Seeking
Descendants of
Isabel DePew


KNOWN SURNAMES OF INTEREST
Ainsworth, Anderson, DePew, Fleming, Gordon, Jones, Mullendore, Owens, Saavedra, Swenson and Wood


I live in Seattle, Washington and happened upon an old textbook from 1922 called A History of the United States, State of Kansas. The name "Isabel DePew" is scratched on the back cover and scribbled on many of its pages, along with "Howard, Kansas".

A quick search on google turned up your site showing that an Isabel DePew Jones graduated from Howard High School in 1930. I assume this book belonged to that girl, although the name in the book doesn't include "Jones".

It seems like this book would be such a great little piece of history for that family if they're into geneology. I'd be willing to send them the book if they're interested.

I've attached a scan of the cover and Isabel's name.

Cindy Pestka - pestkaca@yahoo.com

See Font Cover        See Back Cover

There is an article in the history of the county concerning the Dr. Frank DePew family and Isabel is mentionede therein. It is pasted below.


DR. FRANK L. DEPEW
DR. FRANK L. DEPEW was born Nov. 17, 1877 at Millgrove, Mo. and his wife, GRACE V. FLEMING, was born Sept. 9, 1879. They both died at Colorado Springs where they had gone when he retired in 1952, he in April of 1955 and she on Feb. 16, 1965. He brought his family to Howard in 1906 from Altamont, Mo., where the two older of their three daughters were born, and he practiced medicine in this area for the next forty-six years. He served in WWI as a 1st Lieutenant and became the first Commander of the Carter-Rader American Legion Post in Howard. He was a lover of music and their home was always full of young people singing and playing the piano or playing records on the Edison. The family were all loyal members of the Methodist church.

Dr. DePew made many house calls, often at night, and frequently in the country. His experiences were interesting and, on one occasion, even dangerous for he had a narrow escape while returning from a call to the C. M. Brown home about four miles southeast of town. It had been raining almost incessently throughout the day and it was late at night. Dog Creek, which he had crossed safely a few hours earlier, had become a rushing torrent. In the darkness he drove over the steep bank. The current overturned his buggy and the team, entangled in the harness, struggled in the foaming waters until they strangled to death.

The wrecked buggy and harness were found down the stream, a valuable case of instruments was damaged and his medicine case lost.

His daughter Isabel often drove for him. She recalls once spending the night sleeping in her father's Model A Ford in front of a farm house while he delivered a baby. They returned to town at sunrise and stopped at Allen's Cafe for ham and eggs. On a stormy night, Isabel and her mother had accompanied the doctor on a call several miles into the country to see a sick child. On the way home, with thunder, lightening and pouring rain everywhere, the car slipped off the road into mud to the hubcaps. There was nothing to do but get out and push - so Isabel pushed and prayed in knee deep mud and soaking rain, and prayed and pushed. The car came out of the ditch and they went gratefully home to warmth and safety. The social events of the family centered around church and school. One very dignified minister, who loved food, called church dinners "covered dish affairs". Isabel remembers Mildred Criger's pot of Beef and Noodles, Mrs. Hamar's Spanish Rice, Mrs. Wisner's Choclate Pie with whipped Cream, and her mother's own special Center Cut of Ham and Potato Salad.

Marjorie recalls the Christmas Eves of her childhood, made happy by the love and thoughtfulness of "Doc" and Grace, and "gifts all over the house." Her father was a strict parent but he and his opinions were respected by his children. He was their "Rock of Gibralter", always on hand to help. Dr. and Grace DePew had three children: Phyllis, Marjorie and Isabel.

Phyllis DePew, born 1902 - died Feb. 10, 1930; married Noel Mullendore. (Refer to Mullendore family) She was four when the family came to Howard. She graduated from Howard High School and attended the University of Kansas. She died from complication of pneumonia.

Marjorie (Marnie) born in 1905, has been widowed three times. She married (first) Payton Anderson, born Mar. 19, 1900 at Rapid City, South Dakota. She married (second) Earl Ainsworth, and (third) John W. Wood who died Dec. 9, 1976. She graduated from Howard High School in three years and from college in three and a half years. She lives in Midland, Texas, as do her two children Don DePew and Dianne. Don is married to Pat Benedict and their daughter, Patrice is married to Gary Gordon. Dianne married a newspaper man, Edward F. Swenson and their sons are Mark Edward and Michael Eric Swenson.

Isabel, born in 1912 at Howard, married Kenneth Jones, born Feb. 2, 1912 at Portalee, N. Mexico. Ken is a veteran of WWII. They live in Albuquerque, New Mexico. They have a daughter, Donna (Jones) Saavedra of Alburquerque, New Mexico and two grandchildren, Eric and Dana. This material submitted by Isabel Jones and Marjorie Wood.


The above was taken from Elk County A Narrative History of Elk County and its People pp. 171-172.

The history is still in print and may be purchased at the Drug Store in Howard, Kansas.


An obit for Dr. DePew, found and submitted by L. Morgan contains additional information.

Howard Courant-Citizen - May 5, 1955

DR. F.L. DePEW


The remains of Dr. DePew were brought to the old home in Howard, where under the direction of the Moon Funeral Home, memorial services were held at the Methodist church at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, April 28th, conducted by his old friend and pastor, Phone Mitchell. Favorite hymns were sung by Mrs. John C. Garison, Sr., and Miss Carmalita Beaty, with Mrs. Ray Perkins accompanist. The church was filled with relatives who came to the service and hundreds of old friends from all parts of the county. The final rites were held at Grace Lawn cemetery, Howard, ___ officers and members of Carter-Rader Post of the American Legion, with full military honors.

The stores and business places in the city were closed during the services as a token of love and friendship from those who had been associated with Dr. DePew in many ways during his long and useful life in this community.

Dr. Frank L. DePew, son of Mr. and Mrs. Clark DePew, was born November 17, 1877, at Mill Grove, Missouri, where he grew to manhood.

He was a graduate of Keokuk Medical College of Keokuk, Iowa and took post graduate work in medicine at Chicago, Illinois and New York City.

On April 30, 1901, Dr. DePew was united in marriage to Miss Grace Violet Fleming at Keokuk, Iowa and to this union were born three daughters: Marjorie G. Anderson, who now lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Isabel C. Jones, also of Colorado Springs, and Phyllis L. Mullendore, who preceded her father in death in 1930.

On September 16, 1906, Dr. DePew and his wife were received into the membership of the Methodist church of Howard, Kansas, by Pastor G.E. Tifft, each of their children after following them in this step of faith and becoming active members of this church.

He was a member of Hope Lodge No. 155, A.F.& A.M. of Howard, Kansas.

Dr. DePew served as First Lieutenant in the Medical Corps during World War I and as a medical examiner for Elk county Selective Service in World War II. He was the first Commander of Carter-Rader Post No. 149 of this city.

Dr. DePew was graduated from Medical College in 1898 and completed 53 years of medical practice, 50 of which were in this community.

During his fifty years of practicing in this county, he showed not only devotion to his work as a physician, but consecration to a faith which carried him beyond a professional application of his talents. Not only did his medicines and the skills of mind and hand heal the body, but his presence blessed the soul, encouraged the down hearted, brought cheer to the weary.

Dr. DePew passed away at a hospital in Colorado Springs, Colorado, on Sunday, April 24, 1955 after being in frail health for several years.

ny friends by whom he was greatly admired and loved.