Person:Ralph Quass (1)

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This is my paternal Grandfather

Residence: Ralph lived near Randalia, IA when I knew him. I, as well as my older brother, Kenneth W. were born on the Quass family farm located a few miles south of Independence, Iowa. Ralph and his family moved to an 80 acre farm a few miles west of Randalia, Iowa when their youngest child was still in grade school. The move was a result of poor farming decisions by Ralph. Their daughter, Bernice was married to Ralph Wegner in the family farmhouse west of Randalia. Ralph and Emma were lifelong members of the Methodist Church and were active in the Randalia Methodist Church. The couple's youngest daughter, Dorothy was married in the church in Randalia. After the children left the family farm, the couple moved to another 80 acre farm about 3 miles due south. This farm had been used as a gravel mine, so the agrible acreage was decreased. Ralph rented out some of the acreage and raised a few dairy cattle for sale of milk. They lived there into their retirement years and the children talked them into moving into a home owned by their daughter Lucille who was married to Carl Clemens. The home was located in Shell Rock, Iowa backing up to the Shell Rock River. The couple lived there for several years. Ralph became ill and passed away in the hospital in nearby Waverly, Iowa. His funeral service was conducted in the Shell Rock Methodist Church. The service was led by a 'local pastor' (an unordained Methodist trained as a pastor) as the church was too poor to afford an ordained pastor. Emma continued to live by herself for a few more years, ultmately moving in with her youngest son and his wife in Tripoli, Iowa. She resided there until she required more skilled nursingcare and was moved into a nursing home in Olewein, Iowa where she lived out her final days.

Occupation: farmer and salesman. Ralph was primarily a small farmer owning and operating 80 acre farms. On the farm south of Independence, he raised registered Holstein dairy cattle for sale of milk. He supplemented the dairy herd by raising grains and hay to feed them and for sale. He 'lost' the herd through a series of misfortunes and moved to an 80 acre farm west of Randalia. There he continued to raise a few dairy cattle along with some hogs. He sold the milk, processing it in the family farmhouse basement. He raised oats and corn as well as hayed the remainder of the acreage, selling what he didn't use for the livestock. He also raised a small field of Sorghum from time to time which was processed in Sumner, Iowa, some 15 miles west of the farm. After the children left the family for lives of their own, the couple moved to another farm about 3 miles due south. Emma was an avid gardner and raised chickens, geese, Guinea hens and from time to time turkeys, mostly for family use. She sold eggs and chickens not consumed by the family to supplement family income.

While farming on the farm west of Randalia, Ralph took a part-time job selling Watkins products door to door mainly to farmhouses in his area. He continued this occupation after moving to the farm 3 miles south of the farm. It was not a work he enjoyed and finally ceased doing so as he became older moving into retirement. The family assumed it was 'hobby income' at best for the family. When Ralph's youngest son, Louis Wayne left home, Ralph realized he could not do all the necessary work alone and could not afford to hire necessary help. So downsizing became necessary, thus the move to the farm 3 miles south. While this farm was 80 acres, it had been mined for gravel, so the agriable acreage was reduced. Ralph rented out portions of the farm land and raised a few dairy cows for milk. Emma raised only enough chickens for family eggs and meat. Her garden was reduced in size to be more managable by just her labors in it. As their health and vigor deteriorated, the family talked them into moving to a house in Shell Rock.

Obituary in possession of gson, Donald W. Quass.

Family records in possession of ??