Ralph attended school at Prarie Ridge and grew to manhood in the Melbourne and Rhodes area. Attended Iowa State college in Ames for three years. Also worked for Purebred Cattle Farms in Wisconsin. After serving in the war, he returned to farming with his brothers for two years, west of Melbourne.
After his marriage to Nellie they farmed west of Melbourne, raising Purebred Shorthorn cattle. Ralph became interested in purebred Shorthorns early in life as his father had a herd in the early 1900's. Ralp told of the ups and downs of the cattle business and recalls the thirties when cattle were sold for $5.95 per hundred weight. He judged many cattle shows in Iowa and Wisconsin and was an avid worker in the Catleman's Association, being elected to the Iowa Cattleman's Hall of Fame in 1971.
Ralph was a very early member of the Melbourne Methodist Church where he was always active. He was also an early member of the Melbourne American Legion and Masonic Order as well as many other community activities.
SERVED:
WW I
US Navy
MARRIED:
3/19/1921
CHILDREN:
Lawrence J.,
(Patricia Thompson);
Ralph A. 'Red',
(Virginia Goecke) &
Betty Marie White Hessenius,
11/29/1929 - 1/28/2007,
(10/25/1952,
Richard)
After his marriage to Nellie they farmed west of Melbourne, raising Purebred Shorthorn cattle. Ralph became interested in purebred Shorthorns early in life as his father had a herd in the early 1900's. Ralp told of the ups and downs of the cattle business and recalls the thirties when cattle were sold for $5.95 per hundred weight. He judged many cattle shows in Iowa and Wisconsin and was an avid worker in the Catleman's Association, being elected to the Iowa Cattleman's Hall of Fame in 1971.
Ralph was a very early member of the Melbourne Methodist Church where he was always active. He was also an early member of the Melbourne American Legion and Masonic Order as well as many other community activities.
SERVED:
WW I
US Navy
MARRIED:
3/19/1921
CHILDREN:
Lawrence J.,
(Patricia Thompson);
Ralph A. 'Red',
(Virginia Goecke) &
Betty Marie White Hessenius,
11/29/1929 - 1/28/2007,
(10/25/1952,
Richard)
Ralph attended school at Prarie Ridge and grew to manhood in the Melbourne and Rhodes area. Attended Iowa State college in Ames for three years. Also worked for Purebred Cattle Farms in Wisconsin. After serving in the war, he returned to farming with his brothers for two years, west of Melbourne.
After his marriage to Nellie they farmed west of Melbourne, raising Purebred Shorthorn cattle. Ralph became interested in purebred Shorthorns early in life as his father had a herd in the early 1900's. Ralp told of the ups and downs of the cattle business and recalls the thirties when cattle were sold for $5.95 per hundred weight. He judged many cattle shows in Iowa and Wisconsin and was an avid worker in the Catleman's Association, being elected to the Iowa Cattleman's Hall of Fame in 1971.
Ralph was a very early member of the Melbourne Methodist Church where he was always active. He was also an early member of the Melbourne American Legion and Masonic Order as well as many other community activities.
SERVED:
WW I
US Navy
MARRIED:
3/19/1921
CHILDREN:
Lawrence J.,
(Patricia Thompson);
Ralph A. 'Red',
(Virginia Goecke) &
Betty Marie White Hessenius,
11/29/1929 - 1/28/2007,
(10/25/1952,
Richard)
After his marriage to Nellie they farmed west of Melbourne, raising Purebred Shorthorn cattle. Ralph became interested in purebred Shorthorns early in life as his father had a herd in the early 1900's. Ralp told of the ups and downs of the cattle business and recalls the thirties when cattle were sold for $5.95 per hundred weight. He judged many cattle shows in Iowa and Wisconsin and was an avid worker in the Catleman's Association, being elected to the Iowa Cattleman's Hall of Fame in 1971.
Ralph was a very early member of the Melbourne Methodist Church where he was always active. He was also an early member of the Melbourne American Legion and Masonic Order as well as many other community activities.
SERVED:
WW I
US Navy
MARRIED:
3/19/1921
CHILDREN:
Lawrence J.,
(Patricia Thompson);
Ralph A. 'Red',
(Virginia Goecke) &
Betty Marie White Hessenius,
11/29/1929 - 1/28/2007,
(10/25/1952,
Richard)
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