles west of.

Stop 4a: County Highway F51

Stop 5a: 2387-2399 Order Dr, Dallas Center, IA 50063, USA

END Side Trip To Hanging Rock Park, South Raccoon River, Redfield, IA
……..****************
The Following 7 Photos, Give An Introduction To Sarah Jennings Vinke's Home Town Of Dallas Center IA:
….The Subsequent 2 Photos, Will Introduce Genealogy Researcher, Mrs Lorna Baldner Grow, A Life-Time Resident Of Dallas County IA, And Supremely Helpful In Sarah Vinke Biography Filed Research. .

Photo Files = StaticMap}TripLine}IllustHsgTvl}ReschSarahVinkeBiog}GrinnellClgToDallsCenter.jpg
StaticMap}TripLine}IllustHsgTvl}ReschSVinkeB}DCenterToMadisonWI01.jpg
… Posted 21 Aug 2020.

An Iowa Engraver Artist's Conception Of The Ideal Iowa Farmstead, From ALFRED THEODORE ANDREAS’, ILLUSTRATED HISTORICAL ATLAS OF THE STATE OF IOWA, 1875.

…The Upper Part of this above illustration is an Iowa artist's conception of what we surly would call “A 1875 Ideal Iowa Farmstead, Including The Family House, Barn, And Surrounding Farm Area.” As you will see, the artist, on behalf of the Farm Owner & Atlas Publisher, adds many cows, pine trees, and in the distance, a hilltop covered with lush green leafy hardwood tree forest....
The Lower Part of the image (showing cattle) suggests that the owner of the Farmstead sells livestock and is very proud of his variety of cattle, again Idealistically Depicted!

For More Information About the Above Image:

….A) Wikipedia Commons provides more information about the Historical Origins (mostly technical), of this digital image. :

….B) In the Published Atlas, this was a very detailed engraving measuring approximately 14 1/2 x 17 1/2 inches, including the border area. The NEXT Photo (Caption END), Has 1875 Atlas Publisher’s Data & Depicted Farm Location.

…In the /\ ABOVE /\ Image, perhaps you noticed especially, that the trees in forest background are green leafy hardwoods, and by contrast, the trees in the house front yard are NOT hardwoods, but are clearly pine trees! From this depiction alone, we can assume that => People in this area of Iowa prized pine trees, and placed them close to their houses: This is very likely because hardwoods are very in common in North Central USA (thus considered cheap), and making pines to be seen as special & thus desirable.:

…..Henry Gurr has seen this “Pines In The Front Yard” , perhaps 6 times, as he has lived in his Native Ohio, and seen this repeatedly throughout Indiana, as he has traveled to see relatives. And “come to think of it” => There was even a huge Pine Tree ~15 feet from the front of his home, on his Northern Ohio Farm!!
….SUMMARY t => “Pine Trees In The Front Yard” , are without exception in lands where natural reseeded hardwoods are exclusively on all the surrounding landscape! And another “come to think of it” => There are ~4 huge Pine Trees, some 80 feet NW of Our Sarah’s Childhood Farm House!

….This 1800’s preference for pine over hardwoods, even is seen, in Henry Gurr’s own ancestral family’s furniture. => A very nice bedroom chest of drawers which was made by his Great, Great, Great, Grandfather Niswanger, showed the then higher value of pine => The outside chest was made pine (soft wood), and the inside portions of the drawers were of walnut (hardwood)! This now-a-days, is quite the reverse, in fine furniture!

~9:30 am Wed May 18, R Ave, Dallas Center, IA 50063 .. GPS 41.663506, -93.960170. The Above Photograph, Is Composed Of 6 Photos That Form A ~180 degree Panoramic View Of The Farm Land, Along The Main County Road, About 3 Miles South Of Dallas Center IA.
….This panorama shows the area around the camera, FROM 1) Views of Fields Northwest TO 2) Straight North Along A Main Well Paved County Road (R Ave.), With Dallas Center IA, Seen In Distance: TO A View of Fields To The Southeast: ….(( Be sure to click the photo several times to it’s largest size. Then use the “Click & Drag Scroll Bars, to move the photo Left or Right on your computer screen.))

Further Notes About Typical Iowa Flat & Treeless Landscape (As Seen In Above Photo) …VERSUS… Hills & Lots of Hardwood Trees In => The Artist's Conception Of The Ideal Iowa Farmstead (As Seen In Previous Photo):
…. The lush forest of green leafy hardwoods, seen in the Previous Photo of The Ideal Iowa Farmstead, would actually have been relatively rare in Iowa, as the relatively dry climate causes, prevents naturally seeded trees from growing, except primarily near water, such as near rivers & streams. Or near homes, where purposely planted and watered until deep enough roots are grown by the tree, enough to live through the hot dry simmers.
….Also the relatively hilly landscape of this farmstead, would actually have been relatively rare in Iowa, which with exception of rivers & streams if relatively flat. This is seen in Henry Gurr’s Above Panorama, as well as his other forthcoming photos of Sarah Vinke’s Childhood Farm & Nearby Hometown, of Dallas Center IA..
….Wikipedia says => “Iowa's natural vegetation is tallgrass prairie and savanna in upland areas, with dense forest and wetlands in flood plains and protected river valleys, and pothole wetlands in northern prairie areas.
….A Second Wikipedia Amplifies => ” Once past the extreme eastern portion of Iowa, settlers quickly discovered that the state was primarily a prairie or tall grass region. Trees grew abundantly [only] in the extreme eastern and southeastern portions, and [only] along rivers and streams, but elsewhere timber was limited.”
Continued next photo. Photo File = DSC_0041 thru -0046.JPG Stitched By FlatWorld.com July31, 2020 = 12.jpg … Posted 5 Aug 2020.

In The PREVIOUS Photo You Saw An Example Of Typical Iowa => Which Is Basically Very Flat & Very Treeless:
….BUT, The ABOVE Artist's Conception Of The Ideal Iowa Farmstead Shows Hills AND Green Leafy Trees In A distant Forest.
….NOW => This Explained WHEN We Find That This Depicted Ideal Iowa Farm Is Near Davenport IA, and Thus Near Mississippi River! David Rumsey Historical Map Collection, which tells us the farm location is => Nashua, Chickasaw Co., Iowa. (with farm and residence, West Liberty, Davenport, Iowa.

... Thus Entirely Consistent With Wikipedia The Depicted “Ideal Iowa Farm”, is for a farming area, near the Mississippi River, where hilly uplands & moisture for naturally seeded trees, are formed by the river: And as Wikipedia (previous photo), said NOT typical for the Prairie Grass Lands, of rest of Iowa! Thus the trees you see in Iowa are typically near homes, where trees purposely planted and watered until deep enough roots are grown by the tree, to live through the hot dry simmers. l


>CREDITS:
….A) Thanks to FamilySearch.com, for introducing us to this great Color Photo, and providing a Screen Capture Copy.jpg

….B) Thanks To Google Results For => C. S Barclay Breeder of Short Horns Sec 15 Wapsinonoc Tp West Liberty Muscatine Co IOWA

…C) Good Google Results saved onto File = IdealisticIowaFarmstead&CattleBreed IowaAtlas=Barclay_barn_1875 HsgColloect01.0.docx

A NOTE Re The ABOVE image : This image originally came from a “screen capture” from a relatively small image version shown on a Family Search WebPage: This resulted in an image that has color and resolution is not as good as the previous Photo Image, from Wikipedia Commons. INSTRUCTIONS => To see the difference, click on the above photo, several times to get the largest size. Then in a new browser, repeat for the Previous Photo. Henry Gurr 14 July 2020

File = ColorPainting_IdealizedIowaFarm_FmFamilySearch_com_Barkley_barn_1875_1

Google Street View (GSV): East Walnut Street, Dallas Center IA, Business District. South-East View.
This Google Street View image is of Business District in Dallas Center, Iowa and is looking to the East on Walnut Street, and South East, Toward The Huge White Whearland Coop Grain Elevator, Situated by The Railroad Tracks, long since removed.

The Above GSV, And The Following 5 Photos Show My (Henry Gurr's) Pre-Impressions Of Sarah Jennings Vinke's Home Town Of Dallas Center IA:
And when Henry Gurr Got there, he found Google Street View was TRUE TO LIFE!
Then Two Following Photos , will show Henry’s Pre-Impressions of Mrs Lorna Baldner Grow: These Impressions were from Google Searches, Google Street Views, and WebPages with their Photos.
This above photo is the first of 8 photos that are examples of my introduction to Dallas Center and Mrs Grow.

File = DallisCenterIowa_OnWalnutStAt13thtEtEndBusinessDistOldRRGrainEl_EtView

Google Street View, Close Up: Dallas Center IA, Business District. East view.

….Pictured here is a close-up view of the same Grain elevator seen in previous photograph. These elevators were used to store grain, much like a silo, but with a bucket elevator or conveyor that takes grain up from a lower level and deposits the grain in another storage area.

….The closer building is a former Railroad Station, now occupied by a lawyer who understands its historic significance, takes good care of it, and avoids any building alteration from original.

.. This is the building where Sarah Vinke would have come to get Train Tickets to go ~40 miles to Des Moines, then transfer to a different train to go some 60 miles to Grinnell IA, for College.

….Sarah’s home in Dallas Center would have been within walking distance, perhaps 10 blocks away.

File = DallisCenterIowa_OnWalnutStAt13thIndianoplis_StLouisRyStation_RrTrackNowWlkPathSEtView

Google Street View Of The (Perhaps) Most Victorian Looking House In Dallas Center. Side View.
….Pictured here is a Google Street View (GSV) of the most Victorian-looking house in Dallas Center, that Henry could find in 2016. This view is looking at the side of the house as if you are standing on Ash Street and looking North to the house. The street to the right, which crosses Ash Street is 15th Street. This house is included because we could not locate any accurate historical house address where Sarah lived in Dallas Center as a child. This is because => For the years 1910 thru 1940, the various US Census Data Sheets did not show any clear address for the Jennings Family. We believe the /\ ABOVE /\ GSV House is nearby to the approximate of the Census Indicated Streets, and representative of what Sarah’s Childhood home could have looked like.

….Later in this album will be photos of Another Victorian House (we found later), which is where Sarah’s Mother lived. This is very likely the house where Sarah & Sister Katherine were living, perhaps in their High School Years, and after Graduating From Grinnell College, and during their early teaching Careers in the surrounding Dallas County.
….
After this GSV comes up => Be sure to Click on The Google Street View Map rectangle ~2.5 x 1.5 inches which shows you the street names: Click to view this house with Google Street View.

Continued next photo.

File = DallisCenterIowa_OnAshSttAtRt15thSt_NtViewOfOnly15thSt_VictorianHsGoogSV … Posted 26 July 2020.

Cont Fm Previous.Photo:

Google Street View Of The (Perhaps) Most Victorian Looking House In Dallas Center. Front View.
….As is fully explained in the Previous Photo => Pictured here is a Google Street View of the most Victorian-looking house in Dallas Center, that Henry could find in 2016.

…This view is looking at the front of the house as if you are standing on 15th Street and looking West to the house. The street to the left, is Ash Street, which crosses 15th Street.

Be sure to use Google Street view rectangle ~2.5 x 1.5 inches which shows you the street names: Click to view this house with Google Street View.

File = DallisCenterIowa_On15thStAshSttAtLt_WtViewOfOnly15thSt_VictorianHsGoogSV … Posted 26 July 2020.

Contunued From Previous Photos: Henry Gurr’s First Impressions of Mrs Lorna Baldner Grow, Prior To His Iowa Arrival, May 18, 2019.
….The Above photo, really 2 photos together, SIMILARLY shows my foreknowledge & impressions of Lorna Baldner Grow, above pictured behind her 83rd Celebration Birthday Cake, and Helping Two Boys With Wood Carving:

,,,,To Henry These two photos showed Lorna as old, small, and rather frail !!. In fact Henry was thinking “I better quick get to Iowa for Sarah Jennings research help, before Lorna’s health or life fails!! Henry’s original information about Mrs Grow, are well summarized by this (below), brief bio found later =>
… Lorna Grow Honored In Congress For 50 Years Of 4-H Leadership. Perrey Newspaper Article, By Jim Caufield, December 23, 2017
….Veteran 4-H leader Lorna Baldner Grow of Dallas Center received a tribute on the floor of the U.S. Congress recently in honor of her 50 years of 4-H leadership in Dallas County.
….Grow has long led the Sugar Grove Sunshine 4-H club, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2016, and she had seen nearly half that history herself.
Addressing the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Dec. 8, U.S. Rep. David Young of Van Meter said, “Since 1965, Lorna has served as the Sugar Grove Sunshine 4-H Club leader, guiding and encouraging its members through fair projects, shows and other activities. Head, Heart, Hands and Health are the tenets of 4-H. Lorna embodies them all.” Young [continued and] listed the many ways Grow has positively influenced the youth of Dallas County. [Especially Sugar Grove Township.]
…. “I commend Lorna for her outstanding leadership,”.. “Her dedication as a 4-H club leader has influenced so many over the past 50 years. It is an honor to represent her and Iowans like her in the United States Congress.”

…. “Lorna (Taylor) Baldner Grow has been involved in 4-H for 72 years. Lorna and her twin sister, Lois, joined the Union Lassies 4-H Club in 1943 when their family moved to a farm east of Indianola [Iowa]. Lorna’s mother served as a leader, and Lorna was a member through her freshman year in college.” After These 4-H News Pages come up, please Do > Edit > Find > … Lorna … See Her 28 Mentions.
….According to 4-H Sugar Grove Sunshine (SGS) history, the club was originally founded as the 4-H Sewing Club in 1917 during World War I. The 10 founding members were led by Mary Hayes. They exhibited their handiwork at the Iowa State Fair that year

….More Here: Lorna Baldner Grow, 2005 Dallas County, Iowa 4-H Hall Of Fame Inductees: -

Photo File = Photos_Captn_LornaGrow83rdBday_LornaTeach4HWoodCarving … Posted 26 July 2020.

Contunued From Previous Photo: Re Henry Gurr’s First Impressions of Mrs Lorna Baldner Grow, Prior To His Iowa Arrival, May 18 2016.
…. BUT, In Contrast To Henry’s First Impressions (Previous Photo), Lorna in REAL LIFE is exactly the opposite!! She is tall, good posture, and full of vitality! You may observe this in the above photo of Lorna (left) with three another 4-H Leaders. You may also confirm this in my several photos of her later in this album. At age 87 she remains vital, tall, powerful, and a ready-to–go--worker! For example back in August 2019 heat, she was helping her daughter with carpentry work, rebuild an old barn into a Huge Very Grand Wedding Chapel! … Several days later, she said she was Carrying 2 x 8 timbers that were 10 foot long, to make a bridge there !!

The Whole Story: How Henry Gurr Was Introduced To Lorna Baldner Grow!
…. Back in April 21 2016, I phoned the Des Moines (Iowa) Historical Society, to ask how I might get help with researching Sarah Jennings, of Dallas Center IA. The very helpful person, urged me to contact Pete Malmberg, at the Forest Park Museum of Perry IA, some 18 miles North from Dallas Center IA. Google soon found his phone number, and even though before 8 am, Pete himself answered the phone. He repeatedly insisted that absolutely the ONLY person who could help me was Ms Lorna Baldner Grow , who had lived all her life, on a farm near Dallas Center, and was VERY active in local Genealogical Society. Pete gave me her phone number and said, despite her 84 years she was very alert, active, and eventually she would answer. I called several times, daily for two weeks, before Googling in desperation, and by accident found her email on a 4-H Website (with above photo), which Celebrated Lorna’s 40 years service to the 4-H in Iowa!!

….My April 28, email explained our Sarah Winifred Jennings Vinke 1894~1978 Biography Project. Lorna finally replied May 6 saying, “Been on disaster in Houston [Texas] so not home.” In later emails. Lorna gave many suggestions, and Henry learned Lorna had taken a team of 4-H Girls to Huston TX, to help with the Huston Flooding Disaster, which from April 17 to 18, an average of 12 to 16 inches of rain fell on the region in the span of 12 hours …
….So, when I arrived at Dallas Center IA (midmorning May 18), Lorna not only was looking for me, but already had gone thru all the Dallas Center Historical Society records for all “connectives” to Jennings. Proving all over again, that Genealogists know ALL the different ways to dig out historical information!

Continued next photo.

File = PhotaLorna}RuralTradCelebSugarGroveSunshine4HClub100Annv2016.09.25.jpg … Posted 26 July 2020.

11:15 am Wed May 18, The /\ ABOVE /\ Google Map Satellite View (2017), Illustrates Henry Gurr Driving To Lorna Grow’s Home.
….This View IS Looking Down At Farm Land Surrounding Lorna Baldner Grow's House, Which Is To The Right (East) Of The Road. Neighbor’s Farm & Buildings Are Left (West) Of The Road.
US Mail Address & GPS Coordinates => 2200-2298 County Section Rd, Dallas Center, IA 50063 41.713533, -93.950412

EXPLANATION => At ~10:30 am Wed May 18, 2016, Henry Gurr Had Arrived At Dallas Center’s Roy R Estle Public Library, Expecting To Find Lorna Grow There. This Was Based On Their Most Recent Emails.
……..BUT NO LORNA!

Library Staff Helped With Lorna’s Phone #, But No Answer: So Staff supplied driving directions, assuring Lorna’s home was only a few miles away:

Above Satellite View shows the turn-in to Lorna’s House, and what her house looks like.

Photo File = SateliteVuLornGrowHs_FarmSteatOpposite_2200_2298_County_Section_Rd … Posted 26 July 2020.

11:25 am Wed May 18, R Ave, ~2mi North of Dallas Center, IA 50063 .. GPS 41.663506, -93.960170. ….A Panorama View Of The Agricultural Lands Southeast To Southwest of The Lawn of Lorna Baldner Grow's House, County Section Rd Dallas Center, IA ….Luckily Lorna was home, and said “Wait a minute while I get my car.” Henry used the time to take 3 Photos for The /\ Above /\,Panorama, showing the view from the South End Of Lorna Grow’s Home Lawn. This panorama at first shows the Dallas County Iowa Farm Land toward the SE, then swinging to the right, is seen the (South-Going Graveled) County Section Road (also called R Avenue), then further right, is seen in the distance, the Heartland Coop Elevator, which is in the center of Dallas Center IA. Further right are seen the Farm Land to the West, and the buildings & trees of Lorna’s Neighbors on the opposite side of the gravel road. ….(( US Mail Address & GPS Coordinates => 2200-2298 County Section Rd Dallas Center, IA 50063 ….. 41.713533, -93.950412 )) …The Gravel Road seen, is the Road from Dallas Center to Mrs. Grow’s house. Continuing ~2/3 mile further to the North is Lorna’s Family’s Homestead Farm, where Lorna’s Daughter lives, …..AND Reminds Henry To Tell A BRIEF SIDE STORY >> ….Lorna & Daughter have, have recently has re-purposed the Old Family Barn into a Grand Wedding Facility & Entertainment Venue! …I (Henry Gurr), was there in late July 2019 and saw how beautifully done was all the woodwork!! Even salvaged old barn wood scrap, found Ingenious Unique Arrangements, in the finished walls of the Bride Room. …And everything was completed with so much imagination! Examples include the Giant Wagon-Wheel Chandeliers, and the even larger 120 year old Wooden Slat Wind Mill Fan, discovered in an old milk-house. Special huge windows were added, so this Windmill Fan, could be brought in!! This Wonderful Grand Accomplishment, is now called The Three Sisters Barn. Which shows on Google Maps, and Google will quickly find their Facebook Page with lots of photos of the construction work in progress, to Finished Facility. ….In summary … Congratulations to Daughter Glenace Baldner, and Mother Lorna Baldner Grow for their Accomplishment !! … Sincerely Henry Gurr . Photo File = DSC_0047_0050 JPG LornsGrowVu matthewalunbrown.com%autostitch%.....html=pano1.jpg … Posted 26 July 2020.

Cont Fm Previous.Photo: 11:45 am Wed May 18, R Ave, Dallas Center, IA 50063
….The Story Of Sarah Jennings Vinke Field Research, With Help Of Mrs Lorna Baldner Grow:


Lorna Grow Is A Most Excellent & Knowledgeable Genealogical Researcher, And Helped Find Many, Many, Historical Records & Books About Our Sarah’s => Family, Childhood Old Farm, Childhood Home Town, And Even Sarah’s Mother’s Old Victorian House in Dallas Center!

Lorna’s Plan For The Day Was To =>
….1) Show to Henry the Considerable Jennings Family Research Information she had found in The Dallas County Genealogical Society Collection, at The Roy R Estle Public Library, in Dallas Center IA. From this Lorna knew
….A) All the historical Names of Jennings Family Members, in Dallas County.
….B) Among the findings was the fact that Sarah’s Paternal Grandfather Henry Jennings, at one time purchased some 3 sections of land just Northwest of Dallas Center, amounting to ~1200 Acres.
…. C) Lorna was also able to confirmed the names of Our Sarah’s parents.,
And Then
….2) Travel The Dallas County Courthouse, Adel IA, and show Henry the process of searching for each of the above mentioned “Jennings Names” in the Land Records, for Dallas County.
...3) When we entered the Courthouse Land Records Office, all the ~5 staff members recognized Lorna on sight, pushed open the swing-gate, and said ”Ok Lorna, go right in to the stacks! You know what to do!”
….4) Lorna’s above-mentioned Genealogical Society Collection findings Re Jennings , ultimately resulted in finding the Land Records of Our Sarah’s Childhood Farm, and Sarah’s Mothers House in Dallas Center.
.5) Staff was very helpful in making Xerox Copies of requested documents, which were available several days later. Naturally, we were careful to put everything back into it’s place, before giving our “goodbye & hearty thanks’.
.6) Henry later learned from Lorna that new Privacy Regulations, prevent obtaining any Land Record Information! So It’s a good thing our visit to the Courthouse was done in 2016!

…. Unfortunately, the only Courthouse record of Henry Jennings’ land we could find, was a ~80 acre tract, some 3/4 of a mile further North-West from an Old One Room School House …(( Which we later learned was close to Sarah's Childhood Farm! ))
….Even before Henry Gurr’s arrival, Lorna already knew where these all were located (only several miles from Dallas Center), and with instinctive drive of a Blood Hound on Quarry, took Henry Gurr (with GPS & Camera in hand), off she drove us in her car looking for QUARRY!!


….The Next 27 Photos, Showing Scenes In (or Near) Dallas Center IA =>


….WILL TELL THE COMPLETE STORY Of “LOOKING FOR QUARRY!!


Sarah Jennings Vinke Field Research, With Help Of Mrs Lorna Baldner Grow:

Photo File = DSC_0056.JPG … Posted 26 July 2020.

11:16 am Wed May 18, A Rt 44 View Of the Approach to the Turn-Off To Our Sarah’s Childhood Farm & Home.

~2.4mi West of Dallas Center, Address = ~2550 240th St, Dallas Center, IA 50063.… This Road Is Also Called Sugar Grove Ave or Rt 44) .. GPS = 41.688288, -93.988023…

After Lorna finished showing Henry the “Jennings Family” Findings in the Estle Public Library, we drove West on Rt 44, to go to the Courthouse in Adel IA: Lorna already knew where Sarah’s Father’s Farm was on this highway, and she slowed so Henry could start looking for it, resulting in the photo above, taken from inside Lorna Grows car,. .

For More Information, Please Click&GoTo =>
Our Sarah Vinke Biography Resource Page (SVBRP), which includes nearly all of Lorna Grow & Henry Gurr Sarah Vinke Field Research Findings AND Considerably More Extensive Information About Sarah Vinke’s Life & Times. It’s HUGE !

Continued next photo.

Photo File = DSC_0051.JPG … Posted 5 Aug 2020.

Cont Fm Previous Photo:

….11:17 am Wed May 18, Looking North, A Rt 44 View Of Sarah’s Childhood Farm & Home.

~2.4mi West of Dallas Center, Address ~2550 240th St, Dallas Center, IA 50063. … This Road Is Also Called Sugar Grove Ave or Rt 44) .. GPS = 41.688288, -93.988023…

Lorna Grow, slowed so she could closely study the gravel driveway to Sarah's Childhood Farmstead, so she would remember what it looked like, when we came back from Adel IA.

Henry took this photo from inside Lorna Grows car, giving this Sugar Grove Avenue (Rt 44), view of Our Sarah’s Old Homestead, looking North.

GALLERY VIEWING HINTS: :
…. A) Click on ANY photo several times to get the LARGEST view:
….B) Some of the Photos you are looking at will be so big, that portions of it are ''Off The Edges Of Your Computer Screen'': ((This is most especially true of the largest size versions of Panoramas, which will expand to VERY LARGE!!)).
…. C) Thus you will have to learn to use the Mouse Drag Sliders (at bottom & right side), to move the image, to see it all. Because the expanded panoramas are so large, you should read the caption first, on the smaller or medium sized views.

Photo File = DSC_0052.JPG … Posted 5 Aug 2020..

3:52 pm Wed May 18, The Site Of Our Sarah's Once-Upon-A-Time Childhood One Room School House. ……2301 N Avenue (Same as US 169, Partly Visible At Left). This Address Is At Gravel Crossroad 230 th St,~3.5 mi West-Northwest of Dallas Center, IA 50063 … GPS 41.699225, -94.0246234. ….A View Of The Agricultural Lands Approximately 1.6 Mile West-Northwest Of Sarah's Old Farmstead. Beyond The Roadside Green Grass, Is The Site Of Sarah's Once-Upon-A-Time One Room School House. ….The /\ Above /\ Two-Photo Panorama Opens With a View Gravel Road Intersection, where (at left) a bit of the pavement & white line of US 169 is seen. Scrolling to the right, you see the Green Intersection Marker-Sign, and beyond the green grass is the old school site. Further to the right, you see Graveled 230 th Street, going directly East. (That's Lorna Grow’s Car in the distance.) Further right are trees & a house.>> About 1.6 miles straight beyond that house, is located our Sarah’s Childhood Home & Farm. ….Thus, Sarah as a grade schooler, very likely walked daily through the farm fields, to get here. Many thanks to Lorna who knew the location of this old school site, and most other points of interest around Dallas Center. Her willing, even excited, assistance, to drive me around, is gratefully acknowledged! Photo File = DSC_0053_0054 JPG Sarah1RmSchl matthewalunbrown.com%autostitch%.....html=pano25.jpg … Posted 5 Aug 2020.

4:15 pm Wed May 18, A WEST View Of An 80 Acre Tract, Once Owned By Our Sarah’s Paternal Grandfather Henry Jennings. ….To get to this land, Lorna drove West (from the previous photo’s Sarah’s Old Grade School House, on the same gravel road = 230 th Street), about a mile from the School Site, then turned North on private drive way, about half mile. ….In this area, we talked to ~4 local persons who currently live near where the records (see below), showed this 80 tract was, but they had no additional information. As Mentioned In Previous Photos => Ms Lorna Grow Kindly Helped Us Find Considerable Historical Information Re The Jennings Family: For Example => The Following, Is From The Dallas County Genealogical Society Room of the Dallas Center Estle Public Library: ….Sarah’s paternal grandparents were Henry Jennings (1806-1890), born Fayette County PA and Katherine Bromfield Jennings (1816-1894), married in 1841, and moved to Dallas County in 1863. They had 12 children, among whom was Sarah’s father, Jacob Jennings (1851-1927), who married Sarah Elisabeth Adams (1858 – 1942) in 1884. From Dallas County Records, Volume I, Compiler: Howard and Barbara Snedden (~1890), we learn of Sarah’s paternal grandfather Henry Jennings, then living in Pennsylvania, on speculation, purchased some 1200 acres (and “at one time amounting to 1380 acres”), of Dallas County land, constituting of Sugar Grove Township sections, 28, 32, and 33 . Snedden also mentions that Jacob Jennings (Sarah’s father), “now owns 260 acres, made under a state of high cultivation and well improved. He carries on general farming, in which he meets with excellent success.” Although we could not find any leads to these Snedden statements in the Dallas County Courthouse, we did find a recorded 80 acre Henry Jennings purchase in 1854, which was situated on the north edge of the above 1200 acres. We also found an 1875 Sugar Grove Township map, with the same sections, 28, 32, and 33 labelled Henry Jennings, as well as the book, The History of Dallas County, Iowa dated 1879, shows Jacob Jennings) already living and farming Sugar Grove Township Section 33, P.O. Dallas Center, and thus in same location as the above discussed census records. Jacob would have been 27 at that time. ((NOTE: The publication date of Snedden book was unfortunately not recorded: But we estimate ~1890 from a from a similar book, same author => Google Result => KEOKUK COUNTY, IOWA HEIR AND LAND RECORDS, VOLUME 2, 1885-1893. Howard E. Snedden.)) For More Information, Please Click&GoTo => Our Sarah Vinke Biography Resource Page (SVBRP), which includes nearly all of Lorna Grow & Henry Gurr Sarah Vinke Field Research Findings AND Considerably More Extensive Information About Sarah Vinke’s Life & Times. It’s HUGE ! Photo File = DSC_0055.JPG … Posted 5 Aug 2020.

4:16 pm Wed May 18, An EAST View Of An 80 Acre Tract, Once Owned By Our Sarah’s Paternal Grandfather Henry Jennings’

The Previous Photo Fully Discusses how this Pictured Surrounding Agricultural Lands, which were once an 80 Acre Tract once owned by Henry Jennings, Our Sarah’s Paternal Grandfather.

The /\ Above/\ Photo, is at the same location, just turned to the EAST:
…. AND being An East View, it shows the Agricultural Land somewhat towards Sarah’s old School Site (Previous Photo), which from here is about a mile away.

AND of course from here, Sarah's Old Farmstead is approximately 2.6 Mile further East and a bit South.

Photo File = DSC_0056.JPG … Posted 5 Aug 2020.