HEADSTONE has Mason emblem.
OBITUARY Iron River Reporter July 8 1938 "Morningstar Passes Away: Assistant Postmaster Dies At Rochester; Funeral Set For Tuesday"
John Morningstar, 55, assistant Iron River postmaster and a resident of this district for 36 years, died this morning at 6:55 o'clock in the Worrell hospital at Rochester, Minnesota.
He had been in ill health and was in Rochester receiving treatment for a serious heart ailment.
Known to everyone as a friendly and accommodating employee at the Iron River post office, Morningstar had been handling mail since 1903. For the past 22 years he was assistant postmaster here.
He was born on a farm in Elkhart county, Indiana February 11, 1883, and received his early education at a country school. In 1895 he went to Big Rapids, Mich., where until 1901 he worked on farms, in the woods and at odd jobs.
CAME HERE IN 1903 Having saved some money, he spent 15 months in Ferris Institute, completing a commercial course. Then he came north in 1903 to Iron county and in Pentoga he became clerk at a store owned by Milford DuBois, now of Stambaugh, and he acted as assistant postmaster for F.G. Hood, who used a portion of the store building for the office. This was his first introduction to postal work.
In 1901 he moved to Palatka which boasted a store and a post office. No buildings remain today on the site of the little town. Here he assisted W.H. Hanson, Verona mine official, in opening a post office and he continued until 1907 as his assistant.
In 1907 he went to Bruces Crossing, clerking in a store and assisting the owner who was postmaster with the postal work at times when assistance was needed. After six months he returned to Pentoga again and re-entered the employ of DuBois. In 1908 he left to come to Iron River where he served as clerk in the Iron Inn.
STAMBAUGH POSTMASTER In 1910 Morningstar took charge of the Stambaugh post office, working as assistant for Postmaster John Farley, who was ill. Upon Mr. Farley's death, Morningstar was named acting postmaster and remained in that position until 1914.
In September, 1914 he took the examination for rural mail carrier out of Iron River and a month later was appointed temporary carrier, carrying mail on Route No. 1, the first route out of the city, and on April 1 the following year was made regular carrier.
He was transferred to the post of assistant postmaster in the Iron River office without further examination on August 1, 1918. Through every change of postmaster since that time, he has continued in his capacity as assistant.
In November, 1900 he married Miss Hannah Benson of Bates township. He is survived by his widow, one daughter Mrs. Marion Brady, who lives at home, and one grandchild John Brady.
ENJOYED FISHING Morningstar was an ardent fisherman and hunter. He rarely missed bagging his buck during deer season and he enjoyed fishing in lake and stream equally.
His favorite diversion was describing fishing spots in the district where big trout are found. He had a collection of pictures showing big catches he had made on various trips into the nearby streams.
William J. Johns, Iron River funeral director, left this morning for Rochester and will return tomorrow morning with the body. The funeral will be held Tuesday afternoon with Masonic rites. Morningstar was a past worshipful master of the Iron River Masonic lodge.
FRONT PAGE PHOTO WITH CAPTION: "Dies Today" John Morningstar, assistant postmaster here for the past 22 years, died this morning at 7 o'clock in the Worrell hospital at Rochester, Minn. He had been in failing health for more than a year.
FUNERAL NOTICE Iron River Reporter July 12 1938 "Bates Burial For Postal Aid: Conduct Masonic Rites For Morningstar Today At 2 P.M."
Funeral rites for John Morningstar, 55, assistant Iron River postmaster, will be held at the Iron River Masonic hall this afternoon at 2 o'clock.
Interment will be in Bates township cemetery. Masonic rites will be conducted at the hall and at the grave by officers of the Iron River lodge, of which Mr. Morningstar was a past worshipful master. Pallbearers active and honorary have been chosen from the ranks of the past masters of the lodge.
Mr. Morningstar, a resident of this district for the last 35 years, died in the Worrell hospital at Rochester, Minn. Friday morning following a lingering illness.
He had served as assistant to the postmaster of the Iron River post office for the last 22 years. At one time, he was acting postmaster at Stambaugh.
Surviving him are his widow, who before her marriage was Miss Hannah Benson of Bates township, one daughter, Mrs. Marion Brady, and one granddaughter.
Active pallbearers will be Hilding Swanson, Lawrence Hartley, George Murray, Fred Godlove, William Ford and Clarence Nelson. Hartley, Swanson and Murray were associated with Mr. Morningstar at the Iron River post office.
Honorary pallbearers will be past masters of the Masonic Lodge. They are the following:
Roy J. Hendra, Gustav Hultquist, Clement A. Moore, Y. Fridolph Johnson, Oscar Renberg, Phillip A. Newberg, Herbert F. Richardson, Edward W. Ramberg, Marion Ochiltree, William J. Collins, Otto G. Groeschel, John A. Soderberg, Edward J. Wanzer, Victor D. Laing.
Out-of-town relatives and friends who are in Iron River for the funeral include: Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Morningstar, Morris Morningstar, Mrs. Bertha Storms, a sister, Ralph Storms, Mr. and Mrs. Darwin Cramer, a sister all of Big Rapids, Mich.
Mrs. Ella Schieber, a sister, Gerald Schieber, and Bertha Schieber, of Elkhart, Indiana, Mrs. Bert Bailey and Mrs. Clifford B. Fagan, of Rhinelander, Wis., Mrs. Joseph F. Brady, Mrs. Francis Brady and Miss Eleanore Brady, of Manitowoc, Wis.
The Rev. Morton W. Merrell, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, will officiate at the funeral services. As the cortege passes the Iron River post office on Adams Street, postal windows will be closed momentarily and clerks will pause in respect to the memory of the veteran employee.
BATES TOWNSHIP LEGACY 1885-1985 centennial book "John Bengtson (Benson) Family" page 32 (excerpt)
John Bengtson married Anna Erickson Bengtson September 25, 1881. The Bengtson name was changed to Benson but the year is unknown. Anna and John had ten children including #3 Hannah born February 25, 1886 died July 2, 1962.
Hannah Benson married John Morningstar, who became mailman in Bates Township, driving horse and buggy on the route. He later became Postmaster of the Iron River Post Office. Hannah and John had one daughter, Marion, who married George Brady. They had three daughters.
BATES TOWNSHIP LEGACY 1885-1985 centennial book "Bates Township Mailmen" page 340
Some of the early mail delivery men in the populated part of the township included John Morningstar, who delivered mail to the post office at Mapleton and some of the rural farms. It was not unusual to ask the mailman to bring some groceries or hardware from town along with the mail or to relate news and gossip to the farmers.
NEWS ARTICLE Iron River Reporter June 20 1930 "Meet Today – John Morningstar" with photo (shown here)
John Morningstar, assistant postmaster at the Iron River postoffice, is the man with the friendly smile who is always courteous and ready to assist the public, who will answer any number of questions with the utmost politeness, making one feel that the postoffice is exactly what it is supposed to be, an institution of public service.
Working in postoffices and handling mail since 1903, Mr. Morningstar is an extremely efficient man and takes pride in knowing his business thoroughly.
He was born on a farm in Elkhart county, Indiana, February 11, 1883, and received his early education at a country school. In 1895 he went to Big Rapids, Mich., where until 1901 he worked on farms, worked in the woods, and did other odd jobs.
Having saved some money, he spent 15 months in Ferris Institute at Big Rapids, taking a Commercial course.
COMES TO PENTOGA After finishing the commercial course, he came in 1903 to Pentoga, where he clerked in a store owned by M. DuBois, now of Stambaugh, and acted as assistant postmaster for F.G. Hood, who used a portion of the store building for the office. This was Mr. Morningstar’s first introduction to postal work.
In 1905 he left Pentoga to come to Palatka. At that time Palatka boasted a store and a postoffice. No buildings, however, remain on the site of the little town now, and only the names live on. Here Mr. Morningstar assisted W.G. Hanson, now assistant superintendent of the Verona group of mines, in opening the first postoffice, and continued until 1907 as his assistant.
In 1907 he went to Bruce’s Crossing, clerking in a store and assisting the owner, who was postmaster, with the postal work at times when assistance was needed. After spending six months at Bruce’s Crossing, he returned to Pentoga again and once more entered the employ of M. DuBois, but left in 1908 to come to Iron River, where he secured a position as clerk in the Iron Inn.
ACTING POSTMASTER In 1910 Mr. Morningstar took charge of the Stambaugh postoffice, acting as assistant for Postmaster John Farley, who was ill. Upon Mr. Farley’s death, Mr. Morningstar was named acting postmaster and remained in that position until July 15, 1914.
In September of 1914 he took the examination for rural mail carrier out of Iron River. October 1, 1914, he was appointed temporary carrier, carrying mail on Route No. 1, the first route out of Iron River, and April 1 of the following year was made regular carrier.
August 1, 1916, Mr. Morningstar was transferred to the position of assistant postmaster in the Iron River office without further examination, and has held that position up to the present time.
In November, 1909, Mr. Morningstar married Miss Hannah Benson of Bates. They have one daughter, Marion, who graduated from the Iron River high school in 1929 and is planning to attend the LaCrosse State Normal at LaCrosse, Wis., where she will study physical education next September.
HUNTING AND FISHING Mr. Morningstar is an enthusiastic hunter and fisherman. He very seldom misses a hunting season and seldom, if ever, comes in without his buck.
He likes to fish in both stream and lake, and his eyes will sparkle when he tells about the good fishing holes or some fishing expedition which was especially good.
“Hunting and fishing form my recreation,” he will say.
He has a group of snapshots which he prizes highly. Several of them form a record of a fishing trip made by Mr. Morningstar and three other men to Cable and Porter lakes in 1920. The trip had to be made by boat up the Paint river and the stream connecting Porter lake and the Paint. The trip occupied one and one half days of travel and one night of bivouac on the trail.
Once there, however, the trip proved worthwhile, which one glance at the snapshots will show. Two days spent there produced a string of pike, 22 in all, averaging from six to 18 pounds and totaling 175 pounds.
Another picture shows a 10 point and an eight point buck, secured by Mr. Morningstar and Adolph Erickson, rural carrier. The two deer were shot before 9 o’clock of the opening morning.
For hunting and fishing, Mr. Morningstar believes this country unsurpassed. He knows most of the streams nearby and many of those which it takes considerable travel to reach. His knowledge of good fishing places fills his creel on practically every fishing trip, and his knowledge of the way of the deer family helps him in bringing in a buck almost every autumn.
OBITUARY of Marion Brady 1979 (burial unknown) says John Morningstar, former Asst Post Master in Iron River for several years, was her father.
INFORMATION FROM WAYNE OHLSSON on www.rootsweb.com says born about 1884.
OBITUARY Iron River Reporter July 8 1938 "Morningstar Passes Away: Assistant Postmaster Dies At Rochester; Funeral Set For Tuesday"
John Morningstar, 55, assistant Iron River postmaster and a resident of this district for 36 years, died this morning at 6:55 o'clock in the Worrell hospital at Rochester, Minnesota.
He had been in ill health and was in Rochester receiving treatment for a serious heart ailment.
Known to everyone as a friendly and accommodating employee at the Iron River post office, Morningstar had been handling mail since 1903. For the past 22 years he was assistant postmaster here.
He was born on a farm in Elkhart county, Indiana February 11, 1883, and received his early education at a country school. In 1895 he went to Big Rapids, Mich., where until 1901 he worked on farms, in the woods and at odd jobs.
CAME HERE IN 1903 Having saved some money, he spent 15 months in Ferris Institute, completing a commercial course. Then he came north in 1903 to Iron county and in Pentoga he became clerk at a store owned by Milford DuBois, now of Stambaugh, and he acted as assistant postmaster for F.G. Hood, who used a portion of the store building for the office. This was his first introduction to postal work.
In 1901 he moved to Palatka which boasted a store and a post office. No buildings remain today on the site of the little town. Here he assisted W.H. Hanson, Verona mine official, in opening a post office and he continued until 1907 as his assistant.
In 1907 he went to Bruces Crossing, clerking in a store and assisting the owner who was postmaster with the postal work at times when assistance was needed. After six months he returned to Pentoga again and re-entered the employ of DuBois. In 1908 he left to come to Iron River where he served as clerk in the Iron Inn.
STAMBAUGH POSTMASTER In 1910 Morningstar took charge of the Stambaugh post office, working as assistant for Postmaster John Farley, who was ill. Upon Mr. Farley's death, Morningstar was named acting postmaster and remained in that position until 1914.
In September, 1914 he took the examination for rural mail carrier out of Iron River and a month later was appointed temporary carrier, carrying mail on Route No. 1, the first route out of the city, and on April 1 the following year was made regular carrier.
He was transferred to the post of assistant postmaster in the Iron River office without further examination on August 1, 1918. Through every change of postmaster since that time, he has continued in his capacity as assistant.
In November, 1900 he married Miss Hannah Benson of Bates township. He is survived by his widow, one daughter Mrs. Marion Brady, who lives at home, and one grandchild John Brady.
ENJOYED FISHING Morningstar was an ardent fisherman and hunter. He rarely missed bagging his buck during deer season and he enjoyed fishing in lake and stream equally.
His favorite diversion was describing fishing spots in the district where big trout are found. He had a collection of pictures showing big catches he had made on various trips into the nearby streams.
William J. Johns, Iron River funeral director, left this morning for Rochester and will return tomorrow morning with the body. The funeral will be held Tuesday afternoon with Masonic rites. Morningstar was a past worshipful master of the Iron River Masonic lodge.
FRONT PAGE PHOTO WITH CAPTION: "Dies Today" John Morningstar, assistant postmaster here for the past 22 years, died this morning at 7 o'clock in the Worrell hospital at Rochester, Minn. He had been in failing health for more than a year.
FUNERAL NOTICE Iron River Reporter July 12 1938 "Bates Burial For Postal Aid: Conduct Masonic Rites For Morningstar Today At 2 P.M."
Funeral rites for John Morningstar, 55, assistant Iron River postmaster, will be held at the Iron River Masonic hall this afternoon at 2 o'clock.
Interment will be in Bates township cemetery. Masonic rites will be conducted at the hall and at the grave by officers of the Iron River lodge, of which Mr. Morningstar was a past worshipful master. Pallbearers active and honorary have been chosen from the ranks of the past masters of the lodge.
Mr. Morningstar, a resident of this district for the last 35 years, died in the Worrell hospital at Rochester, Minn. Friday morning following a lingering illness.
He had served as assistant to the postmaster of the Iron River post office for the last 22 years. At one time, he was acting postmaster at Stambaugh.
Surviving him are his widow, who before her marriage was Miss Hannah Benson of Bates township, one daughter, Mrs. Marion Brady, and one granddaughter.
Active pallbearers will be Hilding Swanson, Lawrence Hartley, George Murray, Fred Godlove, William Ford and Clarence Nelson. Hartley, Swanson and Murray were associated with Mr. Morningstar at the Iron River post office.
Honorary pallbearers will be past masters of the Masonic Lodge. They are the following:
Roy J. Hendra, Gustav Hultquist, Clement A. Moore, Y. Fridolph Johnson, Oscar Renberg, Phillip A. Newberg, Herbert F. Richardson, Edward W. Ramberg, Marion Ochiltree, William J. Collins, Otto G. Groeschel, John A. Soderberg, Edward J. Wanzer, Victor D. Laing.
Out-of-town relatives and friends who are in Iron River for the funeral include: Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Morningstar, Morris Morningstar, Mrs. Bertha Storms, a sister, Ralph Storms, Mr. and Mrs. Darwin Cramer, a sister all of Big Rapids, Mich.
Mrs. Ella Schieber, a sister, Gerald Schieber, and Bertha Schieber, of Elkhart, Indiana, Mrs. Bert Bailey and Mrs. Clifford B. Fagan, of Rhinelander, Wis., Mrs. Joseph F. Brady, Mrs. Francis Brady and Miss Eleanore Brady, of Manitowoc, Wis.
The Rev. Morton W. Merrell, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, will officiate at the funeral services. As the cortege passes the Iron River post office on Adams Street, postal windows will be closed momentarily and clerks will pause in respect to the memory of the veteran employee.
BATES TOWNSHIP LEGACY 1885-1985 centennial book "John Bengtson (Benson) Family" page 32 (excerpt)
John Bengtson married Anna Erickson Bengtson September 25, 1881. The Bengtson name was changed to Benson but the year is unknown. Anna and John had ten children including #3 Hannah born February 25, 1886 died July 2, 1962.
Hannah Benson married John Morningstar, who became mailman in Bates Township, driving horse and buggy on the route. He later became Postmaster of the Iron River Post Office. Hannah and John had one daughter, Marion, who married George Brady. They had three daughters.
BATES TOWNSHIP LEGACY 1885-1985 centennial book "Bates Township Mailmen" page 340
Some of the early mail delivery men in the populated part of the township included John Morningstar, who delivered mail to the post office at Mapleton and some of the rural farms. It was not unusual to ask the mailman to bring some groceries or hardware from town along with the mail or to relate news and gossip to the farmers.
NEWS ARTICLE Iron River Reporter June 20 1930 "Meet Today – John Morningstar" with photo (shown here)
John Morningstar, assistant postmaster at the Iron River postoffice, is the man with the friendly smile who is always courteous and ready to assist the public, who will answer any number of questions with the utmost politeness, making one feel that the postoffice is exactly what it is supposed to be, an institution of public service.
Working in postoffices and handling mail since 1903, Mr. Morningstar is an extremely efficient man and takes pride in knowing his business thoroughly.
He was born on a farm in Elkhart county, Indiana, February 11, 1883, and received his early education at a country school. In 1895 he went to Big Rapids, Mich., where until 1901 he worked on farms, worked in the woods, and did other odd jobs.
Having saved some money, he spent 15 months in Ferris Institute at Big Rapids, taking a Commercial course.
COMES TO PENTOGA After finishing the commercial course, he came in 1903 to Pentoga, where he clerked in a store owned by M. DuBois, now of Stambaugh, and acted as assistant postmaster for F.G. Hood, who used a portion of the store building for the office. This was Mr. Morningstar’s first introduction to postal work.
In 1905 he left Pentoga to come to Palatka. At that time Palatka boasted a store and a postoffice. No buildings, however, remain on the site of the little town now, and only the names live on. Here Mr. Morningstar assisted W.G. Hanson, now assistant superintendent of the Verona group of mines, in opening the first postoffice, and continued until 1907 as his assistant.
In 1907 he went to Bruce’s Crossing, clerking in a store and assisting the owner, who was postmaster, with the postal work at times when assistance was needed. After spending six months at Bruce’s Crossing, he returned to Pentoga again and once more entered the employ of M. DuBois, but left in 1908 to come to Iron River, where he secured a position as clerk in the Iron Inn.
ACTING POSTMASTER In 1910 Mr. Morningstar took charge of the Stambaugh postoffice, acting as assistant for Postmaster John Farley, who was ill. Upon Mr. Farley’s death, Mr. Morningstar was named acting postmaster and remained in that position until July 15, 1914.
In September of 1914 he took the examination for rural mail carrier out of Iron River. October 1, 1914, he was appointed temporary carrier, carrying mail on Route No. 1, the first route out of Iron River, and April 1 of the following year was made regular carrier.
August 1, 1916, Mr. Morningstar was transferred to the position of assistant postmaster in the Iron River office without further examination, and has held that position up to the present time.
In November, 1909, Mr. Morningstar married Miss Hannah Benson of Bates. They have one daughter, Marion, who graduated from the Iron River high school in 1929 and is planning to attend the LaCrosse State Normal at LaCrosse, Wis., where she will study physical education next September.
HUNTING AND FISHING Mr. Morningstar is an enthusiastic hunter and fisherman. He very seldom misses a hunting season and seldom, if ever, comes in without his buck.
He likes to fish in both stream and lake, and his eyes will sparkle when he tells about the good fishing holes or some fishing expedition which was especially good.
“Hunting and fishing form my recreation,” he will say.
He has a group of snapshots which he prizes highly. Several of them form a record of a fishing trip made by Mr. Morningstar and three other men to Cable and Porter lakes in 1920. The trip had to be made by boat up the Paint river and the stream connecting Porter lake and the Paint. The trip occupied one and one half days of travel and one night of bivouac on the trail.
Once there, however, the trip proved worthwhile, which one glance at the snapshots will show. Two days spent there produced a string of pike, 22 in all, averaging from six to 18 pounds and totaling 175 pounds.
Another picture shows a 10 point and an eight point buck, secured by Mr. Morningstar and Adolph Erickson, rural carrier. The two deer were shot before 9 o’clock of the opening morning.
For hunting and fishing, Mr. Morningstar believes this country unsurpassed. He knows most of the streams nearby and many of those which it takes considerable travel to reach. His knowledge of good fishing places fills his creel on practically every fishing trip, and his knowledge of the way of the deer family helps him in bringing in a buck almost every autumn.
OBITUARY of Marion Brady 1979 (burial unknown) says John Morningstar, former Asst Post Master in Iron River for several years, was her father.
INFORMATION FROM WAYNE OHLSSON on www.rootsweb.com says born about 1884.
HEADSTONE has Mason emblem.
OBITUARY Iron River Reporter July 8 1938 "Morningstar Passes Away: Assistant Postmaster Dies At Rochester; Funeral Set For Tuesday"
John Morningstar, 55, assistant Iron River postmaster and a resident of this district for 36 years, died this morning at 6:55 o'clock in the Worrell hospital at Rochester, Minnesota.
He had been in ill health and was in Rochester receiving treatment for a serious heart ailment.
Known to everyone as a friendly and accommodating employee at the Iron River post office, Morningstar had been handling mail since 1903. For the past 22 years he was assistant postmaster here.
He was born on a farm in Elkhart county, Indiana February 11, 1883, and received his early education at a country school. In 1895 he went to Big Rapids, Mich., where until 1901 he worked on farms, in the woods and at odd jobs.
CAME HERE IN 1903 Having saved some money, he spent 15 months in Ferris Institute, completing a commercial course. Then he came north in 1903 to Iron county and in Pentoga he became clerk at a store owned by Milford DuBois, now of Stambaugh, and he acted as assistant postmaster for F.G. Hood, who used a portion of the store building for the office. This was his first introduction to postal work.
In 1901 he moved to Palatka which boasted a store and a post office. No buildings remain today on the site of the little town. Here he assisted W.H. Hanson, Verona mine official, in opening a post office and he continued until 1907 as his assistant.
In 1907 he went to Bruces Crossing, clerking in a store and assisting the owner who was postmaster with the postal work at times when assistance was needed. After six months he returned to Pentoga again and re-entered the employ of DuBois. In 1908 he left to come to Iron River where he served as clerk in the Iron Inn.
STAMBAUGH POSTMASTER In 1910 Morningstar took charge of the Stambaugh post office, working as assistant for Postmaster John Farley, who was ill. Upon Mr. Farley's death, Morningstar was named acting postmaster and remained in that position until 1914.
In September, 1914 he took the examination for rural mail carrier out of Iron River and a month later was appointed temporary carrier, carrying mail on Route No. 1, the first route out of the city, and on April 1 the following year was made regular carrier.
He was transferred to the post of assistant postmaster in the Iron River office without further examination on August 1, 1918. Through every change of postmaster since that time, he has continued in his capacity as assistant.
In November, 1900 he married Miss Hannah Benson of Bates township. He is survived by his widow, one daughter Mrs. Marion Brady, who lives at home, and one grandchild John Brady.
ENJOYED FISHING Morningstar was an ardent fisherman and hunter. He rarely missed bagging his buck during deer season and he enjoyed fishing in lake and stream equally.
His favorite diversion was describing fishing spots in the district where big trout are found. He had a collection of pictures showing big catches he had made on various trips into the nearby streams.
William J. Johns, Iron River funeral director, left this morning for Rochester and will return tomorrow morning with the body. The funeral will be held Tuesday afternoon with Masonic rites. Morningstar was a past worshipful master of the Iron River Masonic lodge.
FRONT PAGE PHOTO WITH CAPTION: "Dies Today" John Morningstar, assistant postmaster here for the past 22 years, died this morning at 7 o'clock in the Worrell hospital at Rochester, Minn. He had been in failing health for more than a year.
FUNERAL NOTICE Iron River Reporter July 12 1938 "Bates Burial For Postal Aid: Conduct Masonic Rites For Morningstar Today At 2 P.M."
Funeral rites for John Morningstar, 55, assistant Iron River postmaster, will be held at the Iron River Masonic hall this afternoon at 2 o'clock.
Interment will be in Bates township cemetery. Masonic rites will be conducted at the hall and at the grave by officers of the Iron River lodge, of which Mr. Morningstar was a past worshipful master. Pallbearers active and honorary have been chosen from the ranks of the past masters of the lodge.
Mr. Morningstar, a resident of this district for the last 35 years, died in the Worrell hospital at Rochester, Minn. Friday morning following a lingering illness.
He had served as assistant to the postmaster of the Iron River post office for the last 22 years. At one time, he was acting postmaster at Stambaugh.
Surviving him are his widow, who before her marriage was Miss Hannah Benson of Bates township, one daughter, Mrs. Marion Brady, and one granddaughter.
Active pallbearers will be Hilding Swanson, Lawrence Hartley, George Murray, Fred Godlove, William Ford and Clarence Nelson. Hartley, Swanson and Murray were associated with Mr. Morningstar at the Iron River post office.
Honorary pallbearers will be past masters of the Masonic Lodge. They are the following:
Roy J. Hendra, Gustav Hultquist, Clement A. Moore, Y. Fridolph Johnson, Oscar Renberg, Phillip A. Newberg, Herbert F. Richardson, Edward W. Ramberg, Marion Ochiltree, William J. Collins, Otto G. Groeschel, John A. Soderberg, Edward J. Wanzer, Victor D. Laing.
Out-of-town relatives and friends who are in Iron River for the funeral include: Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Morningstar, Morris Morningstar, Mrs. Bertha Storms, a sister, Ralph Storms, Mr. and Mrs. Darwin Cramer, a sister all of Big Rapids, Mich.
Mrs. Ella Schieber, a sister, Gerald Schieber, and Bertha Schieber, of Elkhart, Indiana, Mrs. Bert Bailey and Mrs. Clifford B. Fagan, of Rhinelander, Wis., Mrs. Joseph F. Brady, Mrs. Francis Brady and Miss Eleanore Brady, of Manitowoc, Wis.
The Rev. Morton W. Merrell, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, will officiate at the funeral services. As the cortege passes the Iron River post office on Adams Street, postal windows will be closed momentarily and clerks will pause in respect to the memory of the veteran employee.
BATES TOWNSHIP LEGACY 1885-1985 centennial book "John Bengtson (Benson) Family" page 32 (excerpt)
John Bengtson married Anna Erickson Bengtson September 25, 1881. The Bengtson name was changed to Benson but the year is unknown. Anna and John had ten children including #3 Hannah born February 25, 1886 died July 2, 1962.
Hannah Benson married John Morningstar, who became mailman in Bates Township, driving horse and buggy on the route. He later became Postmaster of the Iron River Post Office. Hannah and John had one daughter, Marion, who married George Brady. They had three daughters.
BATES TOWNSHIP LEGACY 1885-1985 centennial book "Bates Township Mailmen" page 340
Some of the early mail delivery men in the populated part of the township included John Morningstar, who delivered mail to the post office at Mapleton and some of the rural farms. It was not unusual to ask the mailman to bring some groceries or hardware from town along with the mail or to relate news and gossip to the farmers.
NEWS ARTICLE Iron River Reporter June 20 1930 "Meet Today – John Morningstar" with photo (shown here)
John Morningstar, assistant postmaster at the Iron River postoffice, is the man with the friendly smile who is always courteous and ready to assist the public, who will answer any number of questions with the utmost politeness, making one feel that the postoffice is exactly what it is supposed to be, an institution of public service.
Working in postoffices and handling mail since 1903, Mr. Morningstar is an extremely efficient man and takes pride in knowing his business thoroughly.
He was born on a farm in Elkhart county, Indiana, February 11, 1883, and received his early education at a country school. In 1895 he went to Big Rapids, Mich., where until 1901 he worked on farms, worked in the woods, and did other odd jobs.
Having saved some money, he spent 15 months in Ferris Institute at Big Rapids, taking a Commercial course.
COMES TO PENTOGA After finishing the commercial course, he came in 1903 to Pentoga, where he clerked in a store owned by M. DuBois, now of Stambaugh, and acted as assistant postmaster for F.G. Hood, who used a portion of the store building for the office. This was Mr. Morningstar’s first introduction to postal work.
In 1905 he left Pentoga to come to Palatka. At that time Palatka boasted a store and a postoffice. No buildings, however, remain on the site of the little town now, and only the names live on. Here Mr. Morningstar assisted W.G. Hanson, now assistant superintendent of the Verona group of mines, in opening the first postoffice, and continued until 1907 as his assistant.
In 1907 he went to Bruce’s Crossing, clerking in a store and assisting the owner, who was postmaster, with the postal work at times when assistance was needed. After spending six months at Bruce’s Crossing, he returned to Pentoga again and once more entered the employ of M. DuBois, but left in 1908 to come to Iron River, where he secured a position as clerk in the Iron Inn.
ACTING POSTMASTER In 1910 Mr. Morningstar took charge of the Stambaugh postoffice, acting as assistant for Postmaster John Farley, who was ill. Upon Mr. Farley’s death, Mr. Morningstar was named acting postmaster and remained in that position until July 15, 1914.
In September of 1914 he took the examination for rural mail carrier out of Iron River. October 1, 1914, he was appointed temporary carrier, carrying mail on Route No. 1, the first route out of Iron River, and April 1 of the following year was made regular carrier.
August 1, 1916, Mr. Morningstar was transferred to the position of assistant postmaster in the Iron River office without further examination, and has held that position up to the present time.
In November, 1909, Mr. Morningstar married Miss Hannah Benson of Bates. They have one daughter, Marion, who graduated from the Iron River high school in 1929 and is planning to attend the LaCrosse State Normal at LaCrosse, Wis., where she will study physical education next September.
HUNTING AND FISHING Mr. Morningstar is an enthusiastic hunter and fisherman. He very seldom misses a hunting season and seldom, if ever, comes in without his buck.
He likes to fish in both stream and lake, and his eyes will sparkle when he tells about the good fishing holes or some fishing expedition which was especially good.
“Hunting and fishing form my recreation,” he will say.
He has a group of snapshots which he prizes highly. Several of them form a record of a fishing trip made by Mr. Morningstar and three other men to Cable and Porter lakes in 1920. The trip had to be made by boat up the Paint river and the stream connecting Porter lake and the Paint. The trip occupied one and one half days of travel and one night of bivouac on the trail.
Once there, however, the trip proved worthwhile, which one glance at the snapshots will show. Two days spent there produced a string of pike, 22 in all, averaging from six to 18 pounds and totaling 175 pounds.
Another picture shows a 10 point and an eight point buck, secured by Mr. Morningstar and Adolph Erickson, rural carrier. The two deer were shot before 9 o’clock of the opening morning.
For hunting and fishing, Mr. Morningstar believes this country unsurpassed. He knows most of the streams nearby and many of those which it takes considerable travel to reach. His knowledge of good fishing places fills his creel on practically every fishing trip, and his knowledge of the way of the deer family helps him in bringing in a buck almost every autumn.
OBITUARY of Marion Brady 1979 (burial unknown) says John Morningstar, former Asst Post Master in Iron River for several years, was her father.
INFORMATION FROM WAYNE OHLSSON on www.rootsweb.com says born about 1884.
OBITUARY Iron River Reporter July 8 1938 "Morningstar Passes Away: Assistant Postmaster Dies At Rochester; Funeral Set For Tuesday"
John Morningstar, 55, assistant Iron River postmaster and a resident of this district for 36 years, died this morning at 6:55 o'clock in the Worrell hospital at Rochester, Minnesota.
He had been in ill health and was in Rochester receiving treatment for a serious heart ailment.
Known to everyone as a friendly and accommodating employee at the Iron River post office, Morningstar had been handling mail since 1903. For the past 22 years he was assistant postmaster here.
He was born on a farm in Elkhart county, Indiana February 11, 1883, and received his early education at a country school. In 1895 he went to Big Rapids, Mich., where until 1901 he worked on farms, in the woods and at odd jobs.
CAME HERE IN 1903 Having saved some money, he spent 15 months in Ferris Institute, completing a commercial course. Then he came north in 1903 to Iron county and in Pentoga he became clerk at a store owned by Milford DuBois, now of Stambaugh, and he acted as assistant postmaster for F.G. Hood, who used a portion of the store building for the office. This was his first introduction to postal work.
In 1901 he moved to Palatka which boasted a store and a post office. No buildings remain today on the site of the little town. Here he assisted W.H. Hanson, Verona mine official, in opening a post office and he continued until 1907 as his assistant.
In 1907 he went to Bruces Crossing, clerking in a store and assisting the owner who was postmaster with the postal work at times when assistance was needed. After six months he returned to Pentoga again and re-entered the employ of DuBois. In 1908 he left to come to Iron River where he served as clerk in the Iron Inn.
STAMBAUGH POSTMASTER In 1910 Morningstar took charge of the Stambaugh post office, working as assistant for Postmaster John Farley, who was ill. Upon Mr. Farley's death, Morningstar was named acting postmaster and remained in that position until 1914.
In September, 1914 he took the examination for rural mail carrier out of Iron River and a month later was appointed temporary carrier, carrying mail on Route No. 1, the first route out of the city, and on April 1 the following year was made regular carrier.
He was transferred to the post of assistant postmaster in the Iron River office without further examination on August 1, 1918. Through every change of postmaster since that time, he has continued in his capacity as assistant.
In November, 1900 he married Miss Hannah Benson of Bates township. He is survived by his widow, one daughter Mrs. Marion Brady, who lives at home, and one grandchild John Brady.
ENJOYED FISHING Morningstar was an ardent fisherman and hunter. He rarely missed bagging his buck during deer season and he enjoyed fishing in lake and stream equally.
His favorite diversion was describing fishing spots in the district where big trout are found. He had a collection of pictures showing big catches he had made on various trips into the nearby streams.
William J. Johns, Iron River funeral director, left this morning for Rochester and will return tomorrow morning with the body. The funeral will be held Tuesday afternoon with Masonic rites. Morningstar was a past worshipful master of the Iron River Masonic lodge.
FRONT PAGE PHOTO WITH CAPTION: "Dies Today" John Morningstar, assistant postmaster here for the past 22 years, died this morning at 7 o'clock in the Worrell hospital at Rochester, Minn. He had been in failing health for more than a year.
FUNERAL NOTICE Iron River Reporter July 12 1938 "Bates Burial For Postal Aid: Conduct Masonic Rites For Morningstar Today At 2 P.M."
Funeral rites for John Morningstar, 55, assistant Iron River postmaster, will be held at the Iron River Masonic hall this afternoon at 2 o'clock.
Interment will be in Bates township cemetery. Masonic rites will be conducted at the hall and at the grave by officers of the Iron River lodge, of which Mr. Morningstar was a past worshipful master. Pallbearers active and honorary have been chosen from the ranks of the past masters of the lodge.
Mr. Morningstar, a resident of this district for the last 35 years, died in the Worrell hospital at Rochester, Minn. Friday morning following a lingering illness.
He had served as assistant to the postmaster of the Iron River post office for the last 22 years. At one time, he was acting postmaster at Stambaugh.
Surviving him are his widow, who before her marriage was Miss Hannah Benson of Bates township, one daughter, Mrs. Marion Brady, and one granddaughter.
Active pallbearers will be Hilding Swanson, Lawrence Hartley, George Murray, Fred Godlove, William Ford and Clarence Nelson. Hartley, Swanson and Murray were associated with Mr. Morningstar at the Iron River post office.
Honorary pallbearers will be past masters of the Masonic Lodge. They are the following:
Roy J. Hendra, Gustav Hultquist, Clement A. Moore, Y. Fridolph Johnson, Oscar Renberg, Phillip A. Newberg, Herbert F. Richardson, Edward W. Ramberg, Marion Ochiltree, William J. Collins, Otto G. Groeschel, John A. Soderberg, Edward J. Wanzer, Victor D. Laing.
Out-of-town relatives and friends who are in Iron River for the funeral include: Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Morningstar, Morris Morningstar, Mrs. Bertha Storms, a sister, Ralph Storms, Mr. and Mrs. Darwin Cramer, a sister all of Big Rapids, Mich.
Mrs. Ella Schieber, a sister, Gerald Schieber, and Bertha Schieber, of Elkhart, Indiana, Mrs. Bert Bailey and Mrs. Clifford B. Fagan, of Rhinelander, Wis., Mrs. Joseph F. Brady, Mrs. Francis Brady and Miss Eleanore Brady, of Manitowoc, Wis.
The Rev. Morton W. Merrell, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, will officiate at the funeral services. As the cortege passes the Iron River post office on Adams Street, postal windows will be closed momentarily and clerks will pause in respect to the memory of the veteran employee.
BATES TOWNSHIP LEGACY 1885-1985 centennial book "John Bengtson (Benson) Family" page 32 (excerpt)
John Bengtson married Anna Erickson Bengtson September 25, 1881. The Bengtson name was changed to Benson but the year is unknown. Anna and John had ten children including #3 Hannah born February 25, 1886 died July 2, 1962.
Hannah Benson married John Morningstar, who became mailman in Bates Township, driving horse and buggy on the route. He later became Postmaster of the Iron River Post Office. Hannah and John had one daughter, Marion, who married George Brady. They had three daughters.
BATES TOWNSHIP LEGACY 1885-1985 centennial book "Bates Township Mailmen" page 340
Some of the early mail delivery men in the populated part of the township included John Morningstar, who delivered mail to the post office at Mapleton and some of the rural farms. It was not unusual to ask the mailman to bring some groceries or hardware from town along with the mail or to relate news and gossip to the farmers.
NEWS ARTICLE Iron River Reporter June 20 1930 "Meet Today – John Morningstar" with photo (shown here)
John Morningstar, assistant postmaster at the Iron River postoffice, is the man with the friendly smile who is always courteous and ready to assist the public, who will answer any number of questions with the utmost politeness, making one feel that the postoffice is exactly what it is supposed to be, an institution of public service.
Working in postoffices and handling mail since 1903, Mr. Morningstar is an extremely efficient man and takes pride in knowing his business thoroughly.
He was born on a farm in Elkhart county, Indiana, February 11, 1883, and received his early education at a country school. In 1895 he went to Big Rapids, Mich., where until 1901 he worked on farms, worked in the woods, and did other odd jobs.
Having saved some money, he spent 15 months in Ferris Institute at Big Rapids, taking a Commercial course.
COMES TO PENTOGA After finishing the commercial course, he came in 1903 to Pentoga, where he clerked in a store owned by M. DuBois, now of Stambaugh, and acted as assistant postmaster for F.G. Hood, who used a portion of the store building for the office. This was Mr. Morningstar’s first introduction to postal work.
In 1905 he left Pentoga to come to Palatka. At that time Palatka boasted a store and a postoffice. No buildings, however, remain on the site of the little town now, and only the names live on. Here Mr. Morningstar assisted W.G. Hanson, now assistant superintendent of the Verona group of mines, in opening the first postoffice, and continued until 1907 as his assistant.
In 1907 he went to Bruce’s Crossing, clerking in a store and assisting the owner, who was postmaster, with the postal work at times when assistance was needed. After spending six months at Bruce’s Crossing, he returned to Pentoga again and once more entered the employ of M. DuBois, but left in 1908 to come to Iron River, where he secured a position as clerk in the Iron Inn.
ACTING POSTMASTER In 1910 Mr. Morningstar took charge of the Stambaugh postoffice, acting as assistant for Postmaster John Farley, who was ill. Upon Mr. Farley’s death, Mr. Morningstar was named acting postmaster and remained in that position until July 15, 1914.
In September of 1914 he took the examination for rural mail carrier out of Iron River. October 1, 1914, he was appointed temporary carrier, carrying mail on Route No. 1, the first route out of Iron River, and April 1 of the following year was made regular carrier.
August 1, 1916, Mr. Morningstar was transferred to the position of assistant postmaster in the Iron River office without further examination, and has held that position up to the present time.
In November, 1909, Mr. Morningstar married Miss Hannah Benson of Bates. They have one daughter, Marion, who graduated from the Iron River high school in 1929 and is planning to attend the LaCrosse State Normal at LaCrosse, Wis., where she will study physical education next September.
HUNTING AND FISHING Mr. Morningstar is an enthusiastic hunter and fisherman. He very seldom misses a hunting season and seldom, if ever, comes in without his buck.
He likes to fish in both stream and lake, and his eyes will sparkle when he tells about the good fishing holes or some fishing expedition which was especially good.
“Hunting and fishing form my recreation,” he will say.
He has a group of snapshots which he prizes highly. Several of them form a record of a fishing trip made by Mr. Morningstar and three other men to Cable and Porter lakes in 1920. The trip had to be made by boat up the Paint river and the stream connecting Porter lake and the Paint. The trip occupied one and one half days of travel and one night of bivouac on the trail.
Once there, however, the trip proved worthwhile, which one glance at the snapshots will show. Two days spent there produced a string of pike, 22 in all, averaging from six to 18 pounds and totaling 175 pounds.
Another picture shows a 10 point and an eight point buck, secured by Mr. Morningstar and Adolph Erickson, rural carrier. The two deer were shot before 9 o’clock of the opening morning.
For hunting and fishing, Mr. Morningstar believes this country unsurpassed. He knows most of the streams nearby and many of those which it takes considerable travel to reach. His knowledge of good fishing places fills his creel on practically every fishing trip, and his knowledge of the way of the deer family helps him in bringing in a buck almost every autumn.
OBITUARY of Marion Brady 1979 (burial unknown) says John Morningstar, former Asst Post Master in Iron River for several years, was her father.
INFORMATION FROM WAYNE OHLSSON on www.rootsweb.com says born about 1884.
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